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Funeral and Cremation Care in Columbia, MD
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City Snowden Funeral Home Columbia

Funeral and Cremation Care in Columbia, MD

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Planning a funeral requires a lot of thought and planning to ensure the event is a good fit for your family traditions and preferences. When you are preparing for funeral and cremation services in Columbia, MD, it’s essential that you are working with a team you can trust. An experienced funeral director offers the ongoing assistance and the help you need in facing the many decisions yet to come.

Whether you are preparing for a traditional funeral, or you want to stick with a simple cremation plan, Snowden Funeral Home is here to assist. We respect the needs of each family and know that you have unique preferences. Our goal is to create funeral services you will remember for a lifetime. This event is a time when you can honor the memories shared with your loved ones over the years. 

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Planning Timeline: Funeral and Cremation in Columbia, MD

 

Both funerals and cremations can be planned last-minute if needed. Our team at Snowden Funeral Home has a proven system to support families in coordinating these services in just a few short days. Sometimes, the event is unexpected, which means that the family doesn’t have much time to prepare for these services. 

If you need immediate funeral planning, then just call our team to get started. We will answer your questions and walk you through the specific process of designing a customized funeral plan. We offer a full-service approach, which means that we are the only industry provider you need to talk to through this planning process.  

On the other hand, there are benefits to preparing funeral services in advance. You don’t need to procrastinate these important decisions. Instead, be proactive in creating a quality plan right now so you are prepared for anything that might happen down the road. Funeral preplanning is a great way to take care of your loved ones after you are gone. Additionally, you have a chance to share your desires so your preferences are honored during the event. 

You can start the preplanning process whenever you are ready. Some people finalize these details when they are in great health. Other people reach out to our funeral planning staff because they know that the event will need to be planned in the coming weeks or months. Whatever your timeline, our team at Snowden Funeral Home is here to help you with these important decisions. 

Funeral Services in Columbia, MD

Funeral Services

The funeral is a chance for family and friends to gather together, begin the healing process, honor those who have passed away. Whether you choose burial or cremation we can provide traditional options as well as custom ones so that this service truly reflects your loved one's life. We are happy to accommodate any special requests from cultures & religions with unique traditions surrounding funerals too! This moment should be about you and your family – it will mean a lot knowing that our team is here in whatever way possible throughout these tough times ahead of us all!

Cremation

Cremation has become a popular option for many people because it can be more flexible as to where and when you hold a service. You could have a traditional funeral service before or without the urn present, keep the urn after scattering ashes in different places, bury an urn in your gravesite, scatter them at sea, etc. No matter what ceremony we create for you whether burial or cremation our goal is to provide meaningful services that honor who they were while alive making their send-off peaceful yet celebratory.

Burial

A traditional casket burial comes with many options for you to choose from. You can have an immediate burial without a public service, or attend the visitation, viewing, and wake in person prior to closing out of respect by having one last look at their physical being before they are laid into eternal rest. If that doesn't sound appealing then I'd suggest attending the funeral services held here on site followed by a graveside ceremony elsewhere if desired rather than just laying them down underground immediately. It's up to you entirely how much time and effort is put into such ceremonies as it will be your final goodbye so take your pick!

Memorial Services

A memorial service can be held soon after death, weeks later with or without an urn present. By creating a time and place for family and friends to gather together and support each other, share memories of the deceased person as well as pay their respects, we are able to create a meaningful event that serves those who have been impacted by the loss of someone they care about deeply. We hold our services at funeral homes but also offer this option if preferred so you control where it is being held which allows your loved one’s memory to live on wherever you feel most comfortable holding this type of gathering.

Just like a funeral service, memorial services allow families & friends to come together in mourning over losing someone special while sharing stories/memories from them.
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Tips on How to Choose the Best Funeral Homes in Columbia, MD

Losing a loved one can be incredibly difficult. That's why it’s very important to decide on which funeral home can handle all the necessary arrangements . A trusted funeral home helps the family take care of the deceased so they can be buried. This process takes time so you need to find it soon.

Even if you're taking your time and planning well in advance, it's still necessary to consider how to select a funeral home. Do not automatically think that the funeral home you used in the past is best for you today. You need to compare what they offer with other services and prices to make sure that you have not been overcharged by them.

A good funeral home should have the following qualities:

  1. A comfortable setting where people can mourn in peace.
  2. A variety of options for funeral services, including burial or cremation.
  3. Services that are priced right and a good fit for your family’s needs. Values Costs and descriptions are disclosed in a transparent manner. Some funeral places may offer different services. See what each place offers. Compare them to one another. You can see that the costs are similar or different from the other places you looked at.
  4. Positive Reputation. When selecting a funeral home, you should find an establishment with a good reputation so that you can be confident in the care and service received. A reputable funeral home will have an excellent reputation. Online reviews, social media accounts, and community involvement are all crucial in this regard. Inquire if anyone you know has had a positive or negative experience with a funeral home.
  5. Respectful and compassionate staff who will handle all the arrangements. One way to tell if a funeral home's staff is caring and compassionate? You can always check their involvement in the community. Or, make short lists of three places you're considering for your loved one’s final resting place and give them all an opportunity over phone call before making any decisions on where they will be laid to rest.
  6. It demonstrates a commitment to the families it is assisting. You should have faith in the funeral home you visit, regardless of where you go. They will be committed to your family if it is good and has kind people. However, make sure you read the mission statement and the history of the business.
  7. Provides grief support. Is this funeral home good for more than just funerals? The funeral may be over, but there are still lots of things that need to be done. Ask if the funeral home provides grief support, offers education or newsletters about death and grieving, or does in-home visits. It's a good idea to find a place with other helpful services too. Your loss is very important and nothing can replace your loved one.

Funeral Home Near Columbia, MD

Snowden Funeral Home in Maryland is a place where families are treated with care. They are proud to help people when they are in need. People who come here will receive an online memorial that can be shared with friends and family during this difficult time. Snowden Funeral Home also has resources for people to use after the funeral, like support groups for people who have lost someone close to them.

Average Funeral Cost

The cost of your funeral can vary depending on what type you choose. A traditional viewing and burial averages $7,640 while cremation is just $350 because most homes handle this in-house. By 2025 the NFDA expects 63% to be handled via cremations since it's cheaper than burials due to external costs like vaults that aren't necessary for ashes.

Common Questions for Military Funeral


Who gets a 21 gun salute at their funeral?


The 21 gun salute is exclusively fired for chief of state of a foreign nation, a member of a reigning royal family, ex-presidents, and current president of the United States. It is a tradition in honor of the national flag. In contrast, the three-volley salute is rendered at military honors funerals.

What is included in a military funeral?


Standard military funeral honors include the following:
  • The presence of a military chaplain for family members.
  • The deceased veteran's casket draped with the Flag of the United States.
  • A team of honor guards serving as pallbearers.
  • A horse-drawn caisson for the transport of the deceased veteran.
  • An optional aerial flyover by the United States Air Force.
  • The formation of a rifle party for the firing of three-volley salute.
  • A bugler for the sounding of taps.
  • Learn more about veteran's services.

What are the sequences of events in a military funeral?


  • The funeral coach or caisson arrives at the cemetery. While the military members render their final salute.
  • The casket is secured by the military pallbearers.
  • The chaplain initiates the funeral ceremony by leading the way to the gravesite, with the casket team.
  • The casket team sets the casket down in preparation for draping.
  • NCOIC/OIC drapes the casket and ensures it is stretched out, leveled, and centered over the casket.
  • The family of the deceased veteran is seated.
  • NCOIC/OIC withdraws and the chaplain proceeds with the service.
  • For eligible senior military office mainly the general, a cannon salute is fired at the end of the burial service and before the benediction.
  • The chaplain completes the service and withdraws; NCOIC/OIC approaches the casket.
  • The family of the deceased veteran is then asked to rise for honors.
  • NCOIC/OIC prepares for the Three-volley salute.
  • The Three-volley salute is fired; playing of taps.
  • The family of the deceased veteran is asked to be seated.
  • The casket team begins to fold the flag to resemble a bicorn hat.
  • The flag is presented to the next of kin of the deceased veteran.
  • The chaplain extends condolences.
  • Cemetery representatives conclude the military funeral honors.

Consider Your Options: Personalized Funeral Services

One of the benefits of choosing our staff for funeral and cremation in Columbia, MD is the high levels of care your family will receive. We work hard to give every individual a personalized funeral planning experience. This event is a time to honor a life that was lived to the fullest. Additionally, you can incorporate family traditions, religious ceremonies, or any other activities that you desire. 

As you are considering your options, the best way to get started is by scheduling a consultation with our team. We will explain details about the various funeral packages. Ultimately, our goal is to provide the education you need in the funeral planning industry. Then, you will feel good moving forward with your decisions knowing that these services are a perfect fit for the needs of your family. 

When you talk to our team, it also feels good knowing that we provide complete transparency with our pricing. The cost of planning a funeral can be a challenge if you have a tight budget. This pricing transparency gives you the control to choose funeral services without worrying about the final bill. You’ll know the expected costs ahead of time. 

A Local, Trusted Funeral Home

 Our local funeral home offers the best care for all stages of funeral planning. You are welcome to call us at Snowden Funeral Home if you would like preliminary information, or if you need fast support to prepare for an event in the future. 

Many funeral homes are owned by large corporations now, taking the personalized touch out of the funeral planning process. We believe in keeping it local, with a friendly team that doesn’t have to respond to shareholders or a corporate office. As such, our personalized service outshines other services in the area. Every family receives our undivided attention and the highest levels of care to ensure optimal results for the event. 

In addition to the common funeral services, we also provide help with administrative details and other things that need to happen behind the scenes. For example, talk to us if you have questions about death certificate coordination or insurance paperwork filing. We can also help with transportation and more. 

We’re here to assist with funeral and cremation care in Columbia, MD. For information about these services, visit Snowden Funeral Home at 246 N Washington St, Rockville, MD 20850. Or, call us at (301) 762-2500. 


About Columbia, Maryland

Columbia is an increasingly popular place to live in the area. In 2020, Columbia was ranked 20th on Money Magazine’s Best Places to Live list, and in 2021, it has risen up five spots into fifth. It also took first place last 2016. This makes sense given that WalletHub ranks Columbia as number one for safest cities in America with a population of at least 25,000 people which gives residents peace of mind when they are living there or visiting their family members who reside here both day or night time hours because crime rates are low.

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