What services do funeral homes offer? A complete overview
Introduction
When a loved one passes away, families face a multitude of decisions that need to be made quickly. Funeral homes step in as essential guides, offering a range of services that extends far beyond what is generally imagined.
From taking charge of the deceased to administrative formalities, including organising the ceremony and choosing the coffin, these professionals coordinate all practical aspects of the funeral. However, not all services are mandatory, and it is important to understand what is essential and what constitutes an option.
This guide details the full range of services offered by funeral homes in Switzerland: basic services, optional services, price ranges and advice for adapting the offering to your actual needs. Whether you are planning your funeral in advance or organising that of a loved one, understanding this complete overview will enable you to make informed choices and avoid unnecessary services.
Our objective: to give you a clear and transparent view so you can choose the services suited to your situation, respecting your wishes and your budget.
📌 Summary (TL;DR)
Funeral homes offer essential services (taking charge of the body, transport, administrative formalities, organising the ceremony) and optional services (personalisation, monuments, death notices). Understanding this distinction allows you to adapt services to your actual needs and avoid unnecessary costs.
Pricing transparency and dialogue with the service provider are essential for organising a dignified funeral that meets your expectations, whilst controlling your budget.
📚 Table of contents
Essential services offered by funeral homes
Funeral homes provide a foundation of basic services that are essential for organising a dignified funeral. These services include taking charge of the deceased, placing them in a coffin, transport and coordinating the ceremony.
These essential services form the minimum of any funeral offering, regardless of the company chosen. Their content varies according to the type of funeral: cremation or burial. Each option involves specific procedures and different costs.
To fully understand the implications of this fundamental choice, consult our guide Cremation or burial: how to choose the right option.
Taking charge of and preserving the body
The first service provided by funeral homes consists of transporting the deceased from the place of death to their premises. This transport takes place from a home, hospital, care home or any other location.
Once arrived, the body is placed in a cold room to ensure its preservation in optimal conditions. Preservation treatments may be provided if necessary, depending on the time before the ceremony.
In Switzerland, legislation imposes precise timeframes between death and the funeral. This service guarantees the dignity of the deceased and allows families to take the necessary time to organise the ceremony.
Preparation and presentation of the deceased
The preparation of the body includes the mortuary toilet, dressing according to clothing chosen by the family, and possibly discreet makeup. These thanatopraxy treatments aim to restore a peaceful appearance to the deceased.
The body is then presented in a coffin or a specially arranged viewing room. This stage allows loved ones to pay their respects and say goodbye in a respectful setting.
This moment of farewell is essential in the grieving process. It offers families a final time of intimacy with their departed loved one, in conditions that preserve their dignity.
Choice of coffin and urn
Funeral homes offer a varied range of coffins: solid wood (oak, pine), chipboard or ecological cardboard. Each material meets different criteria of budget, ecological convictions and local regulations.
For cremation, the choice of cremation urn is made from several options: ceramic, wood, metal or biodegradable materials. Some urns are designed to be scattered at sea or in nature.
Prices vary considerably depending on materials and finish. A cardboard coffin costs a few hundred francs, whilst a solid wood model can exceed 3,000 CHF. Your funeral home will guide you according to your needs.
Organisation of the funeral ceremony
Funeral homes play a central role in coordinating the ceremony. They book the appropriate venue: church, temple, crematorium, cemetery or civil hall.
They also liaise with officiants, whether religious (priest, pastor, imam, rabbi) or secular. This coordination guarantees the smooth running of the ceremony according to the family's wishes.
Complete logistics are taken care of: installing flowers, arranging chairs, audio system for music, ceremony booklets. Each religious tradition has its own rites and requirements. To find out more, consult our article Catholic, Protestant, Muslim and Jewish funerals: what are the differences?
Coordination with different parties
The funeral home acts as a link between the family and all the parties involved in organising the funeral. It coordinates with the municipal administration for the necessary authorisations.
It manages relations with the cemetery or crematorium, books time slots and ensures procedures are followed. It also coordinates with florists, musicians and other service providers involved.
This role as conductor is invaluable. It relieves bereaved families of the logistical burden and allows them to focus on their grief. All practical aspects are handled by a single point of contact.
Personalising the ceremony
Funeral homes support families in personalising the ceremony to pay a unique tribute to the deceased. The choice of music helps create an atmosphere that reflects the personality of the departed.
Creating ceremony booklets with photos, texts and poems offers a tangible support for participants. Floral decoration can be adapted to the deceased's favourite colours and flowers.
Other options include projecting photos or slideshows, personalised speeches by loved ones, or incorporating symbolic objects. These elements transform the ceremony into a truly personal tribute.
Administrative formalities
The administrative formalities related to a death are numerous and complex. Funeral homes handle the death declaration with the civil registry within legal timeframes.
They obtain the burial or cremation permit from the relevant authorities. They coordinate with the civil registry for the establishment of official documents and can order several copies of death certificates for subsequent procedures.
This administrative service relieves families of a significant burden during a period of grief. Procedures are carried out quickly and correctly, avoiding delays and complications. Families can thus focus on what matters: their mourning and organising the ceremony.
Transport services
Transport services constitute an essential component of funeral services. The first transport takes place from the place of death to the funeral home's premises, at any time of day or night.
On the day of the ceremony, the hearse provides transport to the ceremony venue, then to the cemetery or crematorium. These journeys comply with strict standards of dignity and safety.
For particular situations, special transport is organised: national or international repatriation of the deceased, long-distance transport between cantons. The vehicles used (hearse, funeral van) are specially equipped and maintained according to current standards.
Optional and complementary services
Beyond basic services, funeral homes offer additional services that allow funerals to be completed and personalised according to each family's needs.
These optional services include writing and distributing death notices, supplying funeral articles (memorial plaques, headstones), organising a reception after the ceremony, or engraving monuments.
These complementary services allow the funeral offering to be adapted to each family's budget and wishes. They are never mandatory and can be purchased individually according to your actual needs.
Publishing death notices
Publishing death notices allows the deceased's circle to be informed. Traditionally, this publication takes place in the written press, with costs varying between 800 and 2,000 CHF depending on the newspaper and the size of the announcement.
Digital platforms like Wolky offer a modern and accessible alternative at 180 CHF. These online solutions present several advantages: accessibility 24 hours a day, 7 days a week, easy sharing with loved ones via link or social networks, creation of memorial pages.
Wolky also allows you to add photos to the deceased's profile and collect condolences online. To publish a death notice, visit our publication page.
Funeral monuments and memorial articles
Funeral monuments constitute a lasting tribute to the memory of the deceased. Some funeral homes offer these services directly, others work with specialised partners.
Services include designing the monument according to the family's wishes, engraving the name and dates, installing personalised memorial plaques, and regular maintenance of burial sites.
Available materials vary from granite to marble, with different finishes and styles. The choice depends on budget, cemetery regulations and aesthetic preferences. Prices range from a few hundred to several thousand francs.
How to choose services suited to your needs
Faced with the diversity of funeral services, it is essential to identify what is truly necessary. Start by distinguishing essential services from complementary options according to your priorities.
Respect the wishes expressed by the deceased during their lifetime, if they are known. Consider your available budget without feeling obliged to choose the most expensive services. The dignity of a funeral does not depend on the price.
Do not give in to commercial pressure. Request several detailed quotes to compare offerings. To guide you in this choice, consult our articles How to choose a funeral home in Switzerland and How much do funerals cost in Switzerland?
Questions to ask your funeral home
Before committing, ask the essential questions to your funeral home. Ask clearly: What services are included in the basic package? What are the possible additional charges?
Enquire about response times: How quickly can you take charge of the deceased? When can the ceremony be organised? Also check: Do you provide a detailed and transparent written quote?
Ask the company about its ability to accommodate specific requests, whether religious, cultural or personal. A good funeral home will answer all your questions straightforwardly and provide you with a complete quote before any commitment.
The importance of pricing transparency
Pricing transparency is a fundamental criterion of quality and trust. Demand a clear and detailed quote, with each service listed individually and its associated price.
A transparent quote allows you to understand exactly what you are paying for and avoid unpleasant surprises. Be wary of global packages without detail or companies that refuse to provide a written quote.
Wolky promotes this transparency with its fixed price of 180 CHF for publishing death notices online, with no hidden fees. This clarity allows you to plan your funeral budget with peace of mind and make informed choices.
Digital alternatives to complement funeral services
Digital solutions now complement traditional funeral services. Online memorial pages, such as Memories on Wolky, allow you to create a permanent memory space accessible to all.
These digital tools offer the possibility of creating digital photo albums, sharing anecdotes and memories, and managing virtual condolences. They bring together loved ones who are geographically distant around a single place of remembrance.
To find a funeral home near you, consult Wolky's funeral home directory. If you wish to plan your own funeral in advance, discover our guide on advance funeral planning.
Funeral homes offer a complete range of services to support families in organising funerals: taking charge of the body, preparing the deceased, supplying the coffin or urn, coordinating the ceremony and managing administrative formalities. Each service meets a specific need and can be adapted according to your wishes and your budget.
Pricing transparency and clarity of services offered are essential for making an informed choice. Do not hesitate to compare several companies and ask all your questions before committing. Our practical guide helps you identify important selection criteria.
Beyond traditional funeral services, also consider complementary digital solutions. Wolky allows you to publish a death notice online for 180 CHF, accessible 24/7 and easily shareable with your loved ones. Also consult our funeral home directory to find a professional near you.
