Business Details
Emergency
services
Your Trusted Funeral Service Provider in Highland, IL
Meridith Funeral Home has been a trusted provider of compassionate funeral services for over 150 years, rooted in a legacy of family-owned care. We specialize in creating personalized tributes that honor the unique lives of loved ones, offering traditional services, cremation options, and specialized veterans honors. Our team of licensed professionals is dedicated to guiding families through every step of the process with dignity and support, including grief resources and pre-planning assistance.With locations across southern Illinois, we serve communities with local knowledge and a commitment to ethical, transparent care. Our services extend beyond immediate arrangements to include online memorials, tribute videos, and long-term grief support, ensuring families receive comprehensive care during their time of need.
Services
Traditional Services
Cremation Services
Veterans Services
Personalization
Planning Ahead
Highlights and features
- We offer 150 years of continuous, family-owned funeral service expertise.
- Our staff includes licensed professionals trained in personalized service design.
- We provide 24/7 availability for immediate needs and emergency arrangements.
- Specialized veterans service coordination with VA benefit expertise.
- Custom online memorials and tribute videos for lasting remembrance.
Services
Traditional Services
Traditional funeral services provide structured ceremonies for honoring loved ones through visitation, funeral rites, and graveside gatherings. Families receive guidance in selecting venues, clergy coordination, and personalized elements like tribute videos. Our chapel facilities and partnerships with local churches ensure meaningful memorials that respect cultural and religious traditions while offering flexibility for unique celebrations of life.
Cremation Services
Cremation services include full funeral ceremonies followed by cremation, memorial services with urns, or private scattering arrangements. We offer cremation-specific planning with options for permanent memorialization in columbariums or burial plots. Families receive support in choosing urns, creating memorial events, and navigating post-cremation documentation while maintaining dignity throughout the process.
Veterans Services
Veterans services coordinate VA benefits, flag presentations, and military funeral honors including rifle details and Taps. Our staff assists with eligibility verification, application submissions, and securing government-provided headstones. We ensure ceremonies reflect military service through color guard participation and formal rites, providing families with recognition packages and burial benefit documentation.
Personalization
Personalization options create unique memorials through tribute videos, themed visitations, and keepsake items. Families can incorporate photographs, music selections, and life-story displays into services. We offer digital memorials with candle-lighting features and condolence boards, allowing extended networks to participate in remembrance while preserving memories through multimedia elements.
Planning Ahead
Pre-planning services allow individuals to document funeral preferences and secure costs through pre-need contracts. We provide checklists, online forms, and consultation sessions to outline service choices and legal documentation. This proactive approach reduces family decision-making burdens while ensuring personal wishes are honored through customized arrangements and financial safeguards.
People
John Schemerhorn
Licensed Funeral Director
With over 40 years of experience, John brings expertise in funeral arrangements and serves as a Madison County Reserve Deputy Coroner. He actively contributes to his church and community while supporting families in Collinsville.
Mandi Sakadaris-Ulett
Licensed Funeral Director and Embalmer
Graduating from Worsham College in 2019, Mandi serves Highland, Lebanon, and Pocahontas communities. She combines technical skills with compassionate care, residing in Glen Carbon with her family and pets.
Melanie Tuttle
Licensed Funeral Director and Embalmer
A 2023 graduate of Worsham College, Melanie provides full-service support in Collinsville. Her background includes mortuary science education and hands-on apprenticeship experience in local funeral care.
Brenda Pehle
Continuing Care Coordinator
Brenda offers post-service support with grief resources and follow-up care. Her pastoral care background and 2006 Aquinas Institute education enhance her compassionate approach to family assistance in Lebanon.
Vicky Mugrage
Administrative Staff
Vicky manages Cisne location operations with 39 years of local business experience. Her community involvement and administrative expertise ensure smooth visitation coordination and family communication.
Questions
What types of funeral services do you offer?
We provide traditional funerals, cremation services, veterans honors, and personalized memorial options tailored to family preferences.
Can I plan a funeral in advance?
Yes, we offer pre-planning consultations, checklists, and contracts to document your wishes and secure future arrangements.
How do you support veterans' families?
We coordinate VA benefits, military honors ceremonies, and specialized documentation assistance for eligible service members and families.
What cremation options are available?
Options include traditional services followed by cremation, memorial ceremonies with urns, and scattering arrangements with memorialization choices.
Do you provide grief support resources?
Yes, we offer one-year weekly grief messages, online resources, and personalized continuing care coordination for families.
Are virtual memorials available?
We create online memorials with photo galleries, condolence boards, and tribute videos for remote participation in remembrance.
