Serving Families Since 1940, Forever in Our Hearts
At Rice Funeral Home, we understand that losing a loved one is never easy. That's why we're dedicated to providing compassionate and personalized funeral services to families in Worcester, Massachusetts, and surrounding areas. With over 84 years of experience, our family-owned and operated funeral home is committed to helping you through one of life's most difficult times.
Our History
Rice Funeral Home was established in 1940 by Roger A. Rice, who left a position at Norton Company to venture onto his own in business. He graduated from the New England Institute in Boston in 1939 and began the funeral home at its current location at 300 Park Avenue in Worcester. In 1948, his son Arthur F. Rice joined his father in the funeral home. Today, we continue to serve families with the same level of care and compassion that has defined our funeral home for generations.
Our Staff
Our dedicated staff is composed of licensed funeral directors and professionals who are intimately familiar with the funeral planning process. We can help you navigate the many decisions that must be made during this difficult time, ensuring that every detail is taken care of with care and attention. Our staff is committed to providing you with the support and guidance you need to create a meaningful and personalized funeral or memorial service.
Why Choose Us
At Rice Funeral Home, we pride ourselves on our ability to provide personalized funeral services that reflect the unique life and personality of your loved one. We offer a wide range of funeral services, cremation services, pre-need funeral planning, life celebrations, graveside services, and other personalized funeral options. We are also one of the few Greater Worcester funeral homes that provide all of our prices lists to you directly on our website, ensuring transparency and affordability.
Testimonials
We are grateful for the trust that families have placed in us over the years. Here's what some of our families have to say about our services: "Lost my daughter, Celeste made the worst experience of my life easy, just by being herself she showed so much caring, kindness and compassion. Like she was part of the family" - William Russo.
Our Services
We offer a range of funeral services, including:
- Funeral Services: We can help you plan a traditional funeral service, complete with a visitation, funeral ceremony, and graveside service.
- Cremation Services: We offer cremation services, including direct cremation, cremation with a memorial service, and cremation with a traditional funeral service.
- Pre-Need Funeral Planning: We can help you plan and pre-fund your funeral service, ensuring that your wishes are respected and your loved ones are relieved of the burden of making difficult decisions during a difficult time.
- Life Celebrations: We can help you plan a celebration of life, honoring your loved one in a unique and meaningful way.
Merchandise
We offer a range of funeral merchandise, including:
- Caskets: We offer a selection of caskets, including traditional, wooden, and cremation caskets.
- Urns & Urn Vaults: We offer a selection of urns and urn vaults, perfect for families who choose cremation.
- Keepsakes: We offer a range of keepsakes, including jewelry, ornaments, and other mementos that can help you cherish the memory of your loved one.
Funeral Home Review Summary
Overall Experience
The reviews indicate that Rice Funeral Home provided exceptional service to the families who have lost loved ones. The staff, particularly Celeste and Roger, were compassionate, understanding, and supportive during a difficult time for the families. They were professional, efficient, and accommodating, going above and beyond to ensure that the families' needs were met.
Staff and Services
Celeste, the funeral director, was praised for her empathy and kindness. She took the time to explain everything to the families, answered their questions, and made sure they felt comfortable throughout the process. Roger, her brother, was also mentioned for his patience and understanding. The staff at Rice Funeral Home were considered to be warm, welcoming, and caring, making the funeral arrangements as smooth and stress-free as possible.
Positive Aspects
The funeral home was praised for its cleanliness, organization, and professionalism. The staff were accommodating and understanding, taking the time to answer questions and explain the process. They were patient, compassionate, and caring, making the families feel comfortable and supported during a difficult time.
Negative Comments
One reviewer had a less-than-pleasant experience, citing that Celeste lacked sensitivity and understanding, coming across as cold and uncompassionate. They mentioned that Celeste was pushy, argumentative, and unaccommodating, making the experience stressful and uncomfortable.
