If the funeral service is taking place at a location other than the funeral home, the funeral home staff will transport all flowers, pictures, etc. to the church or place of service. It is customary to have a one-hour visitation at the church before the service. Just before the service, the family will have the opportunity to say their final farewells and the casket will be closed by our staff. A small prayer service for the family is usually conducted, and the family and the casket proceed into the church.

You will have met with the clergy member prior to the service, where you will have arranged for readings, music and the type of service that your clergy member will perform.

The visitation allows family and friends time to gather and grieve, talk about cherished memories and special moments, and give others who cannot make the actual funeral service a chance to visit. Most importantly, it allows some time between the visitation and the actual funeral service for those who need extra time in accepting the fact that the death has really happened.

We encourage our families to have a visitation at the funeral home the night before the service. For some families, the visitation and the funeral service can be conducted in the same day. A visitation can be arranged generally for 1 hour before the time of service. This can be done at the funeral home or the church, followed by the service and interment at the cemetery.

As an additional remembrance, we will be happy to provide you with large memory boards for picture collages or a memorial video in your loved one's memory. One complimentary video is given to the family, with additional copies available for a small charge.

When the service has ended, the funeral director will direct the pallbearers to guide the casket from the church, followed directly by family members. The casket will then be placed into the funeral coach and a funeral procession will go from the church to the cemetery.

At the cemetery, the casket bearers will remove the casket from the funeral coach and place the casket upon the lowering device that has been set upon the grave. When family and friends have gathered around the graveside, final words will be said, and the service is complete.

The casket will not be lowered until everyone has left the cemetery, except for a member of the funeral home staff who will stay until this has been completed. This would conclude the interment. If a luncheon has been arranged, family and friends would then proceed to the luncheon.

Hulke Family Funeral Home & Cremation Services will also help you choose a monument or marker for the gravesite and what you want to have engraved.

Following the services, many families choose to have a funeral luncheon. Our staff will organize the lunch with the proper church or gathering space. The price for lunch may vary depending on how many will be served at the luncheon and what entrees your family prefers.