Zachrich Funeral Home & Cremation Services
Celebrating Life and Honoring Memories
114 William Street     Holgate, Ohio 43527     Telephone: 419-264-0600
Zachrich Funeral Home is located in Holgate, Ohio, and is owned and operated by Ryan Zachrich.
Celebrating Life and Honoring Memories, we are there for you in your time of need.
(c) 2006 - 2010 All Rights Reserved.
How do you know if a funeral home is reputable?
Personal recommendations from others in the community can be very valuable in selecting a funeral home.  Attending
a funeral or visitation can help you judge the facility and the professionalism, courtesy, and hospitality of the staff.  
Just stop in and see for yourself.

What would happen if a funeral home was sold or closed (and I prepaid for my funeral)?
100% of preneed money is deposited into a trust or insurance policy.  Your policy could be transferred.  The new
funeral home owner would be required to honor the contract that has been made.

Why choose a family owned funeral home?
A family owned funeral home can better serve you, because you are dealing directly with the people who own the
funeral home.  Some area funeral homes are owned by large out-of-state corporations which may not have your
best interest in mind.  They answer to investors who are only interested in financial return.  Decisions which affect
OUR funeral home are made right here, by us the owners, who have the community's interest in mind, since we live
and raise our families right here.

Which funeral homes in Henry County are family owned?
Hanneman Funeral Home, Deshler - Rodenberger Funeral Homes, Deshler, McClure and Napoleon
Wright-Hobbs Funeral Home, Liberty Center - Zachrich Funeral Home and Cremation Services, Holgate

I want to start preplanning for a funeral.  Do I have to prepay for everything?
No.  Pre-financing is suggested but by just selecting the merchandise and providing information, you are giving your
family a map to follow in the event of your death.

What can I do as protection against rising costs of funerals?
Simply, pre-financing your funeral arrangements.  Prices would be locked in regardless of continuing inflation.

Is embalming necessary?
Embalming is not required by Ohio law.  It is usually required by the funeral home if there is to be public visitation.  
This is done for temporary preservation and disinfection.

How is a cremation service different from a traditional service?
It doesn't have to be different at all.  Every aspect of a "traditional" service can also be a part of a service involving
cremation, such as visitation, a "Memorial Tribute Video", and a funeral.  The only difference is earth burial versus
cremation (the final disposition).

Should children attend funerals?
Yes.  Attending the services allow the child to be part of the family at a time when they need love and attention the
most.  If the child is leery of the visitation and/or funeral, special arrangements can be made.  The important thing is
not to isolate the child from the situation.  Children grieve, as adults do but in a different way.

I don't live in Holgate but I would still like your professional services.  Can you help?
Absolutely.  As you may have seen in the past, we have had services in other communities.  We can accommodate
your wishes with visitation here at Zachrich Funeral Home or in another community (at a church or other facility)
with the funeral to follow in either location or community.

When I go to the funeral home, I never know what to say.  What is proper etiquette?
Funerals bring friends and family together.  You are saying more than you know with just your presence.  Show
them you care with a simple hand shake, a hand on the shoulder, or a hug.  Don't try to say something profound.  A
simple, "I'm sorry for your loss" will do.  Your friend may show a variety of emotions.  You, as a friend, can help by
simply listening.  After the services are over, your friend may still feel a great deal of pressure.  You can help lighten
the load by offering to help out with household chores, laundry, cleaning, dinner or running errands).  Your friend
may feel isolated.  You can help by offering an invitation to dinner, getting a cup of coffee or any other social
gathering.  If there is refusal, try again in a few weeks.  Remember your friend 's life has been torn apart, and putting
it back together may mean finding a new role in life.

What do I need to bring to the funeral home when making (at-need) arrangements?
We ask families to bring information that will be helpful in compiling the obituary, and photos, not only for the obituary
but for a "Memorial Tribute Video", if desired, clothing for the deceased, Veteran discharge papers (DD214), a
cemetery deed and any insurance policies, if you would like help filing those policies.

Why would I need to purchase certified copies of death?
A death certificate is a legal proof of death.  They may be needed for the transfer of stocks, bonds, titles, bank
accounts, retirement funds, life insurance policies and other benefits.  Certificates in Henry County cost $23.00 each
but costs vary from county to county in Ohio.

Why are funerals so expensive and what is the average cost?
In comparing other major life events, births or weddings, funerals are not expensive.  A wedding can cost 2-3 times
as much (or more), but because a wedding is a happy event, those costs are rarely criticized.  A funeral home is a
24 hour, seven day a week, labor intensive business with extensive facilities, merchandise and equipment.  It is our
hope that you will see the value in the services we provide.  The average cost of a funeral in our area is $8000.  Of
course this depends on the services and merchandise selected.  Cash advanced items can greatly increase the total
funeral cost.  These are the items our funeral home will advance for the family.  Your personal needs and desires
determine the funeral cost.

Should the body of the deceased be present at the funeral?
Of course this is the decision the family must make.  Please consider this.  Would you have a baptism without the
baby present?  Would you have a birthday or graduation party without the honoree?  Would you have a wedding
without the bride or groom?  Seeing is believing, and experts agree that viewing the deceased allows the opportunity
to begin the experience of life without that special person.

Where can I get a "Memorial Tribute Video" made?
The Zachrich Funeral Home has them professionally made by JeffEmery.com at no cost to you.  All you need to do is
provide the photos for the video.  This is our gift to you for allowing us to serve you in your time of need.  It is an
additional way we commemorate a life once lived.

Do you have a crematory at your facility?
We do not cremate in our building but we provide cremation services just like any other funeral home.  There is really
no advantage to using a funeral home with an on-site crematory.  Come in and we can discuss cremation and all the
options.

What are the best times to schedule visitation?
There is no "best" time.  It is really up to the family, with the exception of occasionally having some restrictions due to
other funeral schedules.  Most people desire calling hours during the afternoon and evening, such as 2-4 and 6-8
pm.  Other families would prefer having visitation run straight through the day until 9 pm.  We do offer a large family
room for refreshments.  Some families opt to have visitation the same day as the funeral.  We will tailor the visitation
to your needs.

Can I make cemetery arrangements through the funeral home?
As a full-service funeral home, we can assist families with all aspects of their funeral arrangements.  We are not
affiliated with any cemetery but we have the contacts to all the local cemeteries.

Where does prepaid funeral money go?
Funds prepaid for a funeral are strictly monitored and regulated.  In Ohio, funds must be held by a third party, not the
funeral home.  There are primarily two manners in which to fund a funeral in advance of need.  One is by using a
trust, and the other is by using a prepaid insurance policy.  Both methods usually employ a price guarantee on
funeral services and merchandise, and they both can be set up irrevocably, which can satisfy one of the
requirements for Medicaid.  Each is a completely safe method of funding.

What if my spouse dies out of state?
Call our funeral home first.  We will make arrangements to have your loved one sent back to Henry County as quickly
as possible.

What if we want services in Holgate but burial in another state?
This is not a problem.  We are very experienced in having remains transferred to other areas for burial.  We have
sent remains to 22 American states, Canada, Mexico, and Germany.
Frequently Asked Questions
You may still have questions.  We would like to know what they are.  Ask your
question(s), submit them and we will get you the answers you need.
Questions:
Sender's Name:
Sender's Email: