What is the Webb County Indigent Cremation Program?
Chapter 694.002 of the Texas Health and Safety Code states that each county is responsible for the proper disposition of deceased paupers. The Webb County Indigent Burial/Cremation Program was established to provide assistance for the direct burial/cremation of decedents with no known next of kin, those whose families are unable to take financial responsibility for these expenses, and those who pass away in Webb County and are either unidentified or unclaimed. Webb County works with the City of Laredo Cemetery and all local funeral home facilities to provide these services at a negotiated reduced rate.
Webb County will cover the expenses for both the funeral home and cemetery for the following decedents:
*UNIDENTIFIED DECEDENTS: Decedents who have not been properly identified may not be cremated therefore burial would be the method of internment
*Unknown- John/Jane Doe’s,
*Unknown- Illegal border crossers found along the Texas/Mexico border,
*IDENTIFIED DECEDENTS: Decedents who have been properly identified will be assisted with cremation only.
*Paupers,
*abandoned bodies,
*indigent decedents (only if family members meet the proper income/resource eligibility criteria)
Limited Services/ Restrictions
Services are limited to a direct burial/cremation and no other standard funeral services are included or allowed, such as: obituary, embalming/viewing of the body, church and rosary ceremony, and vehicle procession to cemetery.
Direct Burial/Cremation (standard services included)
Standard services for a direct burial/cremation include the purchase of a wooden casket, transportation of the decedent only to the cemetery, cemetery plot, gravesite fees for opening and closing of plot, limited visitation at gravesite, placement of metal marker at gravesite. Internment is done at the Indigent Section of Laredo City Cemetery.
Veterans- (additional services)
Eligible veterans do receive additional services in honor of their sacrifices and service to our country. These services include an upgraded casket, canopy and chair set up at gravesite by Laredo City Cemetery, unlimited visitation at gravesite, full military funeral honors provided by the American Legion Post 59 consisting of a 21-gun salute, playing of Taps, U.S. flag folding and presentation. Internment/inurnment is done at the Veterans Section of Laredo City Cemetery.