Ciha gay funeral home

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Pre-planning gives your loved ones direction of your wants and desires.

  • It’s easy. Now’s your chance to get to know the faces behind the scenes that make it all happen.

    Our dedicated and supportive staff are here to guide you through this difficult journey. A memorial service can be contemporary or religious in nature and is usually held at the funeral home or in church.

    From the specific time of the cremation to the participation of friends or family in the process, we will help you deal with the death of your dear one.

    Because we have a trusted reputation among colleagues many other funeral homes that do not have their own crematory facilities seek our assistance when it comes to taking care of the cremation needs of their families.

    Final Disposition of the Cremated Remains

    Families have the options of placing the cremated remains of their loved one in:

    • Grave in a family plot or mausoleum niche so that they may have a place to visit and remember the life of their loved one.

    • Location within the home.

    • Scattering the cremated remains in a place of great significance, such as the sea, a meadow, or home pond.
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    • Distributing the cremated remains in keepsake urns, jewelry or artwork to members of the family.

    Ultimately, the final resting location will determine what type of vessel is needed. Urns are crafted from various metals, woods and ceramics. There are many designs – sculptured urns are among the latest styles. Incorporating cremated remains in jewelry and artwork is also gaining popularity.

    Please contact us for further information on the funeral planning process. We will be happy to offer suggestions and provide information about what would be the best way to celebrate your loved one’s life.

    • Gay And Ciha Funeral Home

    Understanding Funeral Prices at Gay And Ciha Funeral Home
    Your Consumer Rights and Available Information

    Arranging a funeral can be both emotionally challenging and financially burdensome.

    To protect consumers, Gay And Ciha Funeral Home is obligated to follow the guidelines outlined in the "Funeral Rule".

    The "Funeral Rule" was established in 1984 to ensure that all funeral homes, including Gay And Ciha Funeral Home, provide customers with clear and accurate information about the products and services they offer.

    This includes providing price details over the phone upon request. The service can be individualized with musical selections, readings, eulogies and displays reflecting the person’s life: their hobbies, interests, and occupation.

  • Direct Cremation includes no viewing or ceremony. Many people have little knowledge about the funeral industry, and in such difficult times, they may be vulnerable to being deceived or taken advantage of.

    Start Your Pre-Plan Today

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    The Staff at Gay & Ciha Funeral & Cremation

    Ever wonder who is the person greeting you at the door or the person behind the voice answering your call? At Gay & Ciha, we believe it is important to be aware of all the options that are available in having a meaningful funeral service when cremation is the choice.

    Reasons to choose Cremation Services

    People may choose cremation for a variety of reasons – philosophical, religious and even environmental.

    Failure to comply with this rule could result in complaints being filed against the funeral home by the Federal Trade Commission. Whatever the reason, if you are thinking about cremation, it’s important to know and understand all of the choices available to you.

    Options For Funeral Service When Choosing Cremation

    Visitation and Ceremony is a viewing of the person in the casket within a designated viewing time.

    Anyone can do it, and you can change your mind at any time.

    Don't wait!

    Anyone who visits Gay And Ciha Funeral Home at 2720 Muscatine Ave in Iowa City, IA and asks about funeral arrangements is entitled to receive a free copy of the general price list. This can be an all day visitation or just a few hours where all friends and relatives are welcome to gather and provide comfort and support to one another. A service would follow the visitation, either at the funeral home or at the church.

    We take pride in doing our absolute best to ensure your needs are met.

    Dan Ciha

    Funeral Director, Owner

    Colette Ciha Soults

    Pastoral Care, Owner

    Megan Ciha

    Funeral Assistant

    Lisa Ciha

    Administrative Assistant

    Linda Kron

    Hair Stylist & Funeral Assistant

    Bijou Maliabo

    Funeral Assistant

    Samantha Lynch

    Funeral Director Intern

    Judy Bennett

    Funeral Assistant

    Kathi Dykstra 

    Funeral Assistant


    Kathy Brack

    Funeral Assistant


    Sharon Kurt

    Funeral Assistant

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    Gertie

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    Funeral & Cremation Services

    The funeral gives us permission to grieve and help us appreciate the connections our loved one had established with others. Funeral visitations provide a chance to talk and share stories and memories. We gather with family and friends and say, “This life was important, this life touched mine.”

    Planning a funeral can be a stressful experience, but it does not have to be dreaded.

    As part of the "Funeral Rule," Gay And Ciha Funeral Home is required to offer a General Price List (GPL) to anyone who asks for it. This applies to all individuals, regardless of whether they intend to purchase funeral services or not. Others prefer cremation because they want something simpler and more natural.

    ciha gay funeral home

    Pre-Planning

    Many people plan for life events such as weddings and vacations well in advance, but many people do not plan for something that is certain to happen, their funeral. The primary advantages of pre-planning your funeral is to relieve the burden on your loved ones in an already emotional time, and to ensure your funeral is carried out according to your wishes, eliminating the task of second-guessing what you would have wanted. Taking the time now to arrange your funeral is one less thing your loved ones will need to worry about once you’ve passed.

    What you can do in advance…

    • Decide on Burial or Cremation and your casket or urn type.
    • Pick what type of service you want (religious, military, non-traditional)
    • Choose which funeral home to use.
    • Designate your pallbearers, pick any music, readings and other unique details you may want included at your service.

    Benefits of Pre-Planning

    • Between 70 and 75 decisions are made within the first 24-48 hours of death. It’s difficult to think rationally while making so many decisions within days of losing someone, pre-planning gives yourself, family and friends peace of mind.

      We’ll help you through the process of planning a meaningful, personal funeral ceremony, memorial service or cremation during a challenging time in your life.

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      Funeral & Cremation Ceremonies

      A ceremony, whether simple or elaborate, traditional or contemporary, provides family and friends the occasion to say a final “good-bye”. This time is important because it gives the grieving family an opportunity to share their memories and give support to one another.

      A personalized service involves tailoring the funeral to express the personality, interests and passion of your loved one.  We can help you create a moving tribute by displaying treasured belongings, photographs or playing their favorite music. The options for services are only limited by one’s imagination.

      Whether you decide on a traditional funeral service or something more innovative, we will provide you with options that offer flexibility and individuality. There is a wide range of choices when it comes to merchandise and the service itself.  We believe every family must be afforded the opportunity to celebrate their loved one’s life message as they feel comfortable.

      If a family chooses to have a visitation there are a number of choices available in caskets.

      • Caskets traditionally used for burial may be used.
      • Cremation Caskets are simpler in design and are constructed specifically for cremation.
      • Alternative Caskets are typically constructed of cardboard with a felt covering.

      Is Cremation an Option at Gay & Ciha?

      Cremation is becoming more popular as a funeral option.

      Following the service, the casketed body will be taken to our crematory.

      • Private Viewing and Ceremony is similar to a visitation and service with the exception that it is open only to family members and invited close friends.

      • Private Viewing is when the family briefly wants to see the person for the last time to say good-bye and not have a formal time for viewing.

      • Memorial Ceremony with cremains is when an urn is present at the visitation/service.