COVID-19 Information

During this challenging time, we will make every effort to accommodate your wishes while abiding by CDC guidelines as professional funeral providers. We would like to work with you to determine how you would like to celebrate your loved one and say your final good-byes while keeping your family’s health in mind.

At this time, there are no restrictions to the type of services we can offer.   

We recognize that part of the grieving process involves friends and out-of-town family who cannot attend because of the virus. It is important for them to witness the services of your loved one. To help with this, we offer a video recording of the service for you to share afterwards to individuals or for you to place online.  Live streaming of the services held at the funeral home is also available via our website.   

Thank you for your flexibility and working with us to better serve you. Please call us at 219-362-2828 with any questions.

Peace 

Dale and Tonya Knouse, Director/Owners

Robert Stone,  Director

You and your family may be eligible for a special program from the Federal Emergency Management Agency (FEMA) that offers funeral assistance to families that have experienced the death of a loved one due to COVID-19. Financial assistance of up to $9,000 for certain expenses that families have incurred as they laid a loved one to rest (e.g., funeral and memorial services and burial and cremation). It covers eligible expenses for the services you’ve already paid for when your loved one died. And, as our community becomes safer, your family may choose to plan a memorial service in your loved one’s honor that includes all of your family and friends – something that many families are finding to be a meaningful experience. Those expenses may also be covered.

The FEMA website has complete information about eligibility requirements, documentation you will be required to provide as part of your application (e.g., a copy of your loved one’s death certificate and proof of funeral expenses incurred), and how to start the application process. Visit https://www.fema.gov/disasters/coronavirus/economic/funeral-assistance.

If there is anything I can do to assist you with the application process – such as by ordering copies of a death certificate or providing copies of receipts or contracts showing the expenses you incurred – please call me, Dale Knouse, Owner/Director, at 219-362-2828.

Press Release: April 11, 2021

FEMA to Provide Assistance with Funeral Costs for COVID-19-Related Deaths

Call FEMA at 1-844-684-6333 to start claim

La Porte, Indiana – The staff at Cutler Funeral Home and Cremation Center want the citizens of La Porte County to be aware, that beginning April 12th, families that experienced the death of a loved one due to COVID-19 may be eligible for up to $9,000 in funeral assistance from the Federal Emergency Management Agency (FEMA).

Two pieces of legislation recently passed by Congress – the Coronavirus Response and Relief Supplemental Appropriations Act of 2021 and the American Rescue Plan Act of 2021 – authorized FEMA to provide financial assistance to families that incurred COVID-19-related funeral expenses after January 20, 2020. 

“This has been an extraordinarily difficult year as hundreds of thousands of families throughout the country have unexpectedly had to plan a funeral when a loved one died of COVID-19,” said Dale Knouse, Owner/Director, Cutler Funeral Home and Cremation Center. “Our hearts are with, not only the families we have served, but everyone in this community who is grieving the death of a loved one or friend due to the pandemic. While this assistance cannot take away their pain and grief, it will make a tremendous difference by enabling them to meaningfully honor the life of their loved one and lay them to rest with dignity.”

Funeral assistance is intended to assist with expenses for funeral and memorial services, and burial, interment or cremation. To start a claim, call FEMA at 1-844-684-6333.  FEMA encourages families that may be eligible to start gathering the following documentation:

An official death certificate that attributes the death to COVID-19 and shows that the death occurred in the United States. The death certificate must indicate the death “may have been caused by” or “was likely the result of” COVID-19 or COVID-19-like symptoms. Similar phrases that indicate a high likelihood of COVID-19 are considered sufficient attribution.Funeral expense documents (e.g., receipts, funeral home contract, etc.) that include the applicant’s name, the deceased individual’s name, the amount of funeral expenses and dates the funeral expenses were incurred.Proof of funds received from other sources specifically for use toward funeral costs. Funeral assistance may not duplicate benefits received from burial or funeral insurance; financial assistance received from voluntary agencies; federal/state/local/tribal/territorial government programs or agencies; or other sources.

If multiple individuals contributed toward funeral expenses, they should apply under a single application as applicant and co-applicant(s). Applicants can also apply for assistance for more than one individual who died.

“FEMA COVID-19 Funeral Assistance covers eligible expenses for the services you’ve already paid for when your loved one died,” said Knouse. “And, as our community becomes safer, your family may choose to plan a memorial service in your loved one’s honor that all of your family and friends can attend – something that many families are finding to be a meaningful experience. Those expenses may also be eligible.”

While families can apply for assistance at any time, if they do wish to have a memorial service when it is safe to do so, FEMA recommends waiting until after all services have been contracted to avoid the hassle of amending an initial application.

The FEMA website has complete information about eligibility requirements, documentation applicants will be required to provide, and how to start the application process. Visit https://www.fema.gov/disasters/coronavirus/economic/funeral-assistance.

“If there is anything we can do to assist families with the application process – such as by ordering copies of a death certificate or providing copies of receipts or contracts showing the expenses that were incurred – please call us,” said Knouse. “Our staff can also speak with families at any time about planning a memorial service for your loved one that all of your loved ones and friends can attend when it is safe to do so.”

Families may wish to visit RememberingALife.com, for “Planning a Service in the Future - Free Planning Guide” for ideas on how they can honor a loved one and other information that may be useful as they continue their grief journey.  

Cutler Funeral and Cremation Center has been serving La Porte County for 125 years. They may be reached at 219-362-2828 or emailed at info@cutlerfuneralhome.com. Further information regarding FEMA assistance and other funeral related topics can be found at www.CutlerCares.com. They are located at 2900 Monroe Street, La Porte.