Traditional Services
BURIAL AND TRADITIONAL PACKAGES
At
Schilling Funeral Home & Cremation in
Sterling, Illinois, we understand that planning a traditional funeral is about more than arranging details. It is about honoring a life, gathering loved ones, and finding comfort together. Families throughout
Sterling, Rock Falls, Dixon, and the surrounding Sauk Valley communities have trusted our caring, experienced team to guide them through this emotional time with dignity, respect, and genuine compassion. Whether your family chooses a visitation, a service in our chapel or a church, or a graveside farewell, we work closely with you to create a meaningful tribute that reflects your loved one’s personality, values, and legacy. Our goal is to support you with clarity, care, and heartfelt attention at every step of the planning process.
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Our Traditional & Burial Packages
Choosing a traditional funeral or burial service is a deeply personal decision, and every family’s needs are different. At Schilling Funeral Home & Cremation, we offer a range of traditional service options designed to honor your loved one with dignity, care, and respect while giving your family the support you need during a difficult time. Whether you are planning a full traditional funeral with visitation and graveside services or a more simplified burial arrangement, our team will guide you through each option and help you create a meaningful service that reflects your loved one’s life, values, and wishes.
Traditional Funeral Service
This option is designed for families who wish to honor their loved one with a full traditional funeral service, including visitation, ceremony, and graveside committal. It provides time for family and friends to gather, reflect, and celebrate a life well lived, with professional guidance every step of the way. Families can hold the service at Schilling Funeral Home or at a church of their choice, creating a meaningful and personal farewell.
This package includes:
- Basic services of the funeral director and staff
- Transfer of your loved one to the funeral home
- Embalming and other necessary preparation of the body
- Professional staff for visitation (up to two hours on the day of the funeral)
- Funeral service and graveside service with staff assistance
- Use of hearse for the graveside service
Families who wish to have an extended visitation or gathering the evening before the service may add this option for $390.

To take advantage of cost savings, the casket must be purchased from Schilling Funeral Home, representing a savings of $697.
Graveside Service with Visitation Night Before
This option provides families with a meaningful way to honor their loved one through a graveside service, while also offering the opportunity for an intimate visitation the night before. It allows family and friends to gather, share memories, and offer support in a personal and reflective setting.
This package includes:
- Basic services of the funeral director and staff
- Transfer of your loved one to the funeral home
- Embalming and other necessary preparation of the body
- Up to two-hour visitation the evening before the graveside service
- Professional staff for the graveside service
- Use of hearse for transfer to the cemetery (within a 25-mile radius)

This package is ideal for families who want a focused, intimate farewell while still providing time to gather with loved ones beforehand.
Graveside Service without Visitation
This option is designed for families who prefer a straightforward graveside service without a prior visitation. It provides a dignified and respectful way to honor your loved one while keeping the focus on the ceremony at the cemetery.
This package includes:
- Basic services of the funeral director and staff
- Transfer of your loved one to the funeral home
- Embalming and other necessary preparation of the body
- Professional staff for the graveside service
- Use of hearse for transfer to the cemetery (within a 25-mile radius)

This package offers a meaningful farewell while keeping the service simple and focused on honoring your loved one’s life.
Immediate Burial
This option is designed for families who prefer a straightforward burial without a formal visitation or funeral service. It provides a dignified and respectful way to lay your loved one to rest, while offering flexibility in choosing a casket that meets your family’s needs and preferences.
This package includes:
- Basic services of the funeral director and staff
- Transfer of your loved one to the funeral home
- Necessary care and preparation of the body
- Sheltering of remains until burial
- Use of hearse for transfer to the local cemetery
Casket options:
- You may provide your own casket
- Select a casket from our funeral home’s available options, as listed on our casket price list
This package allows families to focus on honoring their loved one with a simple, respectful burial while providing choices that fit their circumstances and wishes.
Forwarding Remains to Another Funeral Home
This option is designed for families who need to have their loved one transported to another funeral home for final services. It ensures your loved one is handled with care and respect during transfer, while giving families flexibility to coordinate services elsewhere.
This package includes:
- Basic services of the funeral director and staff
- Transfer of your loved one to Schilling Funeral Home & Cremation
Please note: Additional services may be required at the receiving funeral home to complete arrangements.

This option provides peace of mind for families arranging services in another location, ensuring your loved one is cared for with dignity during every step of the transfer process.
Receiving Remains from Another Funeral Home
This option is designed for families whose loved one is being transported from another funeral home to Schilling Funeral Home & Cremation. We ensure your loved one is received and cared for with the utmost respect and compassion.
This package includes:
- Basic services of the funeral director and staff
- Transfer of your loved one to Schilling Funeral Home & Cremation

Please note: Additional services may be required to complete arrangements at our funeral home.
This option provides peace of mind for families coordinating services locally after a transfer, knowing that every detail is handled with care and professionalism.
Donation to Medical Science
This option is designed for families who wish to donate their loved one’s body to medical science. It ensures that your loved one is handled with care, dignity, and respect while contributing to important research and education.
This package includes:
- Basic services of the funeral director and staff
- Transfer of your loved one to Schilling Funeral Home & Cremation (within 25 miles)
- Sheltering of remains for 2+ hours prior to transport
- Transportation to medical science facilities (within 100 miles)
This option provides families with the reassurance that their loved one’s donation is managed professionally, supporting a meaningful contribution to medical research while honoring their life with care.
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Why Gathering Together Matters
The days following the loss of a loved one can feel overwhelming, but no family should have to navigate grief alone. A traditional funeral brings family members, friends, neighbors, and the community together to offer support, share memories, and celebrate a life that made a lasting impact.
For families throughout Sterling, Rock Falls, Dixon, Morrison, and communities across the Sauk Valley, gathering together provides an opportunity to reconnect, reflect, and remember. Whether loved ones travel from nearby or across the country, a funeral creates a meaningful time to honor the person who brought everyone together.

These shared moments often become lasting memories themselves. A comforting embrace, a heartfelt story, or simply being surrounded by people who care can provide strength during one of life's most difficult moments.
A Meaningful Way to Honor and Remember a Life
A traditional funeral offers families the opportunity to recognize a loved one's life with dignity, respect, and purpose. Services often include a visitation, funeral ceremony, procession, and graveside committal, allowing family and friends time to gather, reflect, and say goodbye in a meaningful way.
Each part of the service serves an important role. A visitation encourages conversation and remembrance, the funeral ceremony celebrates a life and legacy, and the graveside service provides a final opportunity for reflection before burial.

Many families tell us that participating in these traditions helps make the reality of their loss easier to process while creating cherished memories that remain with them for years to come.
Honoring Faith, Family Traditions,
and Personal Wishes
Every family has its own traditions, beliefs, and values that deserve to be respected. At Schilling Funeral Home & Cremation, we work closely with each family to create a funeral service that reflects their loved one's faith, personality, and wishes.
Whether you prefer a church funeral, a service in our chapel, military honors, or a more personalized ceremony, we will help ensure every detail reflects what mattered most to your loved one and your family.

For many families throughout the Sauk Valley, incorporating scripture readings, favorite hymns, meaningful music, cultural traditions, or personal tributes brings comfort while honoring the life and legacy of someone deeply loved.
Personalizing a Traditional Funeral Service
Today's traditional funerals offer many opportunities for personalization while preserving the timeless traditions that families value. Every service can be thoughtfully designed to celebrate the unique story of the individual being remembered.
Personal touches may include:
- Family photographs and memory displays
- Video tributes celebrating a life well lived
- Favorite music or meaningful songs
- Military honors for eligible veterans
- Religious readings, prayers, or cultural traditions
- Personal stories shared by family and friends
- Special keepsakes or memorial items
- Meaningful décor that reflects hobbies, passions, or accomplishments
These thoughtful details help transform a funeral into a meaningful tribute that celebrates a life, strengthens family connections, and creates lasting memories for everyone in attendance.
Guidance and Support When You Need It Most
Making funeral arrangements while grieving can feel overwhelming. Having compassionate professionals to guide you through each step allows you to focus on what matters most: being present with your family and honoring your loved one.
From your first conversation with our staff through the funeral service and burial, Schilling Funeral Home & Cremation is here to provide experienced guidance, answer your questions, and help you make informed decisions with confidence.

Families throughout Sterling, Rock Falls, Dixon, Morrison, and the surrounding Sauk Valley have trusted us because we understand that every life is unique and every family deserves compassionate, personalized care. Our goal is to create a meaningful funeral service that reflects your loved one's legacy while providing comfort, peace, and support during a difficult time.