This review was mostly written this time last year, but I didn't have the heart to finish and post…read moreit until now. I made the decision to make this review more about the process than my experience; to help someone doing research like I was at the time, since it can be overwhelming. That being said these prices are from the end of 2022 and if you have a specific question about my experience you can always send me a message. I dealt with multiple people here and overall this is a wonderful service. I called while my father was in hospice to be prepared and get instructions, they were very kind to me and very helpful. While I was calling the Bryan office, it was my experience through this process that the phone systems between the Bryan and Austin locations are combined in some way and their answering service is as well. Their website is very helpful if you need to get information in advance. Since my father was in hospice, all we had to do was provide the phone number for ABCS to hospice and they called once my father was pronounced. They will send someone out to retrieve your loved ones body. They do prioritize removals from the home over the hospital, so if there are multiple calls in a night, they may use a third party to dispatch to your home to handle this in a timely manner (more on that later) but they do have their own staff that they utilize first. They will then email the next of kin several forms to be filled out in the next several days and transport the body to Austin. These forms include a cremation authorization, an authorization to embalm and a death certificate order form. On the cremation authorization you can order urns and engraving as well, but I believe you need to look at their catalog online and specify on the form. I did call several times for help during this process and they were very helpful. There will be a later email about the vital statistics and the accuracy of this form being signed off is necessary before the death certificates can be issued. The death certificates need to be paid for in advance and typically take 10-14 days to arrive in the mail. This is due to the current cost in the state but I believe the first one is $20-25 with additional copies being $4. They had a bundle cost for 10 and 15 and I believe we got 10 for around $55. If the 10-14 days won't work, the form had an option for expediting for an additional $30 and I believe this was an overnight service after processing instead of regular mail. The timeframe for remains depends upon how quickly you provide the cremation packet, the doctors, how long of a wait there is ahead of your loved ones cremation and the type of urn you order. At the end of September I was told it could take up to 4 to 6 weeks total, but it was sooner than that. A few years ago my parents used this process for my grandfather and I think it took 2-3 weeks. You will set up an appointment to go to Austin to pick up the remains and pay at that time. Although I believe arrangements can be made to have the remains shipped to you, I'm not sure of those details as my mother did not trust USPS with tracking for such an important task. The cost of cremation was $775 plus any expediting you choose and the type of urn you choose and if you arrange service through them. I did not look into their packages for arranging a funeral service. They will also post a photo and obituary on their website if you email it to them, at no additional cost. There were three mishaps throughout this process, which was about a month long. The first was the third party who picked up my father was inappropriate with my mother and sister. I spoke to ABCS about this who forwarded me to the owner, Robert, who took it very seriously and handled the situation. As I stated above, they only use a third party when time is a factor and they are already on a call. The second was an unnecessary delay for the death certificates. Anthony handled this situation and accommodated me by sending me a scan to handle my fathers affairs as I had travelled across the state to do so, and the physical copy wouldn't be available until several days later. The delay shouldn't have occurred, but they held themselves accountable and were accommodating, so I wasn't very concerned about this. The third was a much bigger deal, but I do acknowledge they did what they could to make it right and I do appreciate it. Long story short, there was a miscommunication and his ashes had not arrived in time for the appointment to pick up. However, they did agree to meet my mother and sister outside of business hours and offered a partial refund to rectify the situation. Again, I'm leaving out a lot of details because of limited space, but the important thing is that they did resolve it and if the person I had been dealing with on the issue had been available I don't think I would have been given the wrong information in the first place.

They are AWFUL, THE WORST YOU COULD IMAGINE !!! You can…read morenever actually call and talk to anyone who really works there just answering service that supposedly pass on messages. Well they take forever to call, and often to do not bother to call at the prearranged time. And the director himself was very rude on the phone the one time I managed to talk to someone and had no patience with any of my questions. He said i was asking too many. After a week of my friend being stuck at the coroners morgue, this funeral home had not contacted me further at all, despite my messaging them through their contact email form on their website and by leaving numerous messages with the answering service. So I gave up on them and finally read the SO BAD yelp reviews for Affordable Burial and Cremation company, and chose another business to go with which showed a five star rating. Well, I contacted that other business after hours on a Tuesday around 520 pm. Left a message with a real person. Within a half hour I got a call from the owner of that business. By Thursday later afternoon everything was squared away with all needed forms signed, and by the next day my friends body was moved from the morgue to the funeral home. And everything after that went very smoothly. So bottom line DO NOT DEAL WITH AFFORDABLE BURIAL AND CREMATION EVER. They do not respect their customers, so I doubt if they respect the dead.

Months ago I went and asked for my mom,s death certificate and didn't want to give it to me, they…read morewere so unprofessional and treated me and my Aunt with no respect.

I first used Austin Peel and Son for their direct cremation service for my dad's passing in 2003…read moreand the service was great then. Our friend passed away unexpectedly Feb 18, 2021 during the COVID locked down and the services they provided this time was truly extraordinary - especially Victoria. It was a very difficult situation as the next of kin and the family live in Hong Kong. From the first conversation we had with Victoria in Feb.... She provided detail explanation of the whole process, the direct cremation service, interaction with medical examiner office, timeline, expectation, and then the actual cremation event. The most extraordinary service Victoria provided was her willingness to go over and beyond to pack the remain per USPS and international shipping specs. Miraculously the package arrived in Hong Kong the day of the Zoom memorial service! The family and all of us were truly touched. Victoria was there every step of the way and communicated effectively and timely even after office hours due to the time difference in Hong Kong. This week we finally had closure with Victoria receiving and mailing to Hong Kong and I the official death certificate. I will highly recommend Austin Peel and Son and Victoria without any reservation.

Where do I even begin?…read more The compassion, kindness, and guidance I received from Helping Hands Funeral & Cremation Services made one of the most difficult times in my life so much easier to navigate. From the very beginning, Clara was incredibly kind, patient, and understanding. She walked me through every step of the process, explained everything clearly, and made sure I had all the information I needed while recognizing the grief I was experiencing. When I returned to pick up my brother's ashes, she never rushed me. She took the time to listen, answer my questions, and even shared information about the many options available for end-of-life planning, which gave me peace of mind for the future. Her compassion and willingness to simply listen meant more than she probably realizes. My first impression of Helping Hands continued with Cindy, who came to the hospital to pick up my brother. Before she left, she asked me what kind of music he liked because she wanted to play his favorite music during his final ride to the crematorium. That simple act of compassion touched my heart more than words can express. She also gave me a heartfelt hug and offered her sincere condolences. In that moment, I knew my brother was in caring hands. Losing someone you love is one of life's hardest experiences, but the genuine care shown by Clara, Cindy, and the entire Helping Hands team made all the difference. They treated my brother with dignity and treated me with kindness, compassion, and respect every step of the way. From the bottom of my heart, thank you. I will never forget the love and care you showed my brother and our family.

Joseph Brewer and staff was Superior and a true representation of how a funeral home should conduct…read morebusiness for their community. It is not often when you're going through a traumatic grieving experience that you are given a group of professionals that will be so attentive and handle ALL of the necessary needs to make sure that loved one is in a caring environment and also the family. I am always going to be grateful to Fuller Sheffield Funeral Home for taking care of My World's Greatest Daddy Ever, Mr. Lawrence Washington. We loved the United States Air Force Veteran dedication with taps playing and the folding of the flag. This memory will always be cherished and the blanket is so incredible!! Thank you Fuller Sheffield Staff in it's entirety. Many Blessings from Mr. Lawrence Washington and his family

Joesph was very helpful with a friend of mine that had no income. She was able to contact Joseph…read morequickly and it was a pretty easy process after that.

Loss is enough to handle. Thankfully staff were supportive in the mist of my emotions. My ideas…read morewere understood. The service given was wonderful. Most importantly I felt completely comfortable with the services and with the staff. I felt a natural connection which I value tremendously. Consider Phillips Upshaw and Richard Funeral Home when making final arrangements for your loved ones.

They did a memorial service for my best friend's dad who died recently, and they were really…read moreprofessional with their work and customer service and very helpful throughout the entire process. I'm not sure what it cost entirely, because it wasn't my dad that died. I just was present for the service but being that it's not cheap to be alive, I can't imagine it was cheap dying either.

Absolutely the best service. They take amazing care of their customers and clients. Cannot…read morerecommend them high enough and 5 stars doesn't scratch the surface. Thank you mission.

This cemetery is located outside the Austin city limits and just north of Manor. The thing that…read moresets this cemetery apart from others, is the fact that it is for the indigent, and for those who cannot afford their own funeral. The cemetery is quite large as it sits on 99 acres. It does have a small parking lot for about a dozen cars and porta potties. If you qualify for a Travis county burial, you are entitled to a 20 minute service for a group of up to 20 people. They do offer a 9:30 am and an 11:30 am service time. Travis county has two such cemeteries, this being the largest one. At this point in time, there's only a few hundred burials here, and there is a section set aside for infants and children. The graves are laid out with concrete borders with name plates on the border itself, but you can erect your own small head stone should you choose. Definitely a great public service for those in need. https://www.traviscountytx.gov/

Rachel has been such a blessing during one of the toughest times of our family's lives. McCurdy…read morefuneral home has been so helpful and guided us through burying our loved one at our property. Rachel was very professional, knowledgeable, compassionate and kind to our family. We truly appreciate Rachel and highly recommend this funeral home.

Very professional assistance from Rachel, which was great because all of our business was…read moretransacted via telephone until the day of the service. Very clean, well organized facility. Lots of windows and natural light made for an attractive setting.