Services

Selecting a Funeral Home

When selecting a funeral home, the Harvey Anderson and Johnson Funeral Homes serve all faiths in the area.

If you are planning for cremation, Harvey Anderson & Johnson Funeral Homes have a crematory at their Willmar location. The staff is very dedicated to accommodating each family's personal wishes. If you travel out of the area for the winter months, it is important to make sure to contact your local funeral home before leaving in case your death occurs while you are away. If these plans have been made, the funeral home can assist your family in arranging your return for services in the home area. This will not only save your family money, but it will also alleviate many frustrations because you will be working with someone you know and trust. The Funeral Home Staff and their Certified Preplanning Consultant will work with you and your family to assist you with recording your preplanning wishes and vital statistics. They will also work to find the best funding option for you and your family.

Understanding Pricing

Our goal is to provide you as much information as possible regarding the cost of the services we provide. The greatest factors determining cost are the time spent by us and the use of our facilities. We are available to serve you 24 hours a day, every day. Our costs include wages, taxes, maintenance, supplies, advertising, utilities, insurance, upkeep and operation of a preparation room, licenses and continuing education requirements, inventory, arrangement meeting with family, filing of paperwork, obituaries, coordinating the funeral, visitation, transporting equipment to place of service, care and handling of flowers, operation of hearse and service vehicle, and much more.

When comparing prices with other funeral homes, you must be careful to compare like goods and services and the total price. Some funeral homes give a perception of low cost by giving a basic service charge, only to add on other expenses for services families desire and should expect with funeral service. Some will under price their total service expense and then over price merchandise. It is important to remember that all funeral homes do not provide the same quality of service.

Merchandise must be considered on equal levels in comparison. Different manufacturers, thickness and type of metal used, workmanship and quality of wood used, type and strength of burial vaults must be considered when comparing cost.

Cremation

We are the home of West Central Cremation Service. Our onsite crematory brings the cremation option directly to you, eliminating long-distance transportation and middle-person costs. We serve people of all faiths and denominations. Whether you prefer a formal funeral service; a simple, intimate memorial; or a casual, alternative gathering, you will receive the same high quality personalized service. With cremation, we are not limited to serving only families in the communities where our chapels are located. West Central Cremation Service is here to serve all families with their cremation arrangements.

What is cremation?
Cremation is a process during which human remains are reduced to small pieces of bone fragments by a process of intense heat. The body must be enclosed in some type of container when delivered to the crematory, typically a casket or cremation container. The end result is referred to as cremated remains, ashes, or sometimes cremains. Following the cremation process, the cremated remains are placed in a second container, called an urn, for final disposition. Deciding what will be done with the cremated remains may help you decide what type of urn to select. An urn can serve as an important focal point at the memorial service. Afterward, it can be buried in a family plot at a cemetery, placed in a niche at a mausoleum, or kept in the home. There are also urns especially made for the option of scattering.

• A visitation or gathering…
  You may have a formal or informal gathering to receive friends at the funeral home or another location.
  This gives everyone an opportunity to share their concern without disturbing the privacy of the family at home.
• A funeral or memorial service…
  Before or after cremation, a service can be held to honor the person who has died, held in the funeral home or church.
  Families may have special musical selections, scripture readings or tributes, all of which help to make the service more meaningful.
• Choice in Final Disposition
  Following the cremation and memorial service, there is a decision as to the final disposition of the cremated remains.
  Just as with every step in the cremation process, various options are available.

Burial / Above Ground Entombment
The most common disposition choice for cremated remains is burial, also known as interment, in a cemetery. In this way, family members can be placed to rest near one another even if another family member has not chosen cremation. The grave site provides a permanent location to visit on important occasions such as anniversaries and holidays.

For centuries, mausoleum entombment has been offered as an alternative to traditional burial for people preferring above ground burial. A columbarium niche is a similar choice for the person preferring cremation. The selected niche is identified with a nameplate listing dates of birth and death. The columbarium offers families a place to visit and remember on special holidays and other important times.

Permanent Possession
People may choose to purchase urns that they consider appropriate to, or symbolic of the deceased, or they may even make an urn to hold the cremated remains. In one case, a woman’s cremated remains were placed in a vase that had been very special to her. In another case, a noted ceramic artist made an urn for her late husband’s cremated remains. Because of the variety of urns available, it is not uncommon for a family member or friend to retain the cremated remains as a cherished possession. But for many, a permanent placement at another location is more appropriate.