Schmidt Funeral Home

03/20/2026

03/20/2026

Memorial Service (Part 2️⃣ of 4️⃣)

A memorial service is a ceremony held to honor and remember a loved one without the presence of the casket.

Because there is no need for immediate burial or cremation logistics, a memorial service can be scheduled with greater flexibility and is often held weeks or even months after the passing.

Families may choose this type of service to:
--Allow time for relatives and friends to travel
--Create a more personalized or reflective gathering
--Hold the ceremony at a meaningful location
--Plan an event after private burial or cremation

03/19/2026

We're excited to announce that Jay Joiner, our dedicated Funeral Director, will be celebrating his one-year anniversary with Carriage on March 19, 2026. Join us in congratulating him on this milestone!

03/17/2026

Happy St. Patrick’s Day! ☘️ From our funeral home family to yours, we wish you a day filled with the warmth of community and the comfort of cherished memories.

While St. Patrick's Day is often associated with lively celebrations and "shenanigans," for many it is also a traditional time for spiritual renewal and offering prayers. In the funeral profession, this holiday can be a meaningful moment to reflect on heritage, the lives of those we've lost, and the "simple blessings" that bring us together. ☘️

03/16/2026

Understanding Service Options (Part 1️⃣ of 4️⃣)

✔️Traditional Funeral Service / Visitation or Viewing

A Traditional Funeral Service is a structured and meaningful way to honor a loved one’s life. This option allows family and friends to gather, share memories, and find comfort in ceremony and community support. The visitation (sometimes called a viewing or wake) provides an opportunity for family, friends, and community members to come together prior to the formal service.

✔️Formal Ceremony

The formal ceremony is the central gathering where family and friends come together to honor and celebrate a life This time allows guests to, Offer condolences and support to the family, Share stories and memories, and sometimes experience a quiet moment of reflection.

✔️Burial or Entombment

Burial (or interment) is the traditional, below-ground placement of a casket or urn within the earth, usually marked by a headstone. Entombment is above-ground, permanent placement of a casket in a crypt within a mausoleum or tomb. While both provide a final resting place, entombment is often chosen for its dry, secure, above-ground location.

03/13/2026

Understanding Service Options

Over the next two weeks, we will take a closer look at each of the service options listed below. Our goal is to provide clear, thoughtful information to help educate our community and explain each option in greater detail. We believe that understanding your choices brings confidence and peace of mind when important decisions need to be made.

As always, if you have questions or would like to speak with someone directly, we are just a phone call away.

1️⃣Traditional Funeral Service-Visitation or viewing
-Formal ceremony
-Burial or entombment

2️⃣Memorial Service
-Ceremony without the presence of the casket
-Can be held weeks or months later

3️⃣Cremation Services
-Can include visitation and ceremony
-Many options for final placement or keepsakes

4️⃣Celebration of Life
-Personalized gathering focused on memories and legacy

03/11/2026

Today we proudly recognize Funeral Director & Mortician Appreciation Day.

We are grateful for our firms dedicated professionals, as well as others thought the world and community, who serve families with compassion, dignity, and care during life’s most difficult moments.

Their commitment, as well as ours to honoring every life and supporting every family is at the heart of what "WE" do. ♥️

Thank you to ALL the Funeral Directors and Morticians who make it possible to serve our community with respect and professionalism each and every day.

03/05/2026

We invite you to participate in our “Share a Memory” Challenge.

Think of someone who made a lasting impact on your life. Now share one word or short phrase in the comments that describes them. ❤️

For example, It could be:
✨ “Kind”
🌿 “Strong”
💛 “Always smiling”
🕊️ “Selfless”

Let’s fill this space with meaningful words that celebrate love, legacy, and connection.

03/02/2026

Since 1945, Schmidt Funeral Home has served Katy, Brookshire, Fulshear, Pattison, West Houston and the surrounding areas. Originally operating out of Brookshire, Milton and Rachel Schmidt founded their business with the aim of being an asset to the communities they served.

With compassionate hearts and dedicated, immediate service, they grew their reputation for excellence. Unlike today, many funeral homes of the time also had an ambulance service, and Milton and Rachel were no exception. Along with their son, Hank, who joined the firm in 1967, this required the family to be on-call 24 hours a day not only for funeral home calls but for emergency medical calls as well. The ambulance service continued to aid the community until 1973. With the growth of the area, the family decided to expand in order to better serve their communities.

In 1969, Milton, Rachel, Hank and his wife, Sandy, opened Schmidt Funeral Home in downtown Katy to further facilitate the needs of the growing area. The man behind the business, Milton Schmidt, passed away in 1975, leaving the reins of the operation to his wife, Rachel, and their son, Hank. They continued the Schmidt legacy of excellent service to those in their time of loss.

In 1984, Hank purchased the Katy firm and his brother, Steve, purchased the Brookshire firm, allowing Rachel a well-deserved semi-retirement. She continued to be active in a supporting role until her death, in 2012.

03/02/2026

Educational guide about Cremation

✔️ What Families Should Know:
Choosing cremation is a deeply personal decision, and many families have questions about what it involves. Here’s a simple, guide to help you understand the process:

❓What Is Cremation?
Cremation is a respectful process that reduces the body to ashes using heat. Families may choose it for personal, spiritual, environmental, or financial reasons.

❓Why Families Choose Cremation
Flexibility in memorial services — hold a service before or after cremation.

❓Personalization — options for scattering, keepsake urns, memorial jewelry, or placing ashes in a meaningful location.

❓Eco‑friendly options — biodegradable urns and green scattering choices.

❓Affordability — often a more cost‑conscious alternative to traditional burial.

If you’d like to learn more about cremation services or memorial options, please contact us anytime.

02/27/2026

We are grateful for the trust families place in us. Their words of appreciation inspire us to continue serving with heart and purpose.