Hughes Funeral Alternatives at Hillcrest Abbey Cemetery

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Hughes Funeral Alternatives at Hillcrest Abbey Cemetery

AQUAMATION - MEMORIAL SERVICES
HISTORIC CEMETERY Local Business

11/14/2025

What's a burial vault, and when might you need one?

Burial vaults fall under the category of "outer burial containers" - any structure encasing the casket when it goes into the earth. Outer burial containers can be as simple as grave liners - unfinished concrete slabs that sit around the casket - or they can be as opulent as air sealed burial vaults that lock around the casket.

The purpose of an outer burial container is primarily to support the earthload that surrounds and sets on top of the casket. This prevents the grave from sinking in over time, and also simplifies lawn care for the groundskeepers. Sealed burial vaults may delay the natural progression of decomposition, but it is impossible for any casket or burial container to indefinitely postpone the onset of decomposition.

According to the FTC, outer burial containers are not required by state law anywhere in the U.S.. That said, individual cemeteries may have their own policies, and they may require the use of outer burial containers.

Requirements can vary based on where exactly in the cemetery the grave is located, so if you have your heart set on a specific area of a cemetery, be sure to let them know.

📸Courtesy Wikimedia Commons.

11/11/2025

Today, we thank and honor the servicemen and women who served our country, as well their families who sacrificed so much.

With love from us at Hughes FA. 🤍

11/06/2025

Did you know that Hillcrest Abbey is still an active cemetery?

In addition to our Garden of Renewal (for cremated remains), our historic columbarium and our crypt spaces, we also have a lawn cemetery for more traditional burials.

Reach out for more info about our many resting options: 314-250-8433.

10/31/2025

Happy Halloween from all of us at Hughes Funeral Alternatives! 🎃

10/29/2025

☎️What can you expect during the first call with a funeral home after someone passes away?

📝During that first call, the funeral home will need some basic info:
• The name of the deceased,
• Their current location,
• Confirmation that you want the funeral home to take charge of the deceased's care.

🏡The funeral home may also ask about physical logistics:
• Does the home have stairs?
• Is there a narrow entryway?
• About how much does the deceased weigh?

This information helps the funeral home best prepare for each situation.

🗂️Usually, you won't need the detailed information (like vital statistics, funeral arrangement decisions) until you actually meet with the funeral director. For the first call, the funeral director's priority is ensuring that they have your permission to take custody of the deceased, and then bringing them into the funeral home's care.

🙋‍♀️As always though, if you have any questions along the way, ask your funeral director.

10/22/2025

Ever wondered how funeral homes keep track of who's who?

As soon as someone comes into our care, they get assigned a tracking number. This number follows them through every step of the way.

For folks who are aquamated at our facility, they are also given one of these discs (pictured), so we can verify identity even after the aquamation process happens. The aquamated remains get returned to the family, along with this disc.

We keep our files with tracking numbers in perpetuity, in the event that we ever need to pull up a years-old case for the family or for state inspections.

Having multiple layers of identity verification helps us be confident in the day-to-day work we do!

10/09/2025

🥹🥹🥹

09/29/2025

Hughes Funeral Alternatives will be at the End of Life Festival this Saturday, October 4!

We will also be on the 3pm panel, "Radical Roots: Eco-Friendly and Community-Based Paths After Death".

See you there! 👋

09/24/2025

How do you select an urn for cremated remains?

In our office, we have some examples of our favorite urns that you can examine and pick from.

But if you're looking for something different, we also work with an urn provider with countless more options to choose from.

For selecting an urn, it's important that you feel right about your decision. Don't be shy about asking your local funeral director what your options are!

09/11/2025

Today, we honor and remember those who died in the 9/11 attacks, and those whose lives continue to be affected.

The 9/11 memorial in NYC is made up of two reflecting pools. The names of those who died that day are etched into the bronze surrounding the pools. Every day, a museum volunteer checks which victims had a birthday on that day, and places a white rose in their name.

With this small but deeply personal tradition, each individual life lost is honored.

09/03/2025

Today, there are more options for memorial keepsakes than ever before.

Fingerprinting is one such way you can memorialize your loved ones. Fingerprints can also be turned into memorial keepsakes like art prints or jewelry.

During funeral arrangements, ask your director if it's possible to get fingerprints of your loved one.

For animals, pawprints can also be taken to help memorialize our pets after their passing.

Of course, the biggest constraint is making sure the prints are taken before the body is laid to rest, so if you think you might want to explore fingerprinting/pawprints, ask your funeral director what your options are.

08/27/2025

In our Garden of Renewal, aquamated remains are buried with a soil mixture and - over the course of just a few months - they can fully return to the Earth.

For those who are laid to rest in our Garden of Renewal, we feature a memorial wall where names are etched. Even after returning to the Earth, this gives families a permanent place to remember, visit, and be with loved ones.

The Garden of Renewal is nestled within the crypt walls of the new chapel, and it's a beautiful, quiet place.

Address

3211 Sublette Avenue
St. Louis, MO
63139

Website

http://www.HughesFuneralAlternatives.com/

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