It’s comforting to have a neighborhood funeral service provider that understands your unique needs to share your grief and celebrate the life of a loved one. John S. Anderson and William F. McQueen established the Anderson-McQueen Funeral Home in northeast St. Petersburg in 1952. Today the business also consists of the Tyrone Family Tribute Center, Pet Cremations, Sunnyside Cemetery, and the Cremation Tribute Center. In 2017, John McQueen made the decision to retire and partnered with Foundation Partners Group, headquartered in Orlando.
Funeral director Michael Shorter received his training at St. Petersburg College, then had an internship with Anderson- McQueen. “I always wanted a career where I could be of service to other people, and found that providing funeral services was the perfect choice to help people in a time of great need,” he said.
Customized Services for All
Anderson-McQueen personnel are happy to help personalize any type of memorial service. Called the ShareLife approach to funeral planning, it combines a variety of products, services, technology, and personal enhancements that transform traditional funerals into one-of-a-kind celebrations. Shorter recalls one man who used to race cars. For his celebration of life, Shorter arranged for his car to be displayed in the parking lot and implemented audio-visual effects of a race theme.
Families can hold their services at a church, an outdoor location, or inside one of the Anderson-McQueen Tribute Centers. Heritage Hall, for example, features a multisensory experience with a floor-to-ceiling video wall where photos and videos are displayed along with meaningful music and special scents. There is a separate children’s play center and full catering services can be provided. If some family members are unable to attend, live, online broadcasting, as well as digital recordings, can be arranged. A ShareLife certified celebrant can be requested, a master storyteller who leads services or works alongside clergy to help tell the special story behind the life of a loved one. Military honors will also be arranged for veterans. A memorial website can be created, and at the end of any service, balloons, butterflies, or doves can be released.
FEMA Benefits Available
“Not many people seem to be aware of the Federal Emergency Management Agency (FEMA) COVID Funeral and Burial Reimbursement program,” Shorter said. “If your loved one died as the result of COVID-19, you can receive up to $9,000 to help cover funeral expenses..
“At Anderson-McQueen, we don’t just say, ‘Goodbye, and good luck’ at the end of a funeral service,” Shorter said. “In our after-care program we stay connected to families during their grief journey, which includes helping them with FEMA reimbursement and veterans’ benefits, and specific steps to take when finalizing their loved one’s affairs.”
Services for Beloved Pets
Pets are important members of a family, too, and it can be painful to lose them. The Tyrone location offers a special crematory for pets, and in the Rainbow Bridge Room you can have a quiet space to say your final farewells.
Plan Ahead for the Sake of Your Loved Ones
Renee Walls, manager of family services, highly recommends planning ahead for the type of services you would like to have. “Grieving is difficult enough. Planning ahead removes an additional burden from your family, eliminates emotional overspending and guarantees today’s prices forever, providing a reassuring peace of mind for everyone involved,” she said. “We recently worked with someone who made their arrangements in 1995, and the family realized savings of locked-in prices from 27 years ago.”
For information, call (727) 822-2059 or visit www.AndersonMcQueen.com.
