Services

Palmer & Swank Funeral Home prides itself on serving your family with the same respect we give our own family. No other organization has been doing this longer or with as much dignity as we have. At Palmer And Swank Funeral Home you will receive quality, friendly service at a fair price. Below are some of the services that are available to you and your family. Please feel free to call us if you have any questions on pricing, services, or anything else that we can help you with.

The traditional funeral remains the most popular option with families making funeral arrangements for their loved ones. The remains and casket are present for the visitation and/or funeral service. They are taken undisturbed to their final resting place for committal services.

The family must decide whether they want viewing for their loved one. At times this may be a painful experience, yet is a definite, therapeutic value. Viewing after proper preparation sets the reality of death and allows the event to be psychologically settled in the minds of family and friends. In this case, your loved one can be placed in a casket (which can be purchased or rented) and be present at the visitation and/or funeral service. Most families selecting cremation prefer this type of service.

Direct cremation with no service or visitation is also available. However, immediate disposition without a meaningful service of remembrance should be seriously considered by those considering this method of disposition. A life has been lived, and that life is worthy of our positive reflection. We gather not because someone has died, but because someone has lived. All those who mourn need an opportunity to set the reality of death in their minds so that a healthy grief resolution might begin. A memorial service with the cremains and/or a picture of the deceased displayed allows family and friends the opportunity for closure of their relationship with their loved one, because it:

• Recognizes the value of life and confirms that a well-lived life has ended
• Helps the survivors face the reality of death
• Gives survivors the opportunity to express their love for each other
• Fulfills the bereaved need for emotional support

In either case, the family can choose to bury the cremains or keep them at a location convenient to them. Cremation urns and urn-vaults are available through the funeral home.

Funeral homes are staffed by experts that are trained to handle: traditional funeral services, memorial services, rosaries, Masonic services, cremations, etc. Families have many options available to them and can personalize the service of their loved one.

Listed below are items commonly involved with funeral arrangements provided by Palmer And Swank Funeral Home.

• --Securing vital statistics/permits
• --Consultation with the family, clergy, and others
• --Supervision of the ceremony
• --Death notices and obituaries
• --Care of floral pieces
• --Assistance with forms and notary services
• --24 hour availability/on-call

Palmer & Swank Funeral Home operates in full compliance with: OSHA, Federal Trade Commission, Iowa State Department of Health, and Iowa Continued Education.