Burial Services
Burial Services in Pottsville, PA
Traditional burials give many families a sense of peace and permanence that other options cannot match. Long-lasting comfort is provided by having a designated resting place where loved ones can come, think, and feel connected.
Schlitzer Allen Pugh Funeral Home offers thorough funeral services that respect long-standing customs while taking into account the particular desires and circumstances of each family.
Our certified funeral directors have been organizing funerals all over Schuylkill County for decades. We take care of everything, from choosing the ideal coffin to setting up cemetery plots and holding respectable graveside services, so your family can concentrate on helping one another through this trying time.
Understanding the Burial Process
When a family chooses burial, several important decisions and arrangements must be coordinated. Our experienced staff guides you through each step, explaining your options clearly and helping you make informed choices that align with your values, traditions, and budget.
- Preparation and Embalming - Embalming preserves and gets your loved one ready for presentation for families who are arranging a viewing or visitation prior to burial. Our certified embalmers employ cutting-edge methods to guarantee your loved one looks calm and organic. In order to make your loved one look as you remember them, we also offer expert cosmetology and dressing services, paying close attention to every little detail. Families may contribute jewelry, clothes, and sentimental personal items.
- Casket Selection - For many families, choosing a casket for their loved one's final resting place is a significant decision. We provide a wide range of caskets in different designs, materials, and price ranges. Regardless of your preference for sophisticated hardwood, traditional metal, or environmentally friendly options, our staff will assist you in locating a casket that respects your budget while honoring your loved one.
- Burial Vault or Grave Liner - To safeguard the coffin and preserve the integrity of the gravesite over time, the majority of cemeteries need an outer burial container, such as a grave liner or burial vault. Grave liners, which cover the top and sides, are a less expensive alternative to burial vaults, which offer complete encasement and superior protection. We'll clarify the distinctions and assist you in comprehending the particular needs of your cemetery.
- Cemetery Coordination - To handle all burial arrangements, our funeral directors collaborate directly with cemeteries across Schuylkill County. We manage scheduling, opening and closing plans, plot selection support, and all correspondence with cemetery personnel. Whether your family needs to buy a plot or already owns one, we'll make sure everything is set up correctly.
Types of Burial Services
To suit a range of tastes, customs, and situations, Schlitzer Allen Pugh Funeral Home provides a variety of burial service options. Our staff will assist you in choosing the course of action that best respects your loved one and satisfies the needs of your family.
- Traditional Burial with Funeral Service - The most complete option includes both burial and a full funeral service. This usually entails a procession to the cemetery, a graveside committal service, a funeral ceremony at our facilities or your place of worship, and a visitation or viewing at our funeral home. This method gives friends and family several chances to get together, pay respects, and find closure.
- Graveside Service Only - Some families would rather keep things simple and focus only on the burial. At the cemetery, there is a graveside service that can include readings, prayers, music, eulogies, and personal tributes. This small gathering lets family and friends say goodbye at the burial site without the need for a separate funeral service. Our funeral directors make sure that these services are carried out with the same respect and professionalism as any other funeral.
- Memorial Service with Prior Burial - Some families choose to bury their loved ones in private, with only close family members present, and then have a bigger memorial service later. This method lets you choose when to do things and lets family and friends who live far away get together when they can make travel plans. The memorial service honors the life of your loved one without having to work around cemetery schedules.
- Immediate Burial - For families who want things to be simple, immediate burial means burying the body right after death without any formal services. There is no ceremony at the time of burial, but families may decide to hold a memorial service later. This choice is a cheap way to get a permanent resting place.
Casket Options and Selection
One of the most obvious choices families have to make when planning a funeral is what kind of casket to buy. We have a wide range of caskets in our funeral home, and we can also order special ones to meet your needs. Our staff gives you advice without putting pressure on you to choose a certain option.
- Hardwood Caskets - Hardwood caskets are made from woods like oak, cherry, mahogany, maple, walnut, and poplar. They are always beautiful and elegant. Each type of wood has its own unique grain patterns and colors. There are many different fabrics and colors to choose from for the interiors, and the finishes can be high-gloss polish or soft satin.
- Metal Caskets - Metal caskets are strong and come in a variety of materials. Bronze and copper caskets are stronger and won't rust over time. Steel caskets come in different gauges. The lower the gauge number, the thicker and more protective the steel is. There are many colors of finishes to choose from, including brushed, polished, and painted.
- Eco-Friendly Caskets - We sell caskets made from eco-friendly materials that will break down naturally and return to the earth. Wood, wicker, bamboo, and other natural materials that break down naturally are some of the options. These caskets are good for both green burial grounds and regular cemeteries.
- Specialty and Personalized Caskets - We can make caskets with themes, colors, or designs that reflect your loved one's personality, interests, or heritage. Families can make truly unique tributes with military caskets, sports-themed caskets, and caskets that are made to order.
Graveside Services
The graveside service is the last chance for family and friends to be together at the place where your loved one is buried. These ceremonies are very important, whether they are part of a larger funeral or stand alone.
Our funeral directors make sure that graveside services are done with respect and professionalism. We take care of all the details, like setting up tents and seating for family, arranging flowers, and making sure everything runs smoothly. We work with officiants to plan meaningful ceremonies that may include prayers, readings from the Bible, poems, eulogies, musical tributes, and symbolic acts like putting flowers in a certain place or releasing doves.
For veterans, graveside services may include military honors, such as the ceremonial folding and presentation of the American flag, the playing of Taps, and the presence of service members in uniform. We take care of all the details for military honors on behalf of your family.
Green and Natural Burial Options
Green burial techniques are becoming more popular as environmental consciousness rises. By utilizing biodegradable materials and staying away from chemicals that could harm the soil, these methods reduce their negative effects on the environment.
Unembalmed remains or embalming with environmentally friendly fluids, biodegradable caskets or shrouds, and burial without outer containers in approved natural burial grounds are all common components of green burial. Allowing the body to naturally return to the earth is the aim.
Although there aren't many green cemeteries in our neighborhood, some conventional cemeteries have sections set aside for green burial. Our staff can help you decide whether a green burial is in line with your preferences by going over your options.
Serving Schuylkill County
Our staff at Schlitzer Allen Pugh Funeral Home makes arrangements for burials in cemeteries all over Schuylkill County and beyond. We have good relationships with the staff at local cemeteries, so no matter which one you choose, everything will go smoothly and you'll get professional service.
We help families in Pottsville, Port Carbon, St. Clair, Schuylkill Haven, Cressona, Minersville, and nearby areas. Our knowledgeable staff is here to help you whether your family has long ties to a certain cemetery or needs help picking the right one.
Call us at 570-622-7888 or email info@tributesoflife.com to talk about burial plans. We have a caring team that is available 24 hours a day, seven days a week.
FAQ
How soon after death does burial need to take place?
Pennsylvania law doesn't say when a burial has to happen, but in most cases, it happens within one to two weeks of the person's death. If your family wants to see or visit your loved one, embalming keeps them in good condition for this time. Scheduling depends on things like how the family will get to the cemetery, when the cemetery is available, and how to work with the clergy or officiants. Our funeral directors will work with your schedule and help you make all the necessary arrangements to meet your family's needs.
What is the difference between a burial vault and a grave liner?
Grave liners and burial vaults are both outer burial containers that keep the ground from settling over the casket. The main difference is how much protection they offer. A burial vault completely surrounds the casket on all sides, including the bottom. This makes a sealed protective chamber. A grave liner only covers the top and sides, leaving the bottom open. Vaults are better at keeping out water, soil, and ground pressure, but they cost more than liners. Most cemeteries require one or the other. We'll help you figure out what your cemetery needs and help you choose the option that fits your needs and budget.
Can we personalize the graveside service?
Absolutely. You can make graveside services as traditional or unique as you want. Families often add their favorite poems, meaningful songs, personal eulogies, and symbolic gestures to the usual prayers and readings. Some families let butterflies or doves go, plant flowers, or put things that are important to them in the grave. Military families may get full honors, which includes a flag presentation and Taps. Our funeral directors will help you plan a graveside service that honors your loved one's life and gives everyone who is there a sense of closure.

