Thank you for visiting the web site of Rapp Funeral and Cremation Services, the Washington area's comprehensive alternative to traditional funeral homes. We offer cremations and burials, viewings, church funerals and graveside services, worldwide shipping, personalized memorials and caring personal support--all for hundreds or even thousands of dollars less.
Our staff is knowledgeable, courteous and understanding, our services handled with dignity and respect. If you're seeking information about arranging your funeral or cremation ahead of time, if you need to arrange services today, or if you simply want to learn more about your options, we are here to help.

PUTTING AN END TO EXCESSIVE
FUNERAL COSTS.
The average funeral costs about $6,000, not including cemetery fees. That's because traditional funeral homes specialize in providing more elaborate, more expensive facilities, services and merchandise. (It may surprise you to know that many "neighborhood" funeral homes are in fact owned by profit-driven international conglomerates.) With its low overhead, locally owned Rapp is a welcome alternative for families that prefer a simpler approach and more flexibility. We specialize in offering simple, dignified arrangements at dramatically reduced costs.

CHANGING TRADITIONS MEAN MORE CHOICES.
Many people have misconceptions about funeral arrangements, often reinforced by the funeral homes themselves. With Rapp, you'll discover that you actually have many choices and rights. The first choice is between cremation and burial. If you choose cremation, you can still have a traditional viewing or funeral service, with a rental casket if you wish. Or you can achieve many of the benefits of a funeral with an intimate family viewing, with suitable containers for the cremation and the ashes. If you prefer burial, Rapp can offer a choice of caskets to fit any budget, whether or not we handle the funeral.
We can arrange for a religious or secular service, a formal or informal gathering, or a highly personalized memorial that celebrates the life with photographs and other mementos. Services can be arranged at places of worship, graveside, a private home or our comfortable, well-appointed facilities. By offering these and other alternatives Rapp enables you to make a choice you can live with.

THE ADVANTAGES OF PRE-ARRANGEMENT.
Why consider pre-arranging a funeral for yourself or a loved one? You may have very particular ideas about what you want. You may be interested in controlling costs. Or you may want to make things easier for your family. Rapp encourages pre-arrangement, even offering a pre-arrangement discount on direct cremations. In our experience, pre-arranging fosters communication among family members and reduces stress, because the wishes of the deceased are made clear.
Another advantage of pre-arrangement is that it gives the family time to set aside funds to cover funeral expenses. If you're interested in pre-paying, we'll go over the pros and cons to help you make the right decision. And we'll also explain how, even if you've already pre-arranged with some other firm, you can usually save money by switching over to Rapp. For more information and forms for advance planning click here to download our free publication, "Planning for Peace of Mind."

DEPEND ON RAPP FOR ALL YOUR
FUNERAL NEEDS
Like all of our clients, your requirements will be unique. You can choose from:

Pre-arrangement and pre-payment plans

Caskets and cremation containers

Urns, keepsake pendants and other ways to cherish cremation remains

Embalming and other preparatory services

Burial or cremation, performed individually and respectfully

Services and ceremonies of all types, for all communities and faiths

Worldwide shipping

Custom-printed memorial cards, folders and service programs

Intimate, comfortable setting for family gatherings

Efficient, professional yet sensitive service

Complimentary blue spruce "remembrance tree" seedling to plant in memory of the deceased.

WHAT OUR CLIENTS SAY:

“Everything was perfect. Steve is fabulous.” --Diane H., Rockville

“All was taken care of as my beloved late husband wished. I am grateful that at this very painful time for our family we knew about Rapp.” --Audrey D., Bethesda

“Both during our preliminary meeting and when you came by to pick up our loved one, you could not have been better. The same is true when I stopped to retrieve the urn. Lanay ... was very compassionate and caring. Thank you.” --Donald S., Washington, D.C.

“Wonderful, sensitive, honest, simple – great! Thank you for a wonderful experience!” --Rev. Susan A., Washington, D.C.

“I was very pleased with your services and also with your prices, which are extremely reasonable. Your entire staff is very courteous, respectful, and patient. … Thank you!” --Abigail Q., Wilmington, DE

“We felt extremely well treated. Your people are real professionals.” -- Ellen S., Washington, D.C.

“Excellent support in time of grief. Terrific help by Stephen and Lanay! … Pick-up person was prompt and also very courteous and respectful.” -- Robert R., Silver Spring