What do I do when a death occurs?

• And the arrangements were not made in advance?CALL: (301) 495-4950 24 hours a day, 7 days a week. Within minutes, you will speak with one of our licensed professionals who will guide you through the necessary arrangements.
• And it is outside the local area? CALL (866) 617-7100 or (301) 495-4950 and speak with one of our licensed professionals. Thibadeau Mortuary specializes in the return of human remains (repatriation) from anywhere in the world. We also offer a low cost return program for those who travel. Simply call us before you travel to sign up for this program.
• And we wish to send the remains outside the area? Although Thibadeau Mortuary is privately owned, we have reliable contacts throughout the United States and abroad. Simply call us, and we will make all the arrangements for you.
• And there are limited funds available? We at Thibadeau Mortuary pride ourselves on providing dignified alternatives to every family regardless of their budget. We participate in donor, victim assistance and social services programs among others. There is no need to be shy; simply call and we will provide all of your options.

Why should we choose Thibadeau Mortuary?

Simply put: price, flexibility and quality service. Thibadeau is a dignified service-oriented company founded and operated by native Washingtonian, James J. Thibadeau. Through a lifetime of experience serving grieving families in the Washington metropolitan area, we have formed a team of qualified, caring professionals who work to customize your burial or cremation service. Our lower prices put our efforts on the service you receive, not the address or size of our facility.

Why are Thibadeau Mortuary's charges so much less than the competition?

At Thibadeau Mortuary, we take a different approach to funerals and cremation. We maintain a modest facility and keep our overhead costs to a minimum. The professionals at Thibadeau Mortuary are hand-picked for their dedication to the community we serve. When called by a family in need, we set up our initial meeting in the comfort the family's home or office. Visitations and ceremonies are generally scheduled at the family's place of worship, home, civic center or one of our local churches, mosques, and synagogues. In short, we go above and beyond to keep your costs most reasonable.

What is an "Inter-Faith Funeral Provider?"

At Thibadeau Mortuary, we welcome the opportunity to share in the final farewell and rites of passage of all members of our multi-cultural community. All religious and non-religious families are welcome to join us in creating a personal and meaningful farewell for their loved one. The only limit to personalize your service is that of your family's imagination.

Where will the visitation and ceremony be held?

Thibadeau Mortuary can offer a small area for visitations and ceremonies, however, we recommend having your viewing and ceremony at your place of worship, the home of a family member, or another community facility. The older tradition of a "home-wake" is becoming more popular with such large and beautiful homes in our area.

Can family members and friends be personally involved in the care of our deceased loved one?

Absolutely. We encourage the family and friends to be involved in the care of their deceased loved one. One can contribute a loving gesture as a pallbearer, speaker at the ceremony or usher. They may also assist with organizing a repast or gathering following the ceremony or a gathering with the family during the actual burial or cremation. Some families even feel the healing benefit of assisting with matters that are more private. Such involvement can include preparing the deceased for transportation from the home or other place of death, carrying the remains to the stretcher, bathing or dressing the remains, applying cosmetics and hairdressing. Caring for our dead is perhaps the kindest gesture that anyone can provide; a good deed that need never be repaid.

How can we personalize our funeral or cremation ceremony?

You may consider writing a eulogy or poem for the service, speaking from the heart, decorating the casket or selecting a personalized casket, providing favorite music or a slide show of memories, singing or playing an instrument as part of the ceremony, assisting with the obituary or memorial folder/program, assembling a "memory table" of photographs and other memorabilia, creating a photo collage for display or a video memorial.