Planning a funeral is something nobody really wants to do until they absolutely have to. It's heavy. When you're looking for Centuries Memorial Funeral Home Shreveport LA, you’re probably in that headspace where everything feels a bit blurry. Located right on Mansfield Road, this place has been a fixture in the Shreveport community for a long time. It’s part of the Dignity Memorial network, which is basically the biggest provider of funeral and cemetery services in North America. That comes with some pros and cons that most people don’t really talk about until they’re sitting in the office picking out a casket.
Honestly, the first thing you notice about Centuries Memorial is the grounds. It’s a combined "combo" location. This means the funeral home and the cemetery are on the same property. You don't have to deal with a police escort or a long procession through Shreveport traffic. That’s a huge relief for a lot of families.
The Reality of Planning at Centuries Memorial Funeral Home Shreveport LA
Most people think a funeral is just a service and a burial. It's way more complex. At Centuries Memorial Funeral Home Shreveport LA, they handle everything from traditional Baptist services to more modern "celebrations of life" that feel more like a party than a wake. Because they are a Dignity provider, they have access to some specific perks, like the Bereavement Travel Program. If you have family flying into Shreveport Regional Airport from out of state, they can sometimes get discounted airfare through the funeral home’s partners. It’s a small detail, but when you're grieving, saving three hundred bucks on a last-minute flight matters.
The facility itself has a large chapel. It's traditional. You’ve got the pews, the vaulted ceilings, and that specific quietness that only funeral homes have. But they also have a reception room. This is where things have changed lately. People are moving away from the "bread and water" style of mourning. Nowadays, you can have a full-featured catered meal right there. We’re talking local Shreveport favorites—meat pies, catering from nearby spots, whatever the family wants. It makes the whole experience feel a bit more human and a lot less clinical.
Understanding the Cemetery Connection
Centuries Memorial Park is the actual graveyard side of the business. It’s a sprawling piece of land. One thing that surprises people is the variety of burial options. You aren't just stuck with a hole in the ground and a headstone. They have lawn crypts, mausoleums, and a specific section for cremated remains called a "cremation garden."
If you walk through the park, you'll see a lot of history. It’s well-maintained, but like any large cemetery in the South, the weather plays a role. The humidity in Louisiana is brutal on stone. The staff there spends a lot of time on upkeep, ensuring that the flat markers—which are common in many sections of the park to keep a clean, park-like appearance—don't get swallowed by the grass.
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What Most People Get Wrong About the Costs
Let's be real: funerals are expensive. When you look into Centuries Memorial Funeral Home Shreveport LA, you’re looking at a corporate-backed entity. This isn't a small "mom and pop" shop where the owner lives upstairs. This means the pricing is structured. Some people find this frustrating; others find it transparent.
You have the "General Price List" or GPL. Federal law says they have to give this to you. Use it.
The biggest misconception is that you have to buy everything in a bundle. You don't. While they offer packages that might save you a little bit of money on the "professional services" fee, you can technically pick and choose. If you want a specific urn you found online, they have to use it. They can't charge you a "casket handling fee" if you buy one elsewhere. That's a common fear, but the FTC’s Funeral Rule protects you there.
However, there’s a convenience factor to consider. When you’re dealing with a death, do you really want to be coordinating shipping for a casket from an outside vendor? Probably not. Most families at Centuries Memorial end up going with the in-house options just to keep the stress levels down.
The Cremation Shift in Shreveport
Shreveport is a fairly traditional city, but cremation rates are skyrocketing. Centuries Memorial has adapted to this. They don't just hand you a box and say goodbye. They offer "witnessed cremation," where the family can actually be present. It’s a cultural practice for some and a closure ritual for others.
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They also emphasize that "cremation" isn't the final step. You still need a place for the remains. This is where the cemetery side of Centuries Memorial Park comes in. You can bury an urn in a family plot, place it in a niche in a columbarium, or even use one of those "living memorial" options where the ashes help grow a tree. It’s a way to keep a permanent physical location for someone even if they weren't buried in a traditional vault.
Veterans Services and Community Ties
Shreveport has a massive veteran population, thanks to Barksdale Air Force Base being right across the river. Centuries Memorial Funeral Home Shreveport LA does a lot of work with veterans. This is one area where they really shine because they know the paperwork.
Dealing with the VA is a nightmare. The funeral directors here typically handle the coordination for military honors—the flag folding, the playing of Taps, and the coordination with the National Cemetery if the family chooses that over Centuries Memorial Park. They understand the nuances of the VA burial allowance, which doesn't cover everything but definitely helps. If your loved one was retired military, make sure you bring their DD-214. It’s the golden ticket for getting these services started.
The "Dignity Memorial" Factor
Since they are part of the Dignity network, there are some "corporate" elements. Some people feel it's a bit less personal than a local family-owned home like Osborn’s or Rose-Neath. That's a fair critique. But the flip side is the "Relocation Protection." If you prepay for a funeral at Centuries Memorial in Shreveport and then move to Seattle, your plan follows you to any other Dignity provider. In a mobile society, that's actually a pretty huge selling point that a local independent home just can't match.
Navigating the Planning Process
If you're doing this in advance—what they call "pre-planning"—it’s a much different vibe. You’re not crying over a clipboard. You’re making logical decisions.
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- Start with the cemetery plot. Land doesn't get cheaper. In Shreveport, prices for plots have steadily climbed over the last decade. Buying the space at Centuries Memorial Park now locks in that price.
- Discuss the "Permanent Memorialization." Do you want a flat bronze marker or a granite headstone? Different sections of the park have different rules. Don't buy a stone from an outside mason until you check the cemetery's requirements.
- The "Soft" Costs. Don't forget the obituaries in the Shreveport Times, the flowers, and the police escorts if you do decide to go to a church off-site. These add up.
Actionable Steps for Families in Shreveport
If you are currently facing a loss or planning ahead, here is the most practical way to handle things with Centuries Memorial Funeral Home Shreveport LA.
First, get your documents in order. You need the Social Security number, the birth certificate, and any military discharge papers. Without these, the death certificate process stalls, and in Louisiana, that can hold up everything from bank accounts to life insurance payouts.
Second, be firm about your budget. It’s easy to get swept up in "showing how much you cared" by buying the most expensive mahogany casket. The staff at Centuries are professionals, and they will show you all the options. It is perfectly okay to ask for the most affordable options first. They won't judge you.
Third, take advantage of the park's layout. If you have multiple family members buried in Shreveport, ask about "Second Right of Interment." Sometimes you can bury an urn on top of an existing casket grave, which saves thousands of dollars on land costs.
Finally, remember that you have time. Unless there are religious requirements for a quick burial, you don't have to make every decision in the first six hours. Take a breath. Visit the grounds on Mansfield Road. Walk around. See if the atmosphere feels right for your family. The peace of mind that comes from knowing the location is permanent and well-cared for is usually what draws people to Centuries Memorial in the first place.