Catholic Charities offers support to families facing financial hardship by assisting with burial and funeral arrangements for their loved ones. Our program is designed to help ease the burden during difficult times, providing financial assistance and guidance in making final plans.
Eligibility
Catholic Charities’ Burial Assistance Program is designed to support families facing financial hardship and unable to afford funeral and burial expenses. This program serves families without insurance, those unable to negotiate financial arrangements with a funeral home, or those unable to afford traditional death expenses. To be eligible for assistance, the deceased must have been a resident of one of the 46 counties of the Diocese of Charlotte and/or interred or buried in one of those counties.
What the Program Covers
The Burial Assistance Program works in partnership with select local funeral homes that generously provide dignified burial services at a significantly reduced cost. The specific services and fees are pre-determined through formal agreements between Catholic Charities and the funeral homes. As part of this arrangement, funeral homes agree not to offer additional services or fees beyond those established in the agreement. Families participating in the program will not receive any bills from the funeral homes; instead, invoices are sent directly to Catholic Charities for payment.
Funeral homes may agree to provide a set number of reduced-cost burials or participate on a case-by-case basis. Participation in the program is entirely voluntary, and funeral homes are free to withdraw from the program at any time.
Covered Services
The services offered through the Burial Assistance Program are specific and include the following:
- Transportation of the deceased from the place of death to the funeral home
- Minimal body preparation as determined by the funeral home director (embalming is not included)
- Provision of a metal or wooden casket or a standard cremation container
- Private viewing for the immediate family or responsible party, which may include prayers for the repose of the soul of the departed. The program does not cover a general public wake or viewing.
- If requested, transportation of the body or cremains from the funeral home to a Catholic Church for a funeral Mass (which must be privately arranged by the family). For cremations, if the body is present at the funeral Mass, the program covers transportation back to the funeral home for cremation.
- Transportation of the body or cremains by the funeral home to the gravesite
- Provision of a tent and chairs at the gravesite
- Funeral home staff to transport the body from the hearse to the gravesite
- Graveside religious services, if arranged by the family or responsible party
- In-ground burial or interment, though a permanent marker is not necessarily included.
- Use of a mechanical casket-lowering device
- Filing of the death certificate, with one certified copy provided to the responsible party
The Burial Assistance program does not cover costs for transporting the deceased out of state or out of the country.
Program Funding
We recognize that burial costs can be overwhelming, and we encourage families to contribute what they are able to toward the expense. However, thanks to the generosity of individuals, churches, and civic organizations in our community, we are able to offer financial assistance to families in need. This support helps ease the burden of funeral and burial expenses.
Payment Options
To pay for services online, please click payments.
Contact Information
If you are interested in learning more about the Burial Assistance Program or need assistance with an application, please reach out to one of our dedicated direct assistance coordinators, who can provide guidance and support. Contact the following staff members in your area: