879171-covenant-funeral-crematory

Do I need a viewing before cremation?

Fri, 26 Jun 2026 15:15:26 GMT

Do I need a viewing before cremation?

The body content of your post goes here. To edit this text, click on it and delete this default text and start typing your own or paste your own from a different source.

Veterans funeral benefits in Tennessee — what families need to know

Fri, 19 Jun 2026 15:30:53 GMT

Veterans funeral benefits in Tennessee — what families need to know

If your loved one served in the United States military, there are funeral and burial benefits available to them — and to your family. Many families do not know these benefits exist, or assume the process is too complicated to navigate while grieving. Here is a clear breakdown of what is available and how to access it.

What benefits are available

Burial in a national cemetery. Veterans and their spouses may be eligible for burial at no cost in a national cemetery. The nearest national cemetery to Chattanooga is the Chattanooga National Cemetery on Bailey Avenue. Eligibility is based on the veteran's service record.

Burial allowance. The VA provides a burial allowance for eligible veterans — the amount varies based on the circumstances of death and whether the veteran was receiving VA benefits at the time of passing.

Presidential Memorial Certificate. A signed certificate expressing the nation's gratitude for the veteran's service, available at no cost to the next of kin.

Burial flag. An American flag is provided to drape the casket or accompany the urn of an eligible veteran. The flag is presented to the next of kin at the time of burial.

Headstone or marker. The VA will provide a headstone, marker, or medallion for eligible veterans at no cost.

Military funeral honors. A military funeral honors ceremony — at minimum, the folding and presentation of the flag and the playing of Taps — is available for all veterans with an honorable discharge.

What you need

To access these benefits, you will need the veteran's DD-214 discharge papers. If you cannot locate the DD-214, we can help you request it from the National Personnel Records Center — it takes time, so starting early is important.

How we help

At Covenant Funeral & Crematory, coordinating veterans benefits is part of what we do. We will verify eligibility, coordinate military honors, and help your family access every benefit your loved one earned. It is the least we can do.

If you have questions about veterans funeral benefits in Tennessee, call us at 423-485-0911. We are here any time.

How To Write An Obituary

Fri, 12 Jun 2026 17:26:03 GMT

How to write an obituary — a plain English guide

The body content of your post goes here. To edit this text, click on it and delete this default text and start typing your own or paste your own from a different source.

How to choose a funeral home in Chattanooga — what actually matters

Fri, 05 Jun 2026 19:46:09 GMT

How to choose a funeral home in Chattanooga — what actually matters

Most families never think about choosing a funeral home until they need one. Then they are suddenly making one of the most significant financial and emotional decisions of their lives — often within hours of a loss, exhausted and grieving.

Here is what actually matters when choosing a funeral home — and what you can safely ignore.

Do they publish their prices?

The FTC Funeral Rule requires all funeral homes to provide a General Price List upon request. The good ones publish it online without making you ask. If a funeral home makes pricing difficult to find or requires you to come in before they will discuss costs, that is a warning sign. Transparent pricing is not just good business — it is the law.

Do they have an on-site crematory?

If cremation is what your family is considering, ask whether the funeral home handles it in-house or sends your loved one to a third party. At Covenant Funeral & Crematory, we operate our own crematory on-site. That means your loved one stays in our care from first call to return of remains.

Are they locally owned?

There is a meaningful difference between a locally owned funeral home and a national chain operating under a familiar name. Locally owned means the person you speak with has a stake in the community, not a quota to meet. It means decisions are made here, not in a corporate office somewhere else.

How do they treat you before you are a customer?

Call them. Ask a question. See how they respond. A funeral home that treats you with patience and transparency before you have committed to anything will treat your family the same way when it matters most.

What do other families say?

Reviews matter. Not because they are perfect, but because they are real. Look at what families say about how they were treated — not just the logistics, but how they felt.

What you can safely ignore

Elaborate facilities, luxury vehicles, and impressive lobbies do not make a funeral home better. They make it more expensive. What matters is how your family is treated and whether the people serving you are competent, honest, and present.

Covenant Funeral & Crematory has served Chattanooga families since 1998. We are locally owned, transparent about pricing, and available 24 hours a day. If you want to talk through your options with no obligation and no pressure, call us anytime at 423-485-0911.

How much does cremation cost?

Fri, 29 May 2026 14:55:15 GMT

HOW MUCH DOES CREMATION COST?

How much does cremation cost in Chattanooga — and what affects the price

If you have been searching for cremation prices in Chattanooga, you have probably already noticed that the numbers vary wildly — from under $900 to well over $3,000. Here is an honest breakdown of why that is, what you are actually paying for, and how to make sure you are getting a fair price.

The range in Chattanooga

At the lowest end, you will find direct cremation services starting around $895. At the high end, national corporate chains can charge $3,000 to $3,500 or more for what is essentially the same service. The difference is rarely about quality — it is almost always about overhead, location, and profit margin.

At Covenant Funeral & Crematory, our direct cremation starts at $1,195. That price includes everything — transfer of your loved one into our care, all required permits and documentation, the cremation itself at our on-site crematory, and return of the remains to your family. No hidden fees. No surprises.

What affects the price of cremation

Several factors determine what you will pay:

Whether the funeral home has an on-site crematory. When a funeral home does not operate its own crematory, they send your loved one to a third party — and charge you for that. At Covenant, everything is handled in-house. Your loved one never leaves our care.

The type of container. A direct cremation uses a simple alternative container. If you choose a casket for a viewing before cremation, that adds cost. Neither choice is wrong — it depends entirely on what your family needs.

Additional services. A direct cremation covers the essentials. If you want a formal viewing, a ceremony at our facility, printed memorial materials, or other services, those are added separately and priced transparently.

Urns and keepsakes. The return of remains is included in our base price. Urns, jewelry, or other memorial items are optional and separately priced.

What is not included in any cremation price — anywhere

Cemetery costs, obituary publication fees, and death certificates are not included in funeral home pricing. These are third-party costs that every family pays regardless of which funeral home they choose.

The most important thing to know

You have the legal right to ask any funeral home for their General Price List before making any decisions. At Covenant, our pricing is published on our website. No appointment needed. No pressure.

If you have questions about cremation pricing or want to talk through your options, call us anytime at 423-485-0911.

What to do in the first 24 hours after a death

Fri, 22 May 2026 15:44:32 GMT

WHAT TO DO IN THE FIRST 48 HOURS AFTER DEATH

What to do in the first 24 hours after a death

Nobody prepares you for the moment it actually happens. Whether it was expected or not, the first 24 hours after losing someone can feel completely overwhelming. Here is a clear, honest guide to what actually needs to happen — and what can wait.

The first thing to know: you have more time than you think.

Unless a death occurs in an unusual circumstance, there is no emergency. You do not need to make every decision immediately. Take a breath. The most important thing in the first few minutes is to make sure you and the people around you are okay.

Step 1: Call the right people first.

If your loved one passed at home under hospice care, call the hospice nurse first — not 911. They will guide you through the next steps and contact the necessary authorities. If the death was unexpected or the cause is unknown, call 911. If your loved one passed in a hospital or facility, the staff will guide you.

Step 2: Notify immediate family.

Before anything else gets done, make sure the people who need to know, know. This does not have to be everyone — just the immediate circle. Social media can wait. Phone calls to close family come first.

Step 3: Contact a funeral home.

You do not have to decide everything right away, but you do need to contact a funeral home to arrange for your loved one to be transferred into their care. At Covenant Funeral & Crematory, we are available 24 hours a day. You can call us at any hour and we will walk you through exactly what happens next — no pressure, no rush.

Step 4: Secure the home.

If your loved one lived alone, make sure the home is secure. Locate important documents if you can — insurance policies, a will, Social Security card, military discharge papers if applicable. You do not need to find everything right now, but knowing where to look later helps.

Step 5: Let people help you.

This is the one most people skip. When someone offers to bring food, sit with you, make calls, or just be present — let them. You do not have to manage this alone.

What can wait:

Notifying employers, banks, or creditors. Posting on social media. Planning the service in detail. Going through belongings. Making any major decisions. All of that can wait until you have had time to breathe.

If you have questions about what to do next, call Covenant Funeral & Crematory at 423-485-0911. We are here any time, day or night.

What is direct cremation — and is it right for your family?

Tue, 12 May 2026 14:59:07 GMT

When a loved one passes, families in Chattanooga are often overwhelmed by decisions that need to be made quickly. One option that more families are choosing is direct cremation — and for good reason.

Direct cremation is the simplest form of cremation. There is no formal funeral service beforehand, no embalming, and no casket purchase required. Your loved one is cremated shortly after passing, and the remains are returned to your family, typically within a few days.

At Covenant Funeral & Crematory, our direct cremation starts at $1,195 — and includes everything your family needs. There are no hidden fees and no pressure to add services you don't want.

Many families choose direct cremation because it gives them the freedom to hold a memorial on their own terms — whether that's a gathering at home, a celebration of life at a meaningful location, or a private moment with close family.

If you have questions about direct cremation or want to understand all of your options, we're always available to talk — no obligation, no pressure. Call us anytime at 423-618-3436.