When you know what brand and model car you want, it’s smart to shop dealerships to get the best deal. After all, the car is the same; the only difference is the cost. The same is not true when selecting a professional service:

• Every hospital has its own specialties.
• Every doctor and lawyer has different strengths.

The same applies to funeral services. It’s very easy to get confused when selecting a funeral home; the service descriptions sound the same, caskets, urns and vaults look the same, even the funeral facilities can appear similar. But all of these features can be misleading.

The primary differences between funeral homes are not tangible items, but intangible service. The staff employed at a funeral home, and available staff to assist you and your family during the funeral process can measure service. Administrative services are an important part of quality funeral services:

• Offering payment options including credit cards, insurance assignments, and accepting pre-need transfers.
• Applying for and ascertaining death certificates.
• Providing printing services for memorials.

In the final analysis, the most important factor in selecting a funeral home is ownership; over the past 25 years thousands of family owned funeral homes have been acquired by international corporations with investors, stock holders and corporate overhead. Family owned funeral homes have only one priority, to serve every family with professionalism and trust. Nalley-Pickle & Welch Funeral Home & Crematory has been family owned and operated for over 80 years and the Welch family has been serving West Texas families for three generations.

When it comes to cremation, if they own their own crematory, it is critical that way your loved one never leaves their care. For example, in the Midland and Big Spring area Nalley-Pickle & Welch Funeral Home & Crematory is the exclusive provider of the Cremation with Confidence™ guarantee.

Funeral pre-planning is a wise practice that’s becoming increasingly accepted and appreciated. The most important benefit from pre-planning is the peace of mind enjoyed by your entire family from knowing the important decisions have already been made and that money is set aside to pay for future funerals.

More and more families want to have a time of food and fellowship with their friends. Nalley Pickle & Welch Funeral Home & Crematory has a complete reception center with catering services available even a private home that can be utilized for the family to receive friends located at their Big Spring location. Soon the Midland location will have the equivalent reception set up as well.

Kasi Baker, owner and funeral director of Nalley Pickle & Welch Funeral Home & Crematory, is available to speak to church and civic groups on funeral pre-planning, the decisions to be made and the options available.