COVID-19 Response

March 27, 2020

About us:

Grace Gardens Funeral Home and Crematory is one of thirteen funeral homes that make up Higginbotham Funeral Homes of Texas, Inc., a family corporation serving Central Texas since 1881. Our funeral directors and staff that work for us joined this profession to serve others. They have an innate desire to guide people through a journey of unknowns. Given the circumstances of the COVID-19 pandemic, we are working to continue our calling to serve others.

What we are doing:

In accordance with CDC, county, state, and federal guidance, we are limiting gatherings to no more than 10 people. We encourage families to contact us by phone, email, or through our Collaboration Center as much as possible. We are able to make arrangements 100% online if necessary, but we will still meet with families that would like to come in as long as we abide by government’s guidance. While office hours may vary, our staff is available on call 24/7.

Inside our facilities we strive to maintain a clean environment. Our staff is thoroughly cleaning our funeral home daily and sanitizing common touch surfaces as visitors come and go.

We are asking our care-team, or removal personnel, to wear PPE (Personal Protective Equipment, like masks, shoe covers, gowns, and gloves) and limit their contact with people. As a precautionary measure, we may ask people to leave the room with your loved one, to help prevent accidental exposure to you or your family. After your loved one is brought into our care, we will work our hardest to allow you to see them.

What does this mean for funeral services?

Current guidelines allow no more than 10 people to gather, this includes the funeral director and clergy/celebrant. Even with this limitation, we will encourage social distancing. We are working diligently to offer alternative methods that include recording services, offering live streaming, and helping to arrange other ideas. Friends and family that are not attending may sign the Guest Book available on our website or on our Facebook page.

Can we have a visitation?

Visitations at this time will no longer be scheduled. – We have an obligation to adhere to the issued guidelines. We will allow your loved one to lie in state for visitors from 10 am – 3 pm but will maintain the limitation of 10 or fewer people in the building. We encourage you to call ahead to see if you can come in or schedule a time, as any lines that form outside will be dispersed. With the lack of visitations, families are no longer able to hear the impact their loved one had on others. We invite you to send a video talking about how your life was changed by their loved one, or your favorite memory. You may email the video to our funeral home or share on our Facebook page.

What about the Graveside?

Graveside services and committal services are under the same regulations of limiting gatherings to no more than 10 people. Individual cemeteries may also have restrictions in place. Most cemeteries are not setting up chairs to help maintain social distancing.

What about Pre-Planning or Pre-Funding our funeral?

We ask that you call and set up a time for a phone conference with one of our funeral directors or pre-need specialists. In most cases we will be able to drop off paperwork in person for signatures or send contracts through email that may be completed and digitally signed with DocuSign.