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We consider our grounds to be a beautiful place to celebrate life. Whether you’re attending a service, visiting a memorial or finding peace in nature, we welcome you. As we continue into the future, we look forward to being 100% Jackson County owned and operated. We will continue our tradition of accepting all pre-arrangements – no matter how long they have been set up, or where they originated.

This document is in English and is normally based upon the German death certificate. It can generally be used in U.S. courts to help settle estate matters. German probate courts are responsible for overseeing the disposition of any estate and/or personal effects of deceased U.S. citizens.
Leola Smith Heisser
Please understand that when a death occurs over a weekend, most German offices, including certain police authorities, are closed. Therefore, in some cases, it might take until the next business day for us to provide the next-of-kin with additional information. In some cases, the German authorities require an autopsy to be preformed in order to complete the documentation of the death. The Report of Death can only be issued after the German authorities complete their documentation of the death and the embassy or consulate has received the necessary documentation from the next-of-kin. Certified copies of the Report of Death will be sent to the next-of-kin or legal representative and the original will be sent to the Department of State for permanent filing.
Please visit the official website of the beautiful town of Valdese. We understand that making the many decisions which come at a time of loss can be difficult. We’ll help you navigate the next steps after the death of a loved one.
Dedication and Compassion
It is the policy of Heritage Funeral Service and Crematory to provide full information to the public about funeral arrangements, and prices. For decades, families in and around the Burke, Catawba, and Caldwell county areas, trust Heritage Funeral Services & Crematory to remember and celebrate the lives of the people they have loved and lost. Join the community of family history enthusiasts and FamilySearch employees to ask questions and discuss potential product enhancements. Whether you have an immediate need or wish to make pre-arrangements, please call any one of ourthree convenient locations. The funeral or memorial service is an opportunity to show someone we love them with a loving event celebrating their relationships and memories. Heritage Funeral Service and Crematory was founded in 1999 by owners Ed Plemmons and Andy Thompson as a funeral home to serve Valdese, Morganton, and surrounding areas.
Prepare a personalized obituary for someone you loved.. Our experts can walk you through the process, from planning a service to choosing cemetery property. Urns, regardless of the cause of death, may be returned to the United States.Clickhereto find information on the rules and regulations of the Transportation Security Agency for the transport of cremated remains. Whether you and/or any family members have been in contact with German police authorities. Whether you’re acting in the moment or planning ahead, let us guide you. Whether you’re acting in the moment or planning ahead, we’re here to guide you.
Cremation
It highlights our loved ones’ sacrifices, reminds us of the things they value, and inspires us with their life stories. Up to 20 copies of the Report of Death, issued at the time of death, will be provided by the embassy or consulate free of charge. If additional copies are needed in the future, they can be obtained for a fee from the Department of State.

For anyone who is interested in preplanning your funeral service, you can be sure your legacy will be guarded and that you can easily have peace of mind. Our staff, which comprises of 8 licensed funeral directors, 3 apprentices and a distinguished list of part time funeral attendants collectively have served the death care industry for over 200 years. We are proud to be an independently managed funeral home that has been in business for over 20 years. We are also one of the few funeral homes in the Charlotte area that owns and operates our own crematory.
Details for HERITAGE FUNERAL HOME, VALDESE
Family members may request that the funeral home provide a written estimate of expenses before transferring the payment. The fastest and least expensive way to pay funeral fees is usually to wire the funds directly to the German funeral home via Western Union or to complete an international bank transfer. We cannot accept any responsibility for the services provided or for the fees or prices charged. The U.S. embassy or consulate in the consular district in which the person died is responsible for preparing the Consular Report of Death of a U.S. citizen civilian abroad.
Pre-planning lets your loved ones focus on honoring life instead of hashing out details. Learn the choices you can make now, so a future funeral becomes more of a celebration than a burden. We offer a full range of memorial gifts to help comfort and support those who are grieving a loss.
When a U.S. citizen in Germany passes away, the German authorities will immediately seek to inform any next-of-kin in Germany of that person’s death and offer their assistance. If the deceased’s next-of-kin lives in the United States and there are no relatives or friends in Germany , the German authorities will contact the embassy or consulate for assistance in notifying the next-of-kin . The embassy or consulate will, in turn, contact the next-of-kin at the earliest possible time to notify them of the death and offer information about making arrangements for the disposition of the deceased’s remains. We have decades of experience caring for families from all walks of life. Each family calls on us in their time of need because they know we are leaders in our profession, dedicated to excellence in service, and have the highest integrity.

Our commitment to South Mississippi families will never waiver. Our name “Heritage” reflects this commitment to you. Heritage Funeral Service and Crematory offers a complete range of services that are meaningful, healing, and appropriate. Per German regulations, embalming should not be performed for persons who die of a quarantinable communicable disease, including COVID-19.
As the CDC guidelines only permit the return of embalmed remains in a hermetically sealed casket,transportation of remains of COVID-19 deceased is not permitted at this time. Our funeral home was founded with the belief that community members could deliver superior service and better satisfy the needs of our community than large, distant corporations. We have been overwhelmed by the trust and support our community has shown since opening in 1999. Honoring the achievements of your loved ones and celebrating the life you shared together are the cornerstones of healing after loss. Celebrates life, and launches the much-needed healing process.
Our Indian Trail location was founded in 1998, and our Weddington/Matthews location was opened in 2002. Our Ballantyne location was established in 2008 to meet the needs of the Ballantyne/Sun City communities. And in 2002, we opened Simply Cremations and Burial Service as our stand-alone, on site crematory, located in Matthews, with a viewing room for families desiring to witness the start of the cremation.
FordeceasedU.S.citizen tourists, the next-of-kin should consider checking to see if the deceased purchased a travel insurance policy. If such a policy exists, please contact the insurance company before making any arrangements. In these cases, the insurance company may pay for most or all of the costs to ship the remains and personal effects. Death is a time of crisis for one’s family and friends no matter where it takes place. If a death occurs overseas, the experience can be even more traumatic, especially if the procedures involved are not clearly understood. As 2022 comes to a close and we begin a New Year, the entire staff of Heritage Funeral and Cremation Service wanted to take the opportunity to say “Thank You” for allowing us to serve your family during the past year.
While other funeral homes send your loved one to a third party crematory, we believe that once your loved one is in our care, that's where they should stay. For over 20 years our focus has been on putting the needs of the families we serve needs first. Serving everyone that comes through our doors with the Care and Compassion they deserve. This focus is what has lead Heritage Funeral Homes to be The Most Trusted Funeral Provider in the Greater Charlotte Area. When we hear of the death of a U.S. citizen, we will endeavor to reach the deceased’s next-of-kin as quickly as possible. We make it a priority to provide the next-of-kin with all available details surrounding their loved one’s death.