By By MARCIA STEFFENS / Dowagiac Daily News
EDWARDSBURG – The name at the new business in Edwardsburg is supposed to say it all – 1st Choice Cremation Service of Michiana.
Partners Terry Bucholtz of South Bend, Ind., and Keith Gary of Mishawaka, Ind., want to give area residents a choice when making end- of-life decisions.
"Cremations are increasing more and more," Bucholtz said.
They chose Edwardsburg to locate their new business due to the expansion of the area, heading north from Indiana.
"This is a great place. With what's happening down the road, buildings revived, the lakes, good commerce, I can't see anything but growing here," Bucholtz said.
They are quite comfortable in their remodeled office, in a small retail strip, south of Taco Bell.
"Make 1st Choice your choice," is their motto. "It is a simple alternative," Bucholtz said. They specialize in personalization, building a plan for an individual.
They work with funeral homes for traditional casket services with a viewing. Embalming is only required when there is to be a viewing, he explained.
"This is not an event we want to happen. We aren't planning the death," Gary said, but a remembrance, Bucholtz added.
"The beauty of pre-planning my wishes, you don't need to fight over it. I made the decision," Gary said, explaining relatives will know what the deceased person wants to happen after death.
"The main thing is you have choices, how you would like it," Bucholtz added, "a traditional funeral, flowers, music, an urn, or a casket. The service will be conducted like you asked for it."
Pre-planning is also "a stress release," he said. "You don't have to think about it any more."
Still, when you pre-plan with their service, it's "not cut in stone. You can change," he added. "You may change churches over 25 years."
Money paid for the services stay in a trust. "It's still your money. You don't have to worry about losing it," Bucholtz said. Pre-planning freezes the cost, he added.
Plus, they say they can help people save thousands. When planning "pre-crisis the dollar figure is usually less than expected," he said.
Brass markers can be engraved with photos at a lower price than traditional stone headstone, or added to the stones.
Some people make use of the various size matching urns to slit the ashes of their loved one. One size might be buried, with a smaller one kept.
People also might save ashes until the spouse dies, to allow the ashes to rest together.
They also have jewelry which allows the loved one to keep ashes close to their heart. If you have enough money, your body can also be made into a diamond. One carat costs $19,000, or you can be launched into outer space for $13,000.
Since the two work in two states, they have to work with different sets of laws. Scattering of ashes is allowed in some places and not in others.
"What we do best for the family is ask questions," Bucholtz said. They listen and offer a "celebration of life."
The men, who have been friends for 12 years, plan on adding employees and eventually expanding to three locations. Their prior experience includes managing Radio Shack for Bucholtz and selling insurance for Gary.
Gary's wife Connie is a designed. They have five children and 25 grandchildren. Bucholtz's wife Susan J. is a dental assistant and gives women's retreats. They have three children and five grandchildren.