There are more than 80 details to work through when planning a funeral. You must be well-informed to make wise choices and to plan a meaningful funeral. While information is available from a variety of sources, our Funeral Directors at Erlewein Mortuaries are your one source for answering all of your questions and handling all of the many details. With so many arrangements to coordinate, our Funeral Directors will ensure everything is handled completely and professionally. At Erlewein Mortuaries, our entire staff is dedicated to serving your needs.

As funeral directors, we are care givers and administrators. We make the arrangements for transportation of the deceased, complete the necessary paperwork and authorizations, and implement the choices made by the family regarding the funeral and disposition of a body.  We are available to help or answer questions 24 hours a day, 365 days a year.  We're always just a phone call away.

On a more personal note, we are also listeners, advisors, and supporters. Erlewein Mortuaries' Funeral Directors have more than 30 years of combined experience in helping families in grief cope with death. After the funeral, we are here to support your personal needs, answer questions about grief, recognize when there appears to be difficulty coping, and recommend sources of additional assistance.

In Indiana, a licensed funeral director must adhere to the ethics and standards established by our profession, including having the recommended years of preparatory and continuing education. It also means that families are treated professionally and will receive the very best care.

A  funeral is an important way to celebrate a life well-lived. It also helps us recognize a family's loss and acknowledge a significant change in our lives. A funeral is not a day in a lifetime, but a lifetime in a day.

Funerals allow the living a final opportunity to show respect for the dead and to help surviving family members begin the grieving process. A funeral is also a way to say goodbye to a loved one with dignity and respect.

Visitations are part of many cultural and ethnic traditions. Research shows that having a visitation, where loved ones are surrounded by caring and supportive people, helps families with the grief process.

Viewing is also encouraged for children, as long as the process is explained and the activity voluntary. Children can benefit from viewing the deceased, as their imaginations can often make the appearance of the body worse than it really is.

Since this is the last time family and friends will see this person, a visitation and viewing can leave positive memories, with the deceased closely appearing as they did in life. Erlewein Mortuaries can coordinate public and private family viewings that meet each family's specific needs.

Embalming sanitizes and preserves a body, slowing down the natural process of decomposition, and can enhance the appearance of a body if disfigured by traumatic death or illness. Embalming can make it possible to extend the time of a funeral service to allow family members to arrange out-of-town transportation and attend the funeral service.

With public visitations and viewings, embalming is often required. However, some religions and cultures prohibit the practice of embalming, instead requiring that the body be buried within 24 hours.

Only in special cases (i.e., when death is caused by a contagious disease) is embalming required by law. The staff at Erlewein Mortuary are here to explain the needs for embalming with respect to each family's personal wishes.

A burial plot is the location where the deceased will be laid to rest. Typically this is in a cemetery. There are many considerations when evaluating a plot. Here are just a few of the questions you might consider when selecting the best plot for your personal needs:

• Does the plot meet the requirements of your religion?
• What restrictions are placed on burial vaults?
• Does the price include perpetual care and maintenance?
• Are other plots available in the same location to provide for burial of my entire family?
• Do I want ground burial or mausoleum burial, and are both available?
• Are the type of monuments and memorials at cemeteries restricted?

Many cemeteries have restrictions on monuments and memorials. They can also restrict the placement of flowers and remembrance items. At Erlewein Mortuaries, we can help you understand and comply with these restrictions, while keeping in mind your personal desires.

A  grave liner is a reinforced concrete wall that is used to prevent the grave from sinking or collapsing. Most cemeteries do require grave liners as a minimum outer burial container.

Like a grave liner, a burial vault is used to protect the grave from sinking or collapsing. However, a burial vault is a more substantial option which usually costs more than a grave liner. A burial vault is normally sold with a warranty, whereas a grave liner is not warranted.

Cremation is an alternative to earth burial, often following a funeral service. If a direct cremation is selected, there is not a preceding funeral service. Statistics indicate that direct cremation only occurs in 3% of all deaths.

In most cases where a person selects cremation as their final disposition, a visitation and funeral service still take place.  Their body is then cremated.  Their ashes may be buried in a cemetery, scattered on land or at sea, or kept in an urn with the family.  Some families choose to have an heirloom LifeGem diamond created out of some of their loved one's ashes.

Our staff at Erlewein Mortuaries makes every effort to customize a funeral or memorial service precisely to individual tastes. There are many ways to have a service unique, including:

•  personal eulogies
• special music at the visitation and service
• display of personal items and pictures on our Memory Boards and Memory/Collage Tables
• DVD video tributes
• candlelight services
• balloon or dove release

We'll work with you to ensure the service is as personalized as your family wants it to be.  Let us know what you want, then leave the details to us.

As a general rule, you should allow enough time for out-of-town guests to make travel arrangements and arrive in time for the service. Area guests will normally be able to accommodate a shorter time frame. However, some religions and customs require a body be buried within 24 hours, which may be the determining factor in scheduling a funeral. Erlewein Mortuaries will coordinate your planning and work with your family to ensure that everyone is included with ample time for traveling.

We will assist you in planning your entire service from beginning to end. A funeral service can be held in a church or in one of Erlewein Mortuaries chapels. Some of the many other options include holding a graveside service or a service at a family residence. If cremation is used, keep in mind that EPA regulations restrict where cremated remains can be scattered.

No, a member of the clergy is not required to perform a funeral or memorial service. However, if a clergy member is desired, we can locate one if you do not already have a minister, as well as ensure the clergy understands your wishes.

Unfortunately, many people wait to make plans until someone dies. We understand that funeral planning is a difficult process, but preplanning in advance can help everyone.  Click here to read about pre-planning and why it's so important.

When selecting a monument, marker, or crypt, there are several factors to be considered. Understanding a few basic principles will make selecting a lasting memorial easier and will ensure you design one that meets both your needs and your style.

Monument & Marker Basics

When selecting a monument or marker, you will need to consider the following:

1. Size: Do you prefer a small ground marker or a large slanted or upright monument? Will the marker be for a single or double grave? Some cemeteries have restrictions for marker size.

2. Shape: Would you like a standard memorial or a “one-of-a-kind” design?

3. Color of granite: For example, do you prefer a light gray, midnight black, deep green, or a red stone?

4. Engravings: What style of lettering would you like and where would you like it placed?

5. Etchings: Would you like an etching of the family farm or  your favorite hobby? Maybe your handwritten signature?

6. Photographs: Are there any special photographs you would like to include?

7. Accessories: Would you like vases, a veteran’s plaque, or a bench by the monument?

Many of the factors are the same with a crypt as with a monument or marker. A few differences include…

1. Size: Do you want a single, double, or family crypt?

2. Shape: Is there a particular shape or style you prefer?

You can be assured the staff at Erlewein Mortuaries will make designing and purchasing a memorial easier. We will ensure cemetery regulations are considered, foundations are properly installed, and a memorial reflecting your desires is delivered.

Step One:

Meet with us to discuss the “Basics” of the memorial you wish to design. As a result of this meeting - without any fees or obligation - we will prepare a color sketch of the memorial you chose, along with a quote for the price of the memorial. So you will know exactly what the memorial will look like and how much it will cost.

Step Two:

Meet to review the color sketch and make any changes or additions.   Once you have approved the sketch, we will take care of the rest - from ordering the granite and foundation to having it delivered and set.

Not a problem. The staff at Erlewein Mortuaries is available 24 hours a day, 365 days each year to serve your needs. When you need us, we're just a phone call away... no matter when or where.

There's no need to worry.  We have years of experience in coordinating funerals and we're familiar with the various benefits available to the family of the deceased. This can include Social Security death benefits, Veteran's benefits, and others. We'll help identify available benefit sources and file the necessary paperwork to ensure you receive the benefits you're due.

Most major airlines offer reduced fares for funerals. Discounts range from 50% to 70% off full-fare price for a round-trip coach ticket. Some airlines offer the 7-day advance purchase price for tickets purchased at the last minute for a funeral. These discounts are typically limited to immediate family only, with some airlines extending this to clergy serving funerals, or life/domestic partners. Some proof (i.e., copy of death certificate, contact number for an attending physician, hospital, or funeral home) may be required to obtain reduced fares. Airlines usually require this proof at the time of reservation or at check-in. Prior to booking any air travel, be sure to check with your airline or travel agent for current information.

There are many things that must be done when a loved one dies...so many things that it can seem overwhelming.  That's why we're here. 

Call us immediately -- no matter what time of the day or night -- to alert us of the death.  Our phone number is (317)467-4918 or (317)485-5138.  Click here to see what has to be done and when -- and how we'll help.

Not all funerals are expensive.  The cost of a funeral depends on your preferences and values. 

• Costs reflect the type of service and merchandise you would like.  Just like buying a home or even a car, you can choose to purchase an expensive one or a less expensive one.  It all depends on what is important to you and your family.

• Many times, included in the "cost" of a funeral are items that are not related to the mortuary, but that are taken care of for you by the mortuary.  These items can be costly and make the funeral bill more than you expected.  They include things like: cemetery spaces, grave opening and closing charges, flowers, musicians, clergy honoraria, headstone foundation or engravings, newspaper obituary charges, and death certificate charges.

• Our mortuary offers a wide variety of options to accommodate many different budgets.  If you are concerned about the cost of a funeral, we're happy to discuss your wishes and the cost.

There are several things that happen during the cremation process.

• The body is placed in a casket or container.
• The casket or container is placed in the cremation chamber, where the temperature is raised to approximately 1400 degrees to 1800 degrees Fahrenheit.
• After approximately 2 to 2 1/2 hours, all organic matter is consumed by heat or evaporation. The remaining bone fragments are known as cremated remains.
• The cremated remains are then carefully removed from the cremation chamber. Any metal is removed with a magnet and later disposed of in an approved manner.
• The cremated remains are then processed into fine particles and are placed in a temporary container provided by the crematory or placed in an urn purchased by the family.
• The entire process takes approximately three hours.
• Throughout the cremation process, a carefully controlled labeling system ensures correct identification.
• Cremated remains can be interred (buried) in a cemetery plot, retained by the family in an urn, or scattered on private property or at another significant place (if allowed). Some people choose more than one option; for example, they choose to bury some of the cremated remains and keep some with them at home.
• Note: It is essential that pacemakers and other medical devices be removed prior to cremation. They may explode when subjected to high temperature, which can be hazardous to crematory staff and equipment. In addition, any special mementos, such as jewelry, will be destroyed during the cremation process. Anything you wish to keep should be removed by the funeral director before the cremation process.

• Because cremation is an irreversible process and because the process itself will eliminate any ability to determine exact cause of death, many states require that each cremation be authorized by the coroner or medical examiner.
• In Indiana, 48 hours must elapse before cremation may take place and a signed death certificate, showing the cause of death, must be obtained before cremation can occur.  Occasionally, the coroner will authorize cremation without the signed death certificate.

No. In most cases, it is your choice. It may depend on such factors as whether the family selects a service with a public viewing of the body, whether there is to be a funeral service, or whether there is refrigeration available.  Embalming may also be necessary if the body is going to be transported by air or rail, or because of the length of time prior to the cremation.

• No. For sanitary reasons, ease of placement and dignity, many crematories require that the deceased be cremated in a combustible, leak proof, rigid, covered container. This does not have to be a casket.
• What is required is an enclosed, rigid, container made of wood or other combustible material to allow for the dignified handling of human remains.
• The type of casket or container selected is really a personal decision. Caskets and containers are available in a wide variety of materials ranging from simple cardboard containers to beautifully handcrafted oak, maple or mahogany caskets. 

• You have a choice of very affordable cremation caskets that are completely combustible, including options from a simple pine or cloth-covered casket to a hardwood casket.

• We also have beautiful cherry, oak, and pine rental caskets.  After the visitation and funeral, the interior of these rental caskets is removed, along with the decedent's body, and becomes the combustible, leak proof, rigid, covered container required by the crematory.  This is an affordable way to have a high-quality casket during the visitation and the funeral, but without sending an expensive casket to the crematory.

• Our staff will help you choose the casket or container that best suits your wishes and needs. 

With cremation, your options are numerous. The cremated remains can be:

• interred in a cemetery plot (earth burial),
• retained by a family member, usually in an urn,
• scattered on private property (with the owner's permission),
• or scattered at a place that was significant to the deceased.   Of course, it is always be advisable to check for local regulations regarding scattering in a public place.

Cremation is just one step in the commemorative process—the preparation of the human remains for memorialization. Today, there are many different types of memorial options from which to choose.  Memorialization is a time-honored tradition that has been practiced for centuries. A memorial serves as a tribute to a life lived and provides a focal point for remembrance, as well as a record for future generations. The type of memorial you choose is a personal decision. The limit is set only by your imagination.

Some people choose to have their cremated remains scattered in a place that is meaningful to them. This can, however, present difficulties for your survivors.  

• Some people may find it hard to simply pour the mortal remains of a loved one out onto the ground or into the sea.  If you wish to be scattered somewhere, it is therefore important to discuss your wishes ahead of time with the person or persons who will actually have to do the scattering.
• Another difficulty with scattering can occur when the remains are disposed of in an anonymous, unmarked or public place. Access to the area may be restricted for some reason in the future, undeveloped land may be developed, or any of a host of other conditions may arise that could make it difficult for your survivors to visit the site to remember you.

Even if your cremated remains are scattered in your backyard, what happens if your survivors relocate sometime in the future? Once scattered, cremated remains cannot easily be collected.

Having your remains placed, interred or scattered on a cemetery’s groundsensures that future generations will have a place to go to remember. If remains are scattered somewhere outside the cemetery, many cemeteries will allow you to place a memorial of some type on the cemetery grounds, so survivors have a place to visit that will always be maintained and preserved.

Because it provides a focal point for memorializing the deceased. To remember, and be remembered, are natural human needs. Throughout human history, memorialization of the dead has been a key component of almost every culture.

The Washington Monument, Tomb of the Unknowns and Vietnam “Wall” in Washington, D.C are examples of memorialization, which demonstrate that, throughout our history, we have always honored our dead.

Psychologists say that remembrance practices, from the funeral or memorial service to permanent memorialization, serve an important emotional function for survivors by helping to bring closure and allowing the healing process to begin.

Providing a permanent resting place for the deceased is a dignified treatment for a loved one's mortal remains, which fulfills the natural human desire for memorialization.

Yes. Depending upon the cemetery's policy, you may be able to save a grave space by having the cremated remains buried on top of the casketed remains of your spouse, or utilize the space provided next to him/her.  Many cemeteries allow for multiple cremated remains to be interred in a single grave space.