Going Home Cremation & Funeral Care By Value Choice in Baltimore: Direct Cremation and Funeral Planning Without Markup

Going Home Cremation & Funeral Care By Value Choice, P.A. is a funeral home and crematory operator in Baltimore that specializes in direct cremation and traditional funeral arrangements, positioning itself as a lower-cost alternative to full-service funeral homes by eliminating what it calls unnecessary markup on goods and services. The business operates its own crematory on-site, which affects both pricing and service control in ways that matter to families choosing between Baltimore funeral providers.

What Going Home Actually Is

Going Home functions as both a cremation provider and a full-service funeral home. Unlike cremation-only operators that outsource the actual cremation process, Going Home maintains its own crematory equipment. This ownership structure influences cost, timeline, and the level of direct oversight a family can exercise during the cremation process. The business serves Baltimore residents planning cremations, traditional burials, and memorial services, and it also accepts out-of-state arrangements.

The "Value Choice" name reflects the business model: the firm operates without the overhead common to larger funeral homes and positions pricing accordingly. This matters in Baltimore, where funeral costs can range widely depending on the provider's positioning and service scope.

Services and Pricing Tiers

Going Home offers three broad service categories:

Direct Cremation is the entry-level option. The deceased is transported, prepared minimally (washed and placed in a container), cremated, and ashes returned in a temporary container. There is no viewing, embalming, or ceremony included. Pricing for direct cremation through Going Home typically falls in the $695–$995 range, though families should confirm current rates directly, as cremation costs can shift with fuel and operational expenses.

Cremation with a Memorial Service bundles the cremation process with a viewing or gathering space. Families can hold a service at the funeral home, typically for several hours, before or after cremation. This tier runs approximately $1,200–$1,800 depending on service length and whether catering or flowers are added.

Traditional Funeral with Burial includes embalming, viewing, a full ceremony, and coordination with a cemetery. Going Home does not operate a cemetery but arranges burials at Baltimore-area cemeteries like Loudon Park, Druid Ridge, or Green Mount. Complete funeral packages (embalming, casket, service, and basic burial coordination) typically start around $3,500 and scale upward based on casket selection and service features. Casket pricing is where substantial variation occurs; Going Home offers both modest wooden and metal caskets starting under $500, as well as mid-range and premium options extending to several thousand dollars.

The business also offers a "casket selection service" whereby families can purchase caskets from external retailers (including online sources) and bring them to Going Home, avoiding the significant markup many funeral homes apply to casket sales. This flexibility is less common in Baltimore and is worth clarifying with the home directly.

Urn selection, obituary placement, and death certificate copies are priced separately. Confirm all fees upfront; itemized price lists are available from the funeral director.

How Going Home Compares to Other Baltimore Funeral Providers

Baltimore has a dense funeral services market. Going Home's main competition falls into two camps: established, full-service funeral homes with multiple locations (such as Hari P. Close Funeral Service, which operates several Baltimore chapels and prices closer to the $4,000–$6,000 range for traditional funerals), and independently operated cremation providers (such as Cremation Society of Maryland, a non-profit that does not operate a physical funeral home but offers direct cremation in the $600–$800 range).

Choose Going Home if you want direct cremation with the option to add a ceremony afterward, you prefer a single provider who owns its crematory and can answer questions about the process directly, or you want mid-range pricing without the overhead of a large funeral home chain.

Choose a larger funeral home if you need extensive pre-planning services, want a prestigious chapel with extensive seating, or prefer a business with multiple locations and longer operating history in Baltimore.

Choose the Cremation Society of Maryland if cost is the primary factor and you have no need for a viewing or ceremony space; their prices undercut Going Home slightly, though they lack the physical funeral home infrastructure.

Who Going Home Suits and Who It Does Not

Going Home works well for Baltimore families seeking straightforward cremation without upselling, those who can plan ahead rather than arrange services under extreme time pressure, and people comfortable with a smaller-scale operation. It suits families who want direct access to the crematory operator and clarity on how the cremation process works.

The home is less ideal for families who need 24/7 on-site staffing for immediate planning consultations, want a large historic chapel with formal ambiance, or require the institutional reputation of an established chain. Families with very specific religious or cultural funeral customs should confirm in advance that Going Home can accommodate particular rituals or timing requirements.

What the First Visit or Call Involves

Most families call Going Home first rather than visit in person. A funeral director will discuss service options over the phone, answer questions about pricing and process, and send itemized price lists. If the family chooses to proceed, they either bring the deceased or arrange transportation. Going Home will handle all paperwork, coordinate with the coroner's office if needed (for unattended deaths or medical examiner cases), and provide a timeline for the cremation or funeral service. Families are invited to visit the funeral home to select urns, caskets, or flowers, and to reserve viewing or service time in advance.

Hours, Location, and Logistics

Going Home operates from a single location in Baltimore and maintains a funeral director on-call. Confirm current hours and the exact address directly with the business; funeral home hours can vary seasonally and around holidays. Street parking is typically available in the surrounding neighborhood, though families should call ahead to reserve service space and clarify parking directions.

Going Home Cremation & Funeral Care By Value Choice serves families who want transparent pricing and direct crematory oversight in Baltimore. Its on-site crematory and itemized fee structure address two common frustrations with funeral services: hidden costs and uncertainty about the cremation process itself.