NorthStar Memorial Group owns funeral homes and cemeteries across multiple states under local names
NorthStar Memorial Group operates funeral homes and cemeteries in several states, primarily in the Midwest and South. The company is privately held and runs individual locations under their own local names rather than under a single "NorthStar" brand at each site. If you are looking at a specific funeral home, you may not see the NorthStar name on the building or website — you'll see the local funeral home name instead, but it may be owned by NorthStar's parent company.
NorthStar locations offer standard funeral services: embalming, cremation, casket and urn selection, viewing and visitation arrangements, and burial or cremation coordination. Like other funeral home chains, they also sell merchandise (caskets, urns, vaults) and may offer pre-planning services where you arrange and sometimes pay for your funeral in advance.
The company operates through a holding structure, meaning individual funeral homes retain local management and branding while sharing back-office resources. This structure affects pricing, policies, and what services are available at each location — there is no single NorthStar price list or policy that applies everywhere.
Key Takeaways
- NorthStar Memorial Group owns multiple funeral homes across different states, but each location operates under its own local name, not the NorthStar brand.
- Pricing and service offerings vary by location because each funeral home sets its own rates and policies, even though they share corporate ownership.
- You can contact the specific funeral home in your area directly to discuss services, costs, and pre-planning options rather than going through a corporate office.
- NorthStar locations offer cremation, burial, casket and urn sales, and pre-planning services like other funeral homes in their regions.
How to find the NorthStar-owned funeral home near you
NorthStar does not maintain a single public directory of all its locations. To find out whether a funeral home you are considering is part of NorthStar Memorial Group, you can contact the funeral home directly and ask about its ownership, or search online for "NorthStar Memorial Group locations" along with your state or region.
Alternatively, if you already know the name of a local funeral home, you can search that name plus "NorthStar" to see if there is any connection. Some NorthStar locations may mention the parent company on their website's "About Us" page, though many do not.
Because each location operates independently, the best approach is to call or visit the funeral home you are considering and ask about their services, pricing, and policies directly. They can answer questions specific to their location and discuss pre-planning or when ready need arrangements.
Pricing and what affects the cost of services
Funeral homes are required by federal law to provide a General Price List (GPL) that shows the cost of individual services and merchandise. Each NorthStar-owned funeral home sets its own prices, so the cost of a funeral at one location will not match the cost at another, even if both are owned by NorthStar.
The main cost drivers are the services you choose (embalming, viewing, graveside service), the type of casket or urn, whether you use the funeral home's transportation and staff, and whether you purchase a burial vault or other merchandise. Cremation is typically less expensive than a traditional burial with viewing, but the total cost depends on what additional services you add.
You have the right to shop around and compare prices between funeral homes. You can ask for a GPL over the phone or in person, and you can purchase a casket or urn from an outside vendor rather than from the funeral home itself — though some funeral homes charge a handling fee if you bring in outside merchandise.
Pre-planning and pre-payment options
Many NorthStar locations offer pre-planning services, where you meet with a funeral director to decide what kind of service you want, what casket or urn you prefer, and other details. Some people also choose to pre-pay for their funeral, locking in current prices and removing the financial burden from their family.
Pre-payment plans vary by location. Some funeral homes hold the money in a trust account that is released to them when you pass away. Others may use an insurance-funded plan where a life insurance policy is purchased in your name and the death benefit goes to the funeral home. A few use a combination approach.
Before committing to a pre-payment plan, ask the funeral home in writing how the money is held, what happens if you move or change your mind, whether the plan is transferable to another funeral home if you relocate, and what protections exist if the funeral home closes or changes ownership. These details matter because pre-paid funeral funds are not always protected the same way across states.
Cremation services and options
NorthStar locations that offer cremation can handle the entire process: picking up the deceased from a hospital or home, preparing the body, performing the cremation, and returning the ashes to you in an urn of your choice. Some locations also offer direct cremation, where the body goes straight to the crematory without embalming or viewing, which is the least expensive cremation option.
After cremation, you decide what to do with the ashes. You can scatter them, bury them in a cemetery, keep them in an urn at home, or divide them among family members. The funeral home can discuss these options with you and help coordinate any ceremony or memorial service you want to hold.
Cremation pricing includes the cremation fee itself, the urn (if you purchase one from the funeral home), and any additional services like a memorial service or viewing before cremation. Ask the funeral home to break down these costs separately so you understand what you are paying for.
Burial services and cemetery coordination
NorthStar owns or operates cemeteries at some of its locations. If you choose burial, the funeral home coordinates with the cemetery to arrange the grave, the opening and closing of the grave, and any graveside service. Some NorthStar cemeteries are on the same property as the funeral home, while others are separate.
Cemetery costs are separate from funeral home costs. You pay the funeral home for their services (embalming, casket, transportation, staff) and you pay the cemetery for the grave space, opening and closing, and any marker or monument. Ask both the funeral home and the cemetery for itemized pricing so you know what each is charging.
If you want to be buried in a cemetery that is not affiliated with the funeral home, the funeral home can still coordinate with that cemetery. You are not required to use a NorthStar cemetery just because you use a NorthStar funeral home.
What to ask when you contact a NorthStar location
When you call or visit a funeral home to discuss services, have these questions ready: What is included in the basic funeral service package? What are the separate costs for embalming, casket, urn, transportation, and staff? Do you offer direct cremation, and what does it cost? Can I bring my own casket or urn, and is there a fee? What is your General Price List, and can you send it to me? Do you offer pre-planning or pre-payment, and how does it work?
You should also ask whether the funeral home is independently owned or part of a larger company, what their hours are, and whether they have staff available to meet with you outside of business hours if there is a death. If you are pre-planning, ask what happens to your pre-payment if you move, change your mind, or pass away before the plan is used.
Frequently Asked Questions
Is NorthStar Memorial Group a national chain?
NorthStar operates multiple funeral homes and cemeteries, but it is not a national chain like some larger funeral home corporations. It has locations in several states, primarily in the Midwest and South, but not everywhere. Each location operates under its own local name.
Can I transfer a pre-paid funeral plan if I move?
This depends on the funeral home's policy and your state's laws. Some pre-paid plans are transferable to another funeral home if you relocate; others are not. Ask the funeral home in writing before you pre-pay, and request a copy of the plan terms so you have proof of what was promised.
What if I want to use a casket I buy online instead of one from the funeral home?
Federal law allows you to purchase a casket from any vendor and bring it to the funeral home. Some funeral homes charge a handling fee for outside caskets, usually between $50 and $300. Ask the funeral home about their policy before you buy.
How do I know if a funeral home near me is owned by NorthStar?
Call the funeral home and ask directly about its ownership, or search the funeral home's name plus "NorthStar" online. Some NorthStar locations mention the parent company on their website; others do not. The funeral home staff can tell you when ready.
Are NorthStar funeral homes more expensive than independent funeral homes?
Price varies by location and by the services you choose, not by whether a funeral home is part of a chain or independent. Compare the General Price Lists from multiple funeral homes in your area to see which offers the services you want at the price you can afford.