Funeral Preplanning in Northern Kentucky

A written plan spares your family hard decisions at a hard time. It records the choices only you can make, from burial or cremation to the readings and music at your service.


Planning ahead doesn't mean paying ahead. If you would like to pay ahead too, you can choose a prepaid contract with the money held in trust or a preneed insurance policy, and we'll explain how Kentucky law protects your money.


We serve families in Ludlow and across Northern Kentucky, including Covington, Fort Wright and Park Hills, Villa Hills and Crescent Springs, Fort Mitchell and Edgewood, Erlanger and Elsmere, Independence and Taylor Mill, and Florence and Boone County.

How to get started


Book a meeting with Cheryl Jones Darpel, our preplanning specialist. She will walk you through each choice and put your wishes in writing, with no obligation.

Cheryl Jones Darpel, preplanning specialist

Cheryl Jones Darpel

Preplanning Specialist

Ready to get started?

Book a Meeting

Free Resources

Cover of the Funeral Preplanning Checklist

Preplanning Checklist

The facts, choices, and papers to gather when you plan ahead, all on one page.

Download Checklist
Cover of the guide Planning a Funeral

Planning a Funeral

How to plan a funeral that fits the person you love, from choosing a service to what it costs.

Download Guide
Cover of the guide Burial Benefits for Veterans

Burial Benefits for Veterans

The burial benefits and military honors veterans and their families can receive, and how we help.

Download Guide

Why plan ahead

Your wishes are known

Your family won't have to guess what you would have wanted, or disagree about it later.

Your family has less to decide

When the time comes, they can spend those first days together instead of making arrangements under pressure.

Paying ahead is up to you

You can plan without paying anything now. If you do pay ahead, your family won't face the bill later.

Your plan can change

You can update your wishes whenever your life changes. Just call us.

The Bentley House in Ludlow

Common questions

  • How do I start planning ahead?

    Call us at 859-431-0072 or book a meeting with Cheryl Jones Darpel, our preplanning specialist. Together you will go through each choice, and we will put your wishes in writing.

  • What information will I need?

    The facts for the death certificate, such as your full legal name, date and place of birth, Social Security number, and parents' names, plus your choices: burial or cremation, the kind of service, and the cemetery, if you have one. Bring your military discharge papers (DD-214) if you served.

  • Do I have to pay ahead?

    No. A written plan is useful on its own. If you do want to pay ahead, you can choose a prepaid contract with the money held in trust or a preneed insurance policy, and we will explain how each one works.

  • What if I already have a plan with another funeral home?

    We can take over a prepaid plan you bought at another funeral home, and if you move away from Northern Kentucky, we can move your plan to a funeral home near you. There's no fee either way, though cash advance items, the things we buy for you from others such as certified copies of the death certificate, may be priced differently.