Reviews of Phalen Funeral Home (Mortuary)

Laura R

Keith, I want to thank you and your family for making my father's calling hours and service a wonderful experience. I was anxious at first, but you were so accommodating that I had nothing to worry about. You were very kind when you came to our home to pick up his body too. Thank you!

Thommy Birk

Makes the hard times a little easier

Anna Hausler

I guess I'm not quite sure why the negative reviews for Phalen. They just did my mother's funeral, and we were pleased through and through. "Shopping" for funeral homes is an ugly experience that one unfortunately must tend to when one least wants to or has the capacity to, when a loved one is on their deathbed or has just passed. I dreaded doing this, as I had heard that shopping for a funeral home is like buying a car: Caveat emptor...funeral directors are evil...they have you over a barrel...notorious for taking advantage of your vulnerable state. Much to my surprise, though, what I experienced was something very different than my expectations. This is due, at least in part, to the fact that CT has your back, regulatorily speaking, with regard to funeral pricing estimates and disclosures. I shopped all three funeral homes in town, and Phalen was the most affordable. Not by miles...but by enough to make a difference. Their greatest price advantage was their charge for the cemetery-required burial liner (both of Phalen's competition were notably more expensive, with one charging almost double what Phalen charged!), and also that they did not charge for every time they had to lift a finger. One other reviewer commented that he felt like Phalen did that...but if you compare Phalen to his competition, he really does give you more bang for your buck. Furthermore, the cost advantage doesn't compromise on setting--his fees still get you a far more beautiful and elegant venue than the competition's locations, imho. Cost savings rang true right down to the casket costs. Most of you might never have even thought you COULD break out and shop costs of caskets (Did you know you could buy a casket online at WalMart or Sears??!), and if you had, you likely couldn't be bothered in such a somber and overwhelming time. I sure didn't before this experience; however, a relative from out of the country wanted to buy the casket for my mom's funeral, and because of this, we all went online to look at caskets together, rather than purchase it from the funeral home--it was just easier. We found that, although caskets ARE cheaper online, once you factor overnight shipping into the cost of online caskets, they were no great deal, and very comparable to what the funeral homes were charging in the first place. We're talking, this was true for EVERY SINGLE casket vendor online that we looked at. I can save you the trouble and tell you, don't put yourself through that--It's just plain easier to buy the casket directly from the funeral home. They do it all, provide it all, and by my research, at an apparently reasonable price. Another important reason why I recommend buying the casket directly from the funeral home is that, if you buy from the funeral home, you never have to worry that your casket doesn't arrive on time...which is precisely what happened to us. Even though the pricing was extremely close to what the funeral home charged, it was just plain easier for the out-of-country relative to order and pay online, so we went that route; however, the casket didn't arrive in time. We're now embroiled in a credit card dispute with the casket company--who was prepared to stick it to us despite the late delivery--over those charges. The cc company has us confident that we'll prevail...but what needless hassle and frustration that was...we were taking multiple phone calls from the casket company, MOMENTS before our wake services! Which takes us back to why I gave Phalen such high marks. Keith Phalen not only supplied an almost identical casket promptly, but charged us a price almost identical to the shipped casket, and was gracious throughout. I suppose he could have taken total advantage of the situation: there we were on the day of the wake with no casket--he had us over that proverbial barrel--but he didn't. He accommodated every request we made, and casket fiasco not withstanding, my mom's funeral went about as smooth as it could've possibly gone. I recommend Phalen highly.

Jeff Session

Can't complain!

Christopher Sheffield

Kieth is the last remaining Torrington born & raised funeral director in town. His knowledge of the area and attention to detail is second to none. I wouldn't go anywhere else.