When you’re driving down East College Street in Pulaski, Tennessee, you’ve probably passed that brick building a thousand times. It’s a fixture. It feels like it’s just always been there. But honestly, the moment you actually have to pull into the parking lot of Carr Erwin Funeral Home, everything feels different. The air gets a little heavier. Your brain goes into a sort of "what do I do now?" fog. It’s one of those places we all know exists but nobody really wants to talk about until they absolutely have to.
Losing someone is messy. It’s loud, then it’s quiet, then it’s confusing. Most people think a funeral home is just a place where you pick out a casket and a date. That’s the first thing people get wrong. In a town like Pulaski, a place like Carr Erwin Funeral Home is more of a navigator for the worst week of your life.
📖 Related: Swedish Fish and Sour Patch Kids: What You Might Not Realize About the World’s Favorite Gummies
The History You Probably Didn't Realize
This isn't some new corporate pop-up. We’re talking about a legacy that stretches back to 1967. Before that, the records go back even further to the old Pulaski Funeral Home days in the late 50s. If you dig into the Tennessee State Library and Archives, you’ll find that Carr-Erwin has been the record-keeper for Giles County for decades. They’ve seen the town grow, they’ve seen the families change, and they’ve handled the transitions of thousands of our neighbors.
It’s currently part of the Dignity Memorial network, which some people think means it’s lost its local touch. Kinda the opposite, actually. It basically means the local staff—people like Sharon Dickey and Dixie Holt—have more resources to play with while keeping that small-town Tennessee vibe. You want a traditional service at the building? Sure. You want a graveside service at Maplewood? They do that too.
What Does This Actually Cost?
Nobody likes talking about money when they’re grieving, but let’s be real: funerals are expensive. If you’re walking into Carr Erwin Funeral Home without a plan, you might be looking at a total bill that lands somewhere around $7,000 to $9,000 depending on your choices.
Here’s a rough breakdown of what the numbers look like based on recent general price lists, though these change, so always ask for the current one:
- Basic Professional Services: This is the core fee. It covers the overhead, the staff’s time, and the "brains" of the operation. Usually around $2,230.
- Embalming: If you’re doing an open-casket viewing, this is pretty much a requirement. It’s roughly $1,095.
- The Venue: Using the facilities for the visitation and the ceremony itself will run you about $300 to $400 for each event.
- The Big Stuff: Caskets can range from $1,500 to... well, way up. Plus, you’ve got the vault (the outer burial container) which is another $1,000 or so.
It adds up fast. That’s why you see so many people in Pulaski lately looking into cremation. It’s not just about the cost—though a direct cremation is significantly cheaper—it’s also about the flexibility. You can do a memorial service three weeks later when the whole family can actually get into town.
The Things Families Forget to Ask
Most people walk in and just say "help." And the staff will. But if you want to make it personal, you’ve got to speak up.
I’ve seen families bring in a loved one’s favorite quilt to drape over the casket or set up a display of their old woodworking tools. Carr Erwin Funeral Home is actually pretty great about this. They have the A/V equipment for those slideshows that make everyone cry, but they also have enough space for a decent-sized reception.
Did you know you can ask about "green" options or specific military honors? If your loved one was a veteran, the staff handles the coordination with the VA, the flag folding, and the Taps. You don't have to figure that out on your own.
One thing that catches people off guard is the "Paul Bearers" and flower arrangements. Sometimes you’re so focused on the big stuff that you forget to call the cousins to see who’s actually able to carry the casket. Or you forget to tell the florist which cemetery to go to. Sharon and the team usually catch these details, but it helps to have your own list.
Dealing with the Paperwork
The obituary is the part that usually breaks people. Writing down a whole life in 300 words is exhausting. When you work with Carr Erwin Funeral Home, they help get those notices out to places like the Quad Cities Daily or the Main Street Maury.
They also handle the death certificates. You’re going to need more of these than you think. One for the bank, one for the insurance, one for the house title, one for the cell phone company (yes, even they want one). Get at least 5 to 10 copies. It’s easier to get them all at once than to go back to the health department later.
How to Actually Plan Ahead Without Feeling Weird
Planning your own funeral feels like a jinx. It’s uncomfortable. But honestly? It’s the nicest thing you can do for your kids.
If you sit down with a pre-need counselor at the home, you can lock in today's prices. If prices go up in ten years, you’re covered. But more importantly, you’re taking the "guessing" away. Your family won't have to argue over whether you wanted "Amazing Grace" or "Old Rugged Cross." You’ve already picked.
Steps to take right now:
- Check for an existing plan: If a parent or spouse passes, the first thing you do is look through their safe or filing cabinet for a "Pre-Arrangement" folder. If it was done at Carr-Erwin, they’ll have it on file too.
- Call the insurance: Find out if there’s a burial policy. Some policies pay the funeral home directly, which saves you from paying out of pocket and waiting for a reimbursement.
- Think about the "After": Where is the reception? Will there be food? Sometimes a local church hall is better than the funeral home’s reception room if you’re expecting half the county to show up.
- Gather the "Bio" info: Start a digital note or a folder with full names, parents' names (including mother's maiden name), birth dates, and a list of organizations they belonged to. It makes the obituary process ten times faster.
At the end of the day, Carr Erwin Funeral Home is just a tool. It’s a place to hold the grief so it doesn’t spill over all at once. Whether you're there for a visitation or just trying to figure out what your own final wishes look like, the key is to take it one small decision at a time. Pulaski is a tight community, and usually, someone in that building has known your family for years. Use that. Ask the "dumb" questions. They've heard them all before.
To get started, your most immediate move should be to locate any existing life insurance policies or pre-paid funeral contracts to understand what budget you are actually working with before you sign any contracts.