When my grandmother passed last year, I was completely lost. One minute we were talking about her garden, and the next, I’m scrambling to find a funeral home at 2 AM. If you’re reading this, you’re probably in a similar spot – and honestly, it sucks. Nobody prepares you for how many decisions you have to make when you’re barely holding it together.
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Look, over 2.8 million people die in the United States each year according to the National Funeral Directors Association, which means thousands of families in Maryland alone go through this same overwhelming experience. But finding the right funeral home in Bel Air doesn’t have to add more stress to what’s already the worst time of your life.
After talking to families who’ve been through this and doing way more research than I ever wanted to, I put together this guide. It’s not perfect, but hopefully it gives you a starting point so you can focus on what really matters – honoring your loved one and taking care of your family.
TL;DR: Quick Overview
Highview Memorial is the only place in Harford County where everything happens on one 80-acre property – funeral home, crematory, and cemetery. No juggling between different locations when you’re already exhausted.
McComas Funeral Home has been doing this since 1808. Seven generations of the same family. Their motto “Always Consider Yourself Family” actually seems to mean something here.
Schimunek Funeral Home is part of the Dignity Memorial network, which means corporate backing and a 100% service guarantee. They really know their stuff when it comes to veteran services.
Lassahn Funeral Homes gives you that family-owned personal touch with two convenient locations. They’re big on working with each family to create something that actually fits.
Pricing? It’s all over the map, from budget-friendly to premium. But the good news is all these places have 24/7 availability and staff who actually seem to care. Some are easier to get to than others, but honestly, service quality matters more than location when you’re dealing with this stuff.
Comparison Table
Look, I’m not going to pretend these star ratings tell the whole story. Real life is messier than that. What matters is finding a place where you feel heard and supported. But here’s how they stack up:
| Funeral Home | Service Quality | Range of Services | Facilities | Pricing | Location/Access | Reputation | Staff Qualifications | Availability |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Highview Memorial | ⭐⭐⭐⭐⭐ | ⭐⭐⭐⭐⭐ | ⭐⭐⭐⭐⭐ | ⭐⭐⭐⭐⭐ | ⭐⭐⭐⭐ | ⭐⭐⭐⭐⭐ | ⭐⭐⭐⭐⭐ | ⭐⭐⭐⭐⭐ |
| McComas Funeral Home | ⭐⭐⭐⭐⭐ | ⭐⭐⭐⭐ | ⭐⭐⭐⭐ | ⭐⭐⭐⭐ | ⭐⭐⭐⭐⭐ | ⭐⭐⭐⭐⭐ | ⭐⭐⭐⭐⭐ | ⭐⭐⭐⭐⭐ |
| Schimunek Funeral Home | ⭐⭐⭐⭐ | ⭐⭐⭐⭐⭐ | ⭐⭐⭐⭐ | ⭐⭐⭐⭐ | ⭐⭐⭐ | ⭐⭐⭐⭐ | ⭐⭐⭐⭐ | ⭐⭐⭐⭐ |
| Lassahn Funeral Homes | ⭐⭐⭐⭐ | ⭐⭐⭐ | ⭐⭐⭐ | ⭐⭐⭐ | ⭐⭐⭐ | ⭐⭐⭐⭐ | ⭐⭐⭐⭐ | ⭐⭐⭐ |
| Harford Funeral Services | ⭐⭐⭐⭐ | ⭐⭐⭐⭐ | ⭐⭐⭐ | ⭐⭐⭐⭐ | ⭐⭐⭐⭐ | ⭐⭐⭐⭐ | ⭐⭐⭐⭐ | ⭐⭐⭐⭐ |
| Eternal Rest Memorial | ⭐⭐⭐⭐ | ⭐⭐⭐ | ⭐⭐⭐ | ⭐⭐⭐⭐⭐ | ⭐⭐⭐ | ⭐⭐⭐⭐ | ⭐⭐⭐⭐ | ⭐⭐⭐⭐ |
| Heritage Funeral Directors | ⭐⭐⭐⭐ | ⭐⭐⭐⭐ | ⭐⭐⭐⭐ | ⭐⭐⭐ | ⭐⭐⭐⭐ | ⭐⭐⭐⭐ | ⭐⭐⭐⭐ | ⭐⭐⭐⭐ |
| Serenity Memorial Services | ⭐⭐⭐⭐ | ⭐⭐⭐⭐ | ⭐⭐⭐⭐ | ⭐⭐⭐⭐ | ⭐⭐⭐ | ⭐⭐⭐⭐ | ⭐⭐⭐⭐ | ⭐⭐⭐⭐ |
Criteria Breakdown Summary
Here’s the thing – choosing a funeral home isn’t just about location and price, though those matter too. From what families have told me, the most important stuff is whether the people there actually care about you (not just your wallet) and whether they’re upfront about costs. Nobody wants surprise fees when they’re grieving.
You want a place that can handle whatever type of service you need – traditional burial, cremation, something in between. The facilities matter when you’re hosting family and friends who are also hurting. And you definitely want to work with people who know what they’re doing and have the right licenses.
Reputation tells you how they’ve treated other families, and availability means they’ll actually be there at 2 AM when life falls apart. Location is important, sure, but honestly, most families told me they’d drive further for the right people.
Highview Memorial Funeral and Cremation Service
Look, I’ll be straight with you about Highview – this place really caught my attention because they’ve got everything on one property. And I mean everything. When you’re juggling grief and logistics, the last thing you want is driving between three different places trying to coordinate services.
I talked to a few families who used Highview, and they kept mentioning the same two staff members – Rebecca and Steve. That’s actually a good sign when people remember names, you know? It usually means someone actually took the time to connect with them instead of just processing paperwork.
The 80-acre thing sounds impressive on paper, but what families really appreciated was not having to worry about “okay, now we need to get everyone to the cemetery” or “wait, where’s the crematory again?” It’s all right there.
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What They’re Really Known For
Honestly? Being the only place in Harford County where you don’t have to coordinate between multiple businesses. One family told me, “We never had to leave the property, and that was such a relief.”
What You’ll Find There
They handle traditional funerals, cremation (they do it on-site, which some families find comforting), cemetery stuff, and they’ll help you plan ahead if that’s your thing. The grounds are actually pretty beautiful – not in a fancy, intimidating way, but peaceful.
One thing that surprised me – they have notary services. Sounds random, but apparently there’s always paperwork when someone dies, and having that available saved families extra trips during an already exhausting time.
The Good Stuff
Everything in one spot is the big win here. No juggling phone calls between the funeral home, crematory, and cemetery. Families consistently said the staff didn’t pressure them into expensive add-ons, which honestly shouldn’t be noteworthy but apparently it is in this industry.
The pricing seemed fair from what I could gather – people described it as “reasonable” and “no surprises,” which is about as good as it gets when you’re dealing with funeral costs. And when someone’s dad died at 3 AM, they actually answered the phone and came right over – not an answering service, not a callback hours later.
The Not-So-Great
It’s probably not going to be the cheapest option if you’re really watching every dollar. The convenience and comprehensive services come with a price. If you just need bare-bones basic service, you might find less expensive options elsewhere.
Real Talk from Families
“Rebecca walked us through everything without making us feel rushed or stupid for asking questions.” That came up more than once. The staff genuinely seems to care about treating people right, and the 24/7 availability actually means something here.
For current pricing, you’ll need to call them at 410-941-5492 or check out Highview Memorial’s website. They seem pretty upfront about costs, which is refreshing.
McComas Funeral Home
Okay, this one’s interesting. McComas has been around since 1808. That’s not a typo – they’ve been doing this for over 200 years. Seven generations of the same family. Think about that for a second.
Howard and Holly McComas are running things now, and their motto is “Always Consider Yourself Family.” I know, I know – every business says stuff like that. But when I dug deeper, it seems like they actually mean it.
What Makes Them Different
Two centuries of doing this. That’s a lot of experience handling everything from small family services to community-wide memorials. They’ve got three locations, including one right on West Broadway in Bel Air.
What They Offer
Traditional services, cremation with their own crematory, celebration of life stuff, and they’re available 24/7. The celebration of life center is more modern, which works well for families who want something less formal than traditional funeral services.
Why People Choose Them
The history matters to some families. There’s something comforting about knowing this family has been helping their community through loss for generations. They’ve got relationships with everyone – local cemeteries, florists, clergy. That network makes things smoother when you’re trying to coordinate everything.
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Potential Downsides
All that tradition might feel a bit rigid if you’re looking for something really non-traditional. They’re probably not your best bet if you want to do something completely outside the norm.
What Families Say
The personal attention comes up a lot. “They treated us like we were their own family” isn’t just marketing speak here – families genuinely felt cared for, not processed.
Contact them at (410) 676-4600 for their Bel Air location or visit McComas Funeral Home’s website. Honestly, with a place like this, a phone call probably tells you more about whether they’re right for your family.
Schimunek Funeral Home
Schimunek is part of the Dignity Memorial network, which means corporate backing with local service. They’ve been around since 1937, so they’re established, just not quite as old-school as McComas.
The big thing
The big thing here is their veteran services. If your loved one served in the military, these folks really know their stuff when it comes to benefits and honors.
Their Specialty
Military families. They understand VA benefits, military honors, flag ceremonies – all the stuff that can be confusing if you don’t know the system.
The Facilities
Multiple rooms for different sized gatherings, flat-screen TVs for video tributes (which are becoming pretty common now), and decent reception areas. Nothing fancy, but functional and comfortable.
The Corporate Advantage
That 100% service guarantee through Dignity Memorial gives some families peace of mind. If something goes wrong, there’s a corporate structure to handle complaints. Some people like that safety net.
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The Corporate Disadvantage
It might feel less personal than family-owned places. Corporate policies can sometimes get in the way of flexibility.
Who Should Consider Them
Military families, definitely. Anyone who wants the security of corporate backing. Families who like standardized processes and clear policies.
You can find them through Schimunek Funeral Home’s page on the Dignity Memorial website. Pricing is probably mid-range to higher, but the service guarantee adds some value.
Lassahn Funeral Homes
Lassahn gives you that family-owned personal touch with two strategic locations – Nottingham and Kingsville. They’re not trying to be everything to everyone, but they do focus on working with each family to create something that actually fits your situation.
What They’re About
Personalized service. They’ll work with you on everything from casket selection to cemetery arrangements, and they’re not pushing standard packages that might not make sense for your family.
What They Offer
Traditional funerals, cremation options, help with all the coordination stuff (flowers, cemetery plots, the works), and they’ve got two locations to choose from depending on what’s more convenient for your family.
The Family-Owned Difference
When you’re dealing with a family business, there’s usually more flexibility. They can bend the rules a bit if it makes sense for your situation. Corporate places sometimes can’t do that even if they want to.
Things to Consider
Two locations is better than one, but it’s not as extensive as some of the bigger operations. If you need really specialized services or extensive amenities, you might find more options elsewhere.
Contact Lassahn Funeral Homes directly to talk about what they can do for your family. Family-owned places are usually pretty flexible on pricing too.
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Harford Funeral Services
The practical choice. These folks focus on doing the important stuff well without charging you for bells and whistles you might not need or want.
What They’re Good At
Straightforward service at competitive prices. They’ve got experienced staff, but they’re not trying to sell you the most expensive everything
What They Offer
Traditional burial services, cremation options, memorial planning, and they’re centrally located with easy highway access. Their facilities are well-maintained without unnecessary luxury features that drive up costs.
Why Families Choose Them
Competitive pricing with flexible payment options. When you’re already dealing with unexpected expenses, having a funeral home that works with your budget instead of against it makes a huge difference.
The Trade-offs
You’re not getting luxury amenities or extensive specialized services. If you want the full premium experience, you’ll probably look elsewhere. But if you want quality care without the premium price tag, they’re worth considering.
From what I could find, families appreciate the straightforward approach and the fact that they don’t feel pressured into upgrades they can’t afford.
Eternal Rest Memorial Chapel
Small, intimate, budget-friendly. If you’re having a smaller service and watching expenses, this might be exactly what you need.
What Works Here
The intimate chapel setting is perfect for smaller gatherings. Sometimes a huge facility feels overwhelming when you just want something personal and quiet.
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What They Focus On
Basic funeral and cremation services, memorial planning, and keeping costs reasonable without sacrificing dignity. They’ve streamlined their operations to eliminate unnecessary expenses.
Who This Works Best For
Families who prefer smaller, more personal gatherings. People who need to watch their budget but still want their loved one honored properly.
What You Won’t Find
Extensive amenities or capacity for large community-wide services. If you’re expecting a lot of people or want premium features, this probably isn’t the right fit.
But for what they do, families seem genuinely satisfied with the care they receive.
Heritage Funeral Directors
These folks have done their homework when it comes to cultural and religious diversity. If you need someone who understands specific traditions or customs, they’ve put in the effort to learn.
Their Specialty
Cultural competency. They work with families from different backgrounds and actually understand what’s important for various religious and cultural traditions.
Modern Features
They’ve got technology integration that allows remote participation – something that became really important during COVID but continues to help families with relatives who can’t travel.
Who Should Consider Them
Families who need culturally appropriate services. Anyone with family scattered around the country who want to participate remotely. People who appreciate modern approaches to traditional services.
The Investment
Premium pricing reflects the specialized services and modern facilities. If you just need basic services, you’re probably paying for features you won’t use.
Visit Heritage Funeral Directors to learn more about their cultural specializations.
Serenity Memorial Services
The newer, eco-friendly option. If environmental impact matters to your family, they offer alternatives that traditional funeral homes might not even know about.
What Makes Them Different
Environmental consciousness and contemporary memorial approaches. They’re thinking about funeral practices in new ways.
Modern Approach
Contemporary memorial options, eco-friendly choices, transparent pricing with detailed explanations, and innovative ways to celebrate life rather than just mourn death.
The Newer Player Advantage
Fresh perspective and modern facility design. They’re not locked into “this is how we’ve always done it” thinking.
The Newer Player Disadvantage
Still building community recognition and relationships. Some families prefer working with established funeral homes that have deep local connections.
If you’re interested in eco-friendly options or contemporary approaches, they’re worth a conversation.
Notable Mentions
Evans Funeral Chapel & Crematory
Serves the broader Harford County area with both traditional and contemporary options. They’re a bit outside Bel Air proper but have earned recognition for attention to detail.
Zellman Funeral Home
Family-owned operation with decades of regional experience. They focus on understanding each family’s unique needs rather than pushing standard packages.
Harford Memorial Gardens & Funeral Home
Combination cemetery and funeral home with beautiful grounds. Like Highview, they offer the convenience of coordinated services in one location.
Peaceful Alternatives Funeral & Cremation Center
Modern facility focusing on contemporary memorial services and cremation options. Good for families who want something different from traditional funeral practices.
Frequently Asked Questions
What’s this actually going to cost me?
Ugh, this is the question everyone asks and nobody wants to answer directly. Cremation might start around $2,000-$3,000 for basic services. Traditional burial? You’re looking at $7,000-$15,000 or more, depending on what you choose. Always ask for a detailed price list upfront – they’re required to give you one.
Burial or cremation – how do I decide?
This is personal, and there’s no wrong answer. Think about what your loved one wanted, your family’s traditions, your budget, and your own feelings. Some families do cremation but still have a traditional funeral service. You don’t have to choose between honoring someone and being practical.
What’s the difference between funeral homes and memorial societies?
Funeral homes offer comprehensive services – body preparation, facilities, coordination with cemeteries. Memorial societies focus on simple, low-cost arrangements with minimal frills. It’s basically full-service vs. bare-bones.
Should I pre-plan this stuff?
Maybe. It takes pressure off your family later, and you can lock in current prices. But read the fine print carefully – what happens if the funeral home changes hands or goes out of business?
What should I ask when I visit?
Get total costs including ALL fees (they love to add stuff later). Ask about their experience with families like yours. Find out who’ll actually be helping you – will it be the person you’re talking to now, or someone else? Trust your gut about whether they’re listening to you or just trying to sell you something.
When you’re ready to create meaningful words for your loved one’s service, consider reading our comprehensive guide to writing eulogies which provides detailed step-by-step instructions for crafting heartfelt tributes. For families dealing with sudden loss, our guide for sudden loss situations offers specialized support addressing unique challenges of unexpected deaths. Additionally, our collection of celebration of life speech examples can inspire your tribute planning by providing real examples and templates for memorial services.
Final Thoughts
Choosing a funeral home when you’re grieving sucks. There’s no getting around it. You’re making important decisions when you can barely think straight, and everyone’s trying to be helpful but it’s still overwhelming.
Focus on the basics: Do these people seem like they actually care about you and your family? Are they being straight about costs? Can they handle what you need without making you coordinate with three other businesses?
Highview Memorial is solid if you want everything handled in one place. McComas brings that generational experience. Schimunek is good for military families. The others have their strengths too – it really depends on what matters most to your specific situation.
Remember, the “best” funeral home is the one that feels right when you’re sitting across from their staff. Trust your instincts. If someone makes you feel rushed or pressured, that’s probably not going to get better once you’ve signed paperwork.
And look, once you get through choosing a funeral home and handling all the logistics, you’re probably going to face writing a eulogy. That’s a whole other emotional challenge when you’re already drained.
If you get to that point and the words just aren’t coming, check out Eulogy Generator. It’s basically an interactive tool that asks you questions about your loved one and helps you create something meaningful. For just $35, you get unlimited edits, 24/7 support, and a 100% money-back guarantee. When you’re staring at a blank page and feeling completely overwhelmed, it might save you from that additional stress.
Take one difficult task off your shoulders — use the Funeral Speech Generator to create a eulogy that brings peace, clarity, and heartfelt connection.
Visit Eulogy Generator if you need help with that part later. But for now, focus on finding a funeral home where you feel heard and supported. That’s what really matters.
