Leevy's Funeral Home in Charleston: Services, History, and What to Expect
What Leevy's Funeral Home offers in Charleston
Leevy's Funeral Home is a family-owned funeral service located in Charleston that has served the Lowcountry for generations. The home provides traditional funeral arrangements, cremation services, and pre-planning options for families in the Charleston area and surrounding communities. They work with families to handle the practical details of a funeral—from coordinating with cemeteries to arranging viewings and services—so you can focus on grieving and gathering with loved ones.
The funeral home is staffed by licensed funeral directors who can walk you through each step of the process, whether you're planning a service immediately or arranging details in advance. They can discuss casket and urn options, help you understand costs, and coordinate with churches, cemeteries, and other venues you may want to use.
Key Takeaways
- Leevy's Funeral Home offers traditional funerals, cremation services, and pre-planning arrangements for families in the Charleston area.
- Licensed funeral directors at the home can explain costs upfront and help you understand what different service options include.
- The funeral home coordinates with cemeteries, churches, and other venues to handle logistics so your family doesn't have to manage every detail alone.
- Pre-planning allows you to make decisions about your own funeral in advance, which can reduce stress and costs for your family later.
- Contacting the funeral home directly is the best way to learn about current pricing, available times for viewings, and specific services they offer.
How to contact Leevy's Funeral Home
You can reach Leevy's Funeral Home by phone to discuss immediate needs or to ask questions about their services. When you call, a funeral director can answer questions about pricing, availability, and what to expect during the planning process. If you're calling after hours, most funeral homes have an answering service that can direct urgent calls to an on-call director.
If you prefer to visit in person, the funeral home is located in Charleston. Stopping by allows you to see the facilities, meet staff, and discuss arrangements face-to-face. Many families find this helpful when they're making decisions about caskets, urns, or service options.
Understanding funeral service costs
Funeral homes are required by federal law to provide an itemized price list when you ask, so you can see exactly what each service costs. At Leevy's, as at other funeral homes, costs typically include the funeral director's services, use of the funeral home facilities, casket or urn, transportation, and preparation of the body. Costs vary depending on which services you choose and whether you select a traditional burial or cremation.
Many families find it helpful to ask about package options, which bundle common services together at a set price. You can also ask whether the funeral home offers payment plans or works with insurance companies that may help cover costs. Getting this information upfront helps you make decisions that fit your budget and your family's wishes.
Pre-planning your funeral in advance
Pre-planning means making decisions about your own funeral before the need arises. You can meet with a funeral director at Leevy's to discuss what kind of service you want, whether you prefer burial or cremation, and what music, readings, or other details matter to you. These conversations can be recorded in a pre-plan document that your family can refer to later.
Pre-planning can reduce the burden on your family during a difficult time and may lock in current prices, protecting against future cost increases. Some people also choose to pre-fund their funeral through the funeral home or through a separate funeral trust account, though this is optional. A funeral director can explain the options and answer questions about how pre-planning works.
What to bring when you contact the funeral home
When you first call or visit Leevy's Funeral Home, have the following information ready if possible: the person's full name, date of birth, and date of death (if applicable). If the person has already passed, you may also want to know whether they had any specific wishes about their funeral, whether they had life insurance, and whether they owned a cemetery plot.
If you're pre-planning for yourself, bring any documents that describe your wishes—a will, a letter to family members, or notes about your preferences. The funeral director can help you organize this information and create a formal pre-plan document. If you're unsure what information you need, the funeral director can tell you what's most important to have on hand.
Working with cemeteries and other venues
Leevy's Funeral Home coordinates with cemeteries throughout the Charleston area to arrange burial, including opening and closing the grave and handling paperwork. If you already own a plot at a specific cemetery, the funeral home can work with that cemetery. If you don't have a plot, the funeral director can discuss options and help you understand what cemetery services cost.
The funeral home also works with churches and other venues where families want to hold services or viewings. If you want to hold a service at a specific church or community space, the funeral director can help coordinate timing, logistics, and any requirements the venue may have. This coordination means you don't have to manage multiple phone calls and conversations yourself.
Cremation services and options
Cremation is an alternative to traditional burial and is chosen by many families for personal, religious, or financial reasons. Leevy's Funeral Home offers cremation services and can explain the process, timeline, and costs involved. You can choose to have a viewing or service before cremation, after cremation, or no formal service at all—the choice is yours.
After cremation, you receive the ashes in an urn of your choice. The funeral home can show you urn options ranging from simple to decorative, and can discuss what to do with the ashes—whether you want to keep them, scatter them, or bury them in a cemetery. A funeral director can walk through all these options and answer questions about what each choice involves.
Frequently Asked Questions
What's the difference between a funeral director and a funeral home?
A funeral home is the business and building where services are held and arrangements are made. A funeral director is a licensed professional who works at the funeral home and helps families plan services, explains costs, and coordinates logistics. Leevy's Funeral Home employs licensed funeral directors who handle these responsibilities.
Can I plan a funeral for someone who is still living?
Yes. Pre-planning allows you to make decisions about your own funeral in advance, or you can help an aging parent or family member plan theirs. This is called pre-planning or pre-arrangement, and it can reduce stress and costs for your family later. A funeral director at Leevy's can walk you through the process.
What if I can't afford a traditional funeral?
Cremation is typically less expensive than traditional burial. You can also choose a simple service with fewer add-ons, or ask about direct cremation or direct burial, which skip the viewing and formal service. Talk to a funeral director about your budget—they can explain what options fit your financial situation.
How do I know if Leevy's Funeral Home is the right choice for my family?
Many families choose a funeral home based on location, reputation, religious or cultural fit, and personal comfort with the staff. Visiting in person or calling to ask questions can help you decide. You're not obligated to use the first funeral home you contact—it's reasonable to call a few and compare.
What happens if I die away from home?
If you die outside Charleston, the funeral home can arrange to have your body transported back to Leevy's or to another funeral home of your choice. This is called a transfer, and the funeral home can handle the logistics and paperwork. Call to discuss your situation and what this would involve.