Frequently Asked Questions

When a loved one dies, first contact the appropriate medical authority: a hospice provider, doctor, or, if death occurs at home without hospice care, local emergency services. Once the death is pronounced, contact Fellows, Helfenbein & Newnam Funeral Home. Our trained staff will guide you through every step — from immediate transportation into our care, necessary paperwork, and planning a meaningful ceremony.

We will support you in honoring your loved one in a way that reflects their life and values with compassion and dignity.

Yes. Choosing cremation does not mean foregoing a ceremony. Families may select from several meaningful options depending on their preferences, traditions, and needs. This may include cremation with the choice to have formal gatherings or to hold a casual ceremony, memorial, reception, or celebration of life. The gathering may take place at a funeral home or another location of your choosing. Food and refreshments may be included or omitted based on your preferences, offering flexibility and simplicity so families can honor their loved one in a way that feels most meaningful to them.

Families may also choose cremation with a visitation or viewing with the deceased present in a ceremonial cremation casket, followed by a ceremony or celebration of life. After the ceremony, cremation takes place. This option allows family and friends to gather for a more traditional visitation experience while still selecting cremation as the final disposition, providing an opportunity for viewing, remembrance, and shared closure.

We offer guidance for all kinds of ceremonies, including:

• Traditional funeral ceremonies with viewing and gathering
• Celebrations of life
• Graveside ceremonies
• Ceremonies held before or after cremation
• Personalized cultural or religious ceremonies
• Tribute ceremonies at homes, parks, community venues, or places of special significance

Our goal is to ensure your ceremony reflects your family’s wishes and honors the life lived.

No. A rigid alternative container constructed from wood, cardboard, or other approved materials is required for cremation. These containers provide safe, respectful care and are cremated along with your loved one.

After the cremation process, the cremated remains will be respectfully returned to you in an urn or container of your choosing. We offer a variety of urns, keepsakes, and options for permanent placement or memorialization.

Yes — a container is required for the cremated remains.

It doesn’t have to be a traditional decorative “urn,” but there does need to be something to securely hold your loved one’s cremated remains. Many families choose a permanent urn for display at home, placement in a niche, or burial. Others may select a simpler temporary container if they plan to scatter or divide the remains at a later time.

We offer a wide selection of urns and keepsake options in various materials, styles, and price ranges, and we are always happy to help you choose what feels most meaningful for your family.

Families today have many meaningful and personal options for their loved one’s cremated remains. Some of the most popular choices include:

Atlantic Scattering at Sea

We offer a dignified ocean scattering service through our Atlantic Ash Scattering program. This option provides a peaceful and respectful farewell in the waters off the Maryland and Delaware coast. You can learn more here: https://www.fhnfuneralhome.com/what-we-do/atlantic-ash-scattering

Hand-Blown Glass Keepsakes

A small portion of cremated remains can be incorporated into beautifully crafted glass art pieces, creating a lasting and artistic tribute.

Biodegradable Urns & Keepsakes

For families who prefer an environmentally conscious option, biodegradable urns are available for earth burial or water placement.

Keepsake Jewelry & Sharing Options

Many families choose to divide a small portion of the remains into keepsake urns or memorial jewelry so multiple family members can hold a tangible remembrance.

Our team will walk you through all available options and help you select what best honors your loved one’s wishes and your family’s preferences.

Your loved one never leaves our care.

Fellows, Helfenbein & Newnam owns and operates our own private crematory. We do not use third-party cremation providers. This means your loved one remains in our professional care from the moment they are entrusted to us until the cremated remains are returned to your family.

Our crematory is regulated by the State Board of Morticians, and all of our crematory operators are fully state-certified. We follow strict identification, documentation, and procedural safeguards throughout the entire process to ensure the highest level of dignity, respect, and accountability. We only perform cremations for the families we personally serve. No outside or third-party cremations are conducted at our facility. Providing peace of mind and maintaining the highest standards of care is a responsibility we take very seriously.

At Fellows, Helfenbein & Newnam Funeral Home, your loved one never leaves our care. The oversight, dignity, and accurate identification of your loved one are our highest priorities. From the moment your loved one is placed in our care, strict identification and tracking procedures are followed throughout every step of the process.

All required licensing and crematory regulations are carefully adhered to, and our crematory staff follows established laws and professional standards at all times. Your loved one is assigned a unique identification disk that remains with them throughout the cremation process and is returned with the cremated remains to your family.

In addition to the identification disk, we utilize documentation from the place of death and, when provided, a photograph from the family to further ensure accurate identification. Our entire staff follows detailed Standard Operating Procedures with multiple layers of verification. For families who wish, we also offer the option of an in-person identification viewing for added reassurance.

These safeguards are in place to provide you with complete confidence that your loved one is cared for with the utmost respect and that the cremated remains you receive are unquestionably those of your loved one.

The timing varies based on state regulations, crematorium scheduling, and death certificate processing. Generally, families may expect the process to take several days to a few weeks. Our staff will keep you informed every step of the way.

Natural burial is an environmentally mindful option that emphasizes simplicity, sustainability, and returning the body to the earth with minimal environmental impact. Woodlawn Memorial Park in Easton, MD, and Bestgate Memorial Park in Annapolis, MD are the only natural burial cemeteries in the state of Maryland that are owned by a licensed funeral establishment and overseen by Fellows, Helfenbein & Newnam Funeral Home.

Costs for natural burial depend on the choices made — burial ground, type of biodegradable container, and cemetery requirements. Often it can be more affordable than a traditional burial (which involves vaults and embalming) but may vary based on your selections and location.

Yes. Families may hold meaningful ceremonies in conjunction with a natural burial, whether at the graveside, a nearby gathering place, or another venue. We can help plan and coordinate these with respect to your cultural and personal wishes.

Yes. Cremated remains may be placed in a natural burial setting when a biodegradable urn is used, in accordance with cemetery guidelines and environmental standards. Fellows, Helfenbein & Newnam Funeral Home can guide you in selecting an appropriate biodegradable urn and coordinating placement to ensure all requirements are met.

Fellows, Helfenbein & Newnam Funeral Home will prepare and file the necessary information with the appropriate state authorities to obtain certified death certificates on your behalf. Once issued, we can assist you in ordering the number of copies you may need for legal, financial, and estate-related matters. We will also advise you on how many copies are typically recommended based on your circumstances.

In Maryland, the timeframe for receiving certified copies of a death certificate can vary depending on the county of death, processing by the Division of Vital Records, and whether any additional information is required. In most cases, certified copies are available within several weeks after the death is registered. Fellows, Helfenbein & Newnam Funeral Home will guide you through the process and keep you informed of the expected timeline based on your specific circumstances.

Fellows, Helfenbein & Newnam Funeral Home proudly serves families throughout Maryland, offering compassionate care for all arrangements. We assist with transportation, planning, and coordination regardless of location within our service area.

Yes — if you prefer not to come to our facilities yourself, we can:

• Arrange respectful delivery within our service area
• Allow an authorized representative to receive the remains
• Ship the remains via Priority Mail Express with required signature

We strive to make the return of cremated remains as convenient and dignified as possible.

No. While families are always welcome to meet with us in person, Fellows, Helfenbein & Newnam Funeral Home offers flexible arrangement options to meet your needs and comfort level. Arrangements can be completed remotely through online or Zoom meetings, by phone, and with documents securely completed via DocuSign or similar electronic signature platforms. Our goal is to make the arrangement process as convenient and supportive as possible during this time.

Absolutely. Preplanning allows you to thoughtfully make arrangements ahead of time, relieving your family of stress and ensuring that your wishes are carried out precisely. Our compassionate planners can guide you through options for ceremonies, burial or cremation choices, and memorialization.