Your complete, compassionate resource for finding Crawford Funeral Home obituaries — how to search recent services, leave a heartfelt condolence, send flowers, and access grief support across all Crawford Funeral Home locations.
If you’ve come here because someone you love has passed: We are sorry for your loss. This guide is here to help you find what you’re looking for — whether that’s an obituary to read and share, a way to express your sympathy to the family, or information about the services Crawford Funeral Home provides to families at their most difficult hour. Take your time.
About Crawford Funeral Home
The name Crawford Funeral Home is carried by several independent, community-rooted funeral homes across the United States — each with its own history, staff, and deep ties to the families they serve. From Lancaster, South Carolina to Rochester, New York; from the Upper Peninsula of Michigan to the Wisconsin countryside; from rural South Dakota to the mountains of North Carolina — Crawford Funeral Homes share a common commitment: honoring every life with dignity, compassion, and personalized care.
“The experienced funeral directors at Crawford Funeral Home will guide you through the aspects of the funeral service with compassion, dignity and respect.”
— Crawford Funeral Home, Lancaster & Kershaw, SCWhether you are searching for a recently posted obituary, trying to find a service time, or reaching out to express sympathy to a grieving family, this guide provides everything you need to connect with the right Crawford Funeral Home location for your community.
Where to Find Crawford Funeral Home Obituaries
Each Crawford Funeral Home publishes obituaries through its own website. Here is exactly where to go for each location:
Crawford Funeral Home — Lancaster & Kershaw, South Carolina
Visit crawfordfuneralhomesinc.com/listings for obituaries from both the Lancaster (SC) and Kershaw (SC) locations. This is the primary obituary directory for families in Lancaster County and surrounding South Carolina communities.
Crawford Funeral Home — Rochester, New York
Visit crawfordfuneralhome.com/listings for Rochester-area obituaries. This location is available 24/7 at (585) 482-0400 and serves families throughout the greater Rochester and Monroe County area.
Crawford Funeral Home — Jerseyville, Illinois
Visit crawfordfunerals.com/listings for Jerseyville and Jersey County obituaries. Phone: (618) 498-9844. Serves the Grafton, Eldred, and surrounding Illinois River valley communities.
Crawford Funeral Homes — Escanaba & Bark River, Michigan
Visit crawfordfuneralhomes.net/obituaries for obituaries from the Upper Peninsula of Michigan. Serves Escanaba, Bark River, and surrounding Delta County communities with dignity and compassion regardless of religion, culture, or budget.
Crawford Funeral Home — Montello & Oxford, Wisconsin
Visit crawfordfh.com/obituaries for Wisconsin obituaries. Two locations serve Marquette County: Montello (453 E. Park Street) and Oxford (306 S. Franklin Ave). Includes a year of weekly grief support message subscriptions.
Crawford-Osthus Funeral Chapel — Watertown & surrounding South Dakota
Visit crawfordosthus.com/listings for obituaries from seven South Dakota locations including Watertown, De Smet, Arlington, Lake Preston, Bryant, Hayti, and Oldham. Live-streamed services available. Phone: (605) 882-1516.
Crawford / Ray Funeral Home — Canton, North Carolina
Visit crawfordray.com/obituaries for Western North Carolina obituaries. Located at 7 North Main St, Canton, NC 28716. Phone: (828) 648-3535. Offers direct cremation starting at $1,195 and traditional burial services from $3,850.
How to Search for a Specific Crawford Funeral Home Obituary
Finding a specific person’s obituary is straightforward when you know where to look. Follow these steps for any Crawford Funeral Home location:
Identify the correct Crawford location for your area
Choose the website for the Crawford Funeral Home that serves the community where the person lived or where services are being held. Using the wrong location’s website will not return results. Refer to the locations list above or below in this guide.
Navigate to the Obituaries or Listings page
On any Crawford Funeral Home website, look for the “Obituaries” or “All Obituaries” link in the main navigation menu. Some locations call this section “Listings.” Click it to open the obituary directory for that location.
Use the name search field
Enter the first name, last name, or both in the search field. Partial searches work — try just the last name if you’re unsure of the spelling. The most recently posted obituaries typically appear at the top of the page automatically.
Open the obituary and review all details
Click the person’s name or photo to open their full obituary. You’ll find: their life story, surviving family members, service details (visitation, funeral, graveside), and options for flowers, condolences, and grief support subscriptions.
If not found — call the funeral home directly
For obituaries not yet posted, recently added services, or older records, call the specific Crawford location directly. All locations are available 24 hours a day. Staff can confirm service details immediately over the phone.
What Crawford Funeral Home Obituaries Include
A well-crafted obituary does more than announce a death — it honors a life and helps a community grieve together. Crawford Funeral Home obituaries typically include:
- The person’s full name, age, city of residence, and date of passing Including nicknames and any other names they were known by in their family and community
- A biographical narrative of their life Birthplace, upbringing, education, career, faith, marriage, hobbies, passions, and what made them uniquely themselves
- Surviving family members Spouse, children, grandchildren, great-grandchildren, siblings, and those who preceded them in death
- Service schedule Visitation hours and location, funeral or memorial service date and time, graveside service details, and which Crawford location is hosting
- Officiant information, scripture or readings chosen by the family
- A photo of the deceased when provided by the family Many Crawford obituaries include a personal photograph that brings the person’s memory to life for online visitors
- Links to send flowers, leave a condolence message, or donate to a memorial charity
- Subscription option for grief support messages
How to Leave Condolences & Tributes
When someone we care about loses a loved one, words matter — even imperfect ones. Leaving a condolence on a Crawford obituary page is one of the simplest and most meaningful things you can do for a grieving family. Here is how:
Open the person’s obituary page
Navigate to the Crawford Funeral Home website for the relevant location, open the obituary listings, and click the name of the person whose memory you wish to honor.
Scroll to the condolence or guest book section
The condolence form is typically found below the obituary text. Some Crawford sites call it a “Guest Book” or “Tribute” section. It may be a brief text entry form or a more detailed submission with your name and relationship to the deceased.
Write your message
Enter your name and a personal message. The most meaningful condolences are specific and genuine — share one memory of the person, one quality you admired, or simply a heartfelt acknowledgment of the family’s loss. There is no wrong way to express sincere care.
Submit and share the obituary
Submit your condolence. It will appear in the online guest book visible to the family. You can also share the obituary page link via email, text message, or social media so that others who knew the person can read the tribute and pay their respects.
How to Send Flowers to a Crawford Funeral Home Service
Flowers remain one of the most universal expressions of sympathy — a way of saying, without words, that you are thinking of a family during their grief. Here is how to ensure your flowers arrive appropriately and meaningfully:
Find the “Send Flowers” option on the obituary page
Every Crawford Funeral Home obituary page includes a flowers or gift option connected to local florists. Click “Send Flowers,” “Order Flowers,” or “Shop Now” to browse available sympathy arrangements.
Choose an arrangement appropriate for the service
Standing sprays and casket arrangements are traditional for funeral services. Sympathy bouquets and potted plants are warm options for the home. If you are unsure, a standing spray or simple sympathy basket is always appropriate for any service setting.
Confirm the delivery location and timing
Flowers should arrive at the Crawford Funeral Home at least 2 hours before the scheduled visitation or service. Call the specific Crawford location to confirm the delivery address and times before finalizing your flower order — especially if there are multiple service events.
Add a personal card message
Include a short, sincere card with your name and a brief message. Families always appreciate knowing who sent what — especially when services are large and many arrangements arrive.
Check the obituary for donation preferences
Some families respectfully request charitable donations in lieu of flowers. If the obituary specifies a memorial fund or organization, consider honoring that preference — or do both: a small arrangement plus a modest donation is always a thoughtful gesture.
Subscribe to Crawford Funeral Home Obituary Alerts
Staying connected to your community means not missing word of someone who has passed. All Crawford Funeral Home websites offer ways to be notified when new obituaries are posted:
- Email subscription on the obituaries page Visit the Obituaries section of the Crawford website for your area and enter your email to receive free alerts when new obituaries are added. Your email is used only for this purpose and you can unsubscribe at any time.
- Daily grief support message subscription Most Crawford locations offer a year of daily or weekly grief support messages delivered to your inbox — designed to bring comfort during the first and often hardest year of loss.
- Legacy.com obituary alerts If Crawford obituaries are listed on Legacy.com for your area, you can set up location-specific email notifications through Legacy’s alert system for free.
- Live stream notifications (Crawford-Osthus, SD) Crawford-Osthus in South Dakota offers live-streamed services via their website — check crawfordosthus.com for upcoming service streams.
Funeral & Cremation Services Offered by Crawford Funeral Home
Across all locations, Crawford Funeral Home provides a comprehensive range of services designed to honor every life — regardless of tradition, faith, cultural background, or budget. The specific offerings vary somewhat by location, but the core commitment to compassionate, personalized care is consistent everywhere.
Traditional Funeral Service
Full-service funeral with visitation, chapel service, and committal — personalized to the life, faith, and wishes of the person and their family
Cremation Services
Direct cremation, full-service cremation, and cremation with memorial. Crawford / Ray (NC) offers direct cremation from $1,195. Cremation urns available.
Memorial Services
Personalized celebrations of life held at the funeral home, a church, or any location meaningful to the family — with or without the body present
Graveside Services
Intimate, meaningful committal services at the graveside — appropriate for families who prefer a private, outdoor farewell
Pre-Planning Arrangements
Document your wishes before the need arises — online pre-arrangement forms available at most Crawford locations
Veteran Services
Military honors, headstone assistance, burial flag guidance, and VA benefit navigation — honored at all Crawford locations
Flowers & Sympathy Gifts
Floral arrangements and sympathy gifts available through partner florists — linked directly from every obituary page
Aftercare & Grief Support
Ongoing grief resources, daily support messages, funeral etiquette guides, and Social Security benefit assistance for bereaved families
Pre-Planning: The Kindest Thing You Can Do for Your Family
None of us wants to think about our own death. But the families who have experienced loss without any pre-arranged plan know exactly what it costs — not just financially, but emotionally — to make every decision while in acute grief. Pre-planning removes that burden completely.
Why Pre-Planning Matters
- Your family will not have to guess what you wanted — every detail is already decided and documented
- Disagreements between family members about arrangements are prevented before they can begin
- Your family focuses on grieving and supporting each other — not logistics and phone calls
- Pre-funding may lock in today’s pricing — protecting against future cost increases
- Pre-planning is a profound act of love — you are carrying the burden so your family doesn’t have to
Begin online — no obligation, no pressure
All Crawford Funeral Home websites include a Pre-Plan or Pre-Arrangements section. Visit the website for your local Crawford location and look for “Pre-Plan,” “Pre-Arrangements,” or “Have the Talk of a Lifetime.” Fill out the pre-arrangements form at your own pace — it saves immediately and creates no obligation.
Have a conversation with your family
The Crawford Funeral Home “Have The Talk of a Lifetime” resource guides families through the conversation about end-of-life wishes — one of the most important and often most avoided conversations families can have. Visit any Crawford location’s website to access this guide.
Tell someone where your plan is documented
Pre-planning only helps if your family knows it exists. Tell at least one trusted person — a spouse, adult child, or close friend — that you’ve made arrangements with Crawford and where the documentation can be found.
Grief Support Resources from Crawford Funeral Home
Grief does not end when the service concludes. Crawford Funeral Home locations are committed to walking alongside families beyond the funeral — providing ongoing support through the weeks and months that follow.
Daily Grief Messages
Subscribe to receive a grief support message every day for a year — delivered to your inbox to bring comfort through the hardest season of loss
Grief Support Library
Articles, guides, and resources covering all aspects of grief — including what to expect, how to help children process loss, and how to support a grieving friend
Social Security Benefits Guidance
Information about survivor benefits and Social Security resources available to bereaved spouses and dependents — often overlooked in the immediate aftermath of loss
Funeral Etiquette Guide
Practical guidance on what to expect at a visitation or funeral service — helpful for those attending a funeral for the first time or uncertain about customs
Veteran Services & Military Honors
Crawford Funeral Home locations honor the service and sacrifice of America’s veterans with the care and ceremony that service demands. If you are arranging a funeral for a veteran, inform the Crawford team at the very first call — this allows staff to begin coordinating military honors and benefits from the start.
- Military honors coordination Flag presentation, rifle salute, taps, and full military ceremony — arranged in coordination with local veterans’ organizations and military honor guards
- Veterans headstone assistance Guidance on applying for a government-furnished headstone or grave marker for eligible veterans through the VA
- Burial flag guidance Information about the burial flag presented at military funerals and the Presidential Memorial Certificate — two honors available to eligible veterans’ families
- VA burial benefits navigation Crawford staff can help families understand and access VA burial allowances, cemetery eligibility, and other benefits for which qualified veterans’ families may not realize they qualify
- Personalized veteran tributes Service branch insignia, military photographs, patriotic music, and service memorabilia incorporated thoughtfully into the memorial
When Death Occurs: The First Steps
In the immediate aftermath of a death, it can be difficult to know what to do first. Here is a simple guide to help you take the right steps — gently, one at a time.
Call Crawford Funeral Home
Call the Crawford Funeral Home that serves your community — day or night, any day of the year. All locations are available 24 hours. You do not need to have answers to any questions yet. Simply calling to say a death has occurred or is imminent is enough to begin the process of care. A compassionate staff member will guide everything from that point.
Notify immediate family
Contact the closest family members first — in person if possible for those nearby, by phone for others. Give each person time to receive the news before making wider announcements to the broader family or community.
Gather key documents when ready
When you are able — not necessarily in the first hours — begin gathering: the deceased’s full legal name and date of birth, Social Security number, a recent photograph, clothing for burial, military discharge papers (DD-214) if a veteran, and any pre-arrangement documents if previously made.
Meet with the funeral director at your own pace
Crawford’s funeral directors are trained to guide you through arrangements at a pace that feels right for your family. There is no expectation to make all decisions immediately. The meeting is a conversation — you are in control of what you choose and when.
Allow others to help
In the days following a death, friends and extended family will often ask what they can do. Allow them to help — with meals, childcare, transportation, or simply sitting with you. Grief is not meant to be carried alone, and accepting support is not a weakness but a form of wisdom.
All Crawford Funeral Home Locations
Use this section to find the Crawford Funeral Home that serves your community and access their obituaries, services, and contact information directly.
Crawford Funeral Home — Lancaster
Lancaster, SC 29720
Crawford Funeral Home — Kershaw
Kershaw, SC 29067
Crawford Funeral Home — Rochester
Rochester, NY 14610
Crawford Funeral Home — Jerseyville
Jerseyville, IL 62052
Crawford Funeral Homes — Escanaba & Bark River
Upper Peninsula
Crawford Funeral Home — Montello
Montello, WI 53949 · PO Box 248
Crawford Funeral Home — Oxford
Oxford, WI 53952
Crawford-Osthus Funeral Chapel — Watertown
Watertown, SD 57201
Crawford-Osthus — De Smet, Arlington, Lake Preston & more
Crawford / Ray Funeral Home — Canton
Canton, NC 28716
Crawford Funeral Home — Lancaster, SC (Map)
📍 Get Directions — Crawford Funeral Home Lancaster, SC → 410 W. Meeting Street
Helpful Tips for Families
Check the Obituary Page Before Calling
For many routine questions — service time, visitation location, directions to the funeral home — the answer is already on the obituary page. Before calling, open the obituary at the appropriate Crawford website. Service details are listed when confirmed by the family, saving you and the staff valuable time.
How to Write a Meaningful Obituary
Crawford’s funeral directors will guide you through the obituary writing process, but many families want to contribute their own words. The most remembered obituaries are not formal — they are personal. Write about who the person was, not just what they did. What did they love? What made them laugh? What will the people who knew them remember most? One or two specific details make an obituary come alive in a way that no formal language can.
Don’t Be Afraid to Ask About Costs
Crawford Funeral Homes are committed to affordable, transparent pricing. Crawford / Ray in North Carolina, for example, publicly lists their prices online. Don’t hesitate to ask any Crawford location about itemized pricing, payment options, and what each service includes. A trustworthy funeral home will always provide clear answers.
What to Bring When You Meet the Funeral Director
- The deceased’s full legal name, date of birth, Social Security number
- A recent photograph for the obituary
- Clothing for burial, if applicable Something meaningful — what the person loved to wear, or something that felt like them
- Military DD-214 discharge papers if the person was a veteran
- Any pre-arrangement documents if previously made
- Names and relationships of surviving family members for the obituary text
- Preferred cemetery and any existing burial plot information
If You Can’t Attend the Service in Person
Distance, health, or other circumstances sometimes prevent people from attending a funeral service they care about. Check if Crawford-Osthus (South Dakota) or another location in your area offers live-streamed services. Alternatively, leaving a thoughtful condolence on the obituary page, sending flowers, or mailing a handwritten note to the family are all meaningful ways to honor someone from a distance.
The Year After: Don’t Neglect Grief
Subscribe to Crawford’s daily or weekly grief support messages when you are ready. The weeks and months after loss — especially the first holidays, the first birthdays, the first anniversaries — can catch grief-struck people off guard with renewed intensity. Having a small, steady source of comfort in your inbox through that first year can make a quiet but real difference.
All Resources & Links
| Location | Website / Contact | Obituaries Page |
|---|---|---|
| Lancaster, SC | crawfordfuneralhomesinc.com · (803) 285-3261 | View Obituaries |
| Kershaw, SC | crawfordfuneralhomesinc.com · (803) 475-5251 | View Obituaries |
| Rochester, NY | crawfordfuneralhome.com · (585) 482-0400 | View Obituaries |
| Jerseyville, IL | crawfordfunerals.com · (618) 498-9844 | View Obituaries |
| Escanaba & Bark River, MI | crawfordfuneralhomes.net | View Obituaries |
| Montello & Oxford, WI | crawfordfh.com | View Obituaries |
| Watertown, SD (Crawford-Osthus) | crawfordosthus.com · (605) 882-1516 | View Obituaries |
| Multiple SD locations (De Smet, Arlington, etc.) | crawfordosthus.com · (605) 882-1516 | View All SD Obituaries |
| Canton, NC (Crawford/Ray) | crawfordray.com · (828) 648-3535 | View Obituaries |
| Pre-Planning (all locations) | Visit your nearest Crawford website and click “Pre-Plan” or “Pre-Arrangements” | |
| Grief Support Subscription | Visit any Crawford obituaries page and use the email subscription field for daily/weekly grief messages | |
| Veterans Resources | Contact your nearest Crawford location and mention veteran status — all locations provide dedicated veteran services | |
Frequently Asked Questions
Note: This guide is published by FuneralHomeObituaries.org as an independent informational resource. The various Crawford Funeral Home locations listed here are independent businesses and this guide is not affiliated with or endorsed by any of them. For the most current obituary listings, service details, pricing, and contact information, always visit the official website for the Crawford Funeral Home serving your community or call them directly.