Business Details
50+ Years
experience
Emergency
services
Your Trusted Partner for Compassionate Funeral Services
B.W. B.W. Foster Funeral Home has served families in Portsmouth and surrounding communities since 1954, rooted in a tradition of compassionate care dating back to 1896 through its predecessor firm. Our experienced team prioritizes personalized service, actively listening to families' needs to create meaningful tributes that honor individual traditions and faiths. With generations of local expertise, we offer comprehensive funeral planning services including pre-arrangement options, cremation, and burial solutions.Our spacious facilities accommodate visitations, memorial services, and ceremonies of all sizes while maintaining a welcoming environment for grieving families. We provide clear pricing transparency through our General Price List and emphasize ethical practices, avoiding mandatory fees for non-essential items. As a family-owned business, we maintain active involvement in community organizations and professional associations to continually enhance our service standards.
Services
Funeral Arrangements
Cremation Services
Pre-Planning Consultations
Obituary Assistance
Grief Support Resources
Details
- Year established: 1954
Highlights and features
- We offer over 60 years of dedicated funeral service experience under the current ownership
- Our family-owned operation maintains multi-generational involvement in local funeral care
- We provide transparent pricing with no mandatory fees for non-essential items
- Our team includes nationally certified funeral directors with state licenses
- We partner with local florists and service providers for comprehensive arrangements
Services
Funeral Arrangements
Our funeral planning services create personalized tributes that honor individual wishes and cultural traditions. With compassionate consultation, we coordinate visitations, ceremonies, and burial arrangements while providing necessary facilities and professional staff. Services include death certificate filing, permit procurement, and coordination of floral tributes and memorial items.
Cremation Services
We offer direct cremation services with basic arrangements or customized options including memorial ceremonies. Our facilities accommodate pre-cremation viewings when desired, with flexible choices for urn selection and final disposition. Alternative containers are available to meet specific budgetary considerations.
Pre-Planning Consultations
Our pre-planning consultations allow individuals to document final wishes at their convenience. We provide comprehensive guidance on available options while ensuring decisions are recorded and accessible for future reference. This process reduces family decision-making stress and preserves personal preferences.
Grief Support Resources
We offer grief resources including counseling referrals and support materials for families navigating loss. Our staff maintains connections with local support groups and provides ongoing assistance beyond funeral services to help families through the grieving process.
Obituary Assistance
Our team helps craft meaningful obituaries that honor loved ones' lives. We provide guidance on content structure, coordinate newspaper placements, and offer online tribute options through our website to share with extended family and friends.
People
Brian P. Foster Sr.
President/Treasurer
Graduate of John Tyler Community College with mortuary science degree, licensed funeral director with 40+ years experience in Portsmouth, active in local service organizations and funeral directors associations.
Shirley W. Foster
Secretary
Expert in mortuary cosmetology with 35+ years experience, licensed beautician background, responsible for preparing ladies for viewing with compassionate care, 20-year member of funeral home leadership team.
Rebekah Fox
Manager/Funeral Director
Licensed funeral director and embalmer since 2018, graduated summa cum laude from Tidewater Community College's Funeral Service Program, brings contemporary perspective to traditional funeral services.
Questions
What types of funeral services does B.W. Foster offer?
We provide traditional funeral services, cremation options, immediate burials, and customizable memorial arrangements tailored to family preferences.
Can I pre-plan my funeral arrangements?
Yes, we offer comprehensive pre-planning services including our Online Planner and personalized consultations with funeral directors.
Are there additional charges for after-hours services?
Our funeral directors are available 24/7 without additional charges for emergency arrangements or after-hours visitations.
What documents do I need for funeral arrangements?
We handle required documentation including death certificates, permits, and insurance claims as part of our basic services.
Do you assist with veterans' funeral benefits?
Yes, our staff specializes in coordinating veterans' benefits including burial flags, military honors, and VA reimbursements.
