Business Details
About
Funeral Home
Kent-Forest Lawn Funeral Home and Cemeteries in Panama City, FL provides cemetery, burial services, funeral home, veteran, memorialization, cremation and life celebration services. Call us 24/7.
Our experienced staff is committed to this vision and passionate about making your time with us as memorable and uplifting as possible. We bring together decades of experience caring for families of all cultural backgrounds and diverse walks of life. We pledge to treat you and your loved ones just like family, and we guarantee to offer services that meet all of your specifications while exceeding all of your expectations. Licensed staff members are available around the clock, 24 hours a day, 7 days a week, to discuss your needs. Whether you are doing pre-planning or need to hold a service soon, we are ready to answer our phone and offer you warm, friendly, and empathetic service.
Location
Hours
Reviews
4.8
251 reviews
5 stars
235
4 stars
6
3 stars0
2 stars3
1 star
7
What are people saying?
AI-generated from recent customer reviews
Compassionate Staff
Customers consistently praised the staff for their kindness, empathy, and support during difficult times.
Professional Service
Many reviews highlighted the professionalism and thoroughness of the staff in handling arrangements and providing guidance.
Positive Atmosphere
The presence of therapy dog Gracie and the overall welcoming environment were frequently mentioned as comforting aspects of the service.
Attention to Detail
Customers appreciated the meticulous attention to detail in planning and executing memorial services.
Communication
The staff was noted for their clear communication and responsiveness, helping families navigate the funeral process smoothly.
- MFMary Ferreyros3 days ago5.0I highly recommend this funeral Home staff is awesome John is very nice understanding, on our mom funeral view. My daughter came from New Jersey, and they make arrangements to put her on view schedule. Gracie the grieving dog, it's a sweetheart . Yerania she is awesome and speak Spanish. I lost my mother on November 1 2025, it was very recently. Personally I are going to a hard time in your life, loosing a love one, don't hesitate to choose Ken Forest Lawn Funeral Home. Awesome people, kind and understanding ❤️❤️❤️
- PFPeggy Fleitman6 days ago5.0My sister and I worked with Yerania Torres today at Kent-Forest Lawn to handle some pre-planning for out dad. She made the process simple and painless. She was very informative and compassionate.
- KWKerry Warner6 days ago5.0Pre planning done with Yerania Torres made a difficult process a breeze. Her compassion and knowledge were so appreciated. ❤️
- TPTed PhillipsNov 7, 20255.0Kat McKenzie was exceptionally helpful in our troubling time of need. She went above and beyond in providing options, explaining choices and providing comfort. Her patience and understanding went a long way in reassuring us we made the right choice with Kent Forest Lawn.
- JJJL JohnsonOct 24, 20255.0I live in Ohio and my father passed away in Florida. The experience I had with Kent Forest was incredible, especially considering, I had to do much of planning 4 states away. I worked with Michael, whom I instantly felt comfortable with. He calmly and kindly walked us through the cremation process, and his communication was above and beyond even my highest expectation. Michael is truly in the profession he is called to be in. I spoke with others at Kent-Forest and each one of them was superb. I could not recommend Michael or Kent-Forest more if I had to.
Frequently Asked Questions About Kent Forest Lawn Funeral Home
What does a Funeral Director do?
Pick up the deceased and transport the body to the funeral home (anytime day or night)
Notify proper authorities, family and/or relatives
Arrange and prepare death certificates
Provide certified copies of death certificates for insurance and benefit processing
Work with the insurance agent, Social Security or Veterans Administration to ensure that necessary paperwork is filed for receipt of benefits
Prepare and submit obituary to the newspapers of your choice
Bathe and embalm the deceased body, if necessary
Prepare the body for viewing including dressing and cosmetizing
Assist the family with funeral arrangements and purchase of casket, urn, burial vault and cemetery plot
Schedule the opening and closing of the grave with cemetery personnel, if a burial is to be performed
Coordinate with clergy if a funeral or memorial service is to be held
Arrange a police escort and transportation to the funeral and/or cemetery for the family
Order funeral sprays and other flower arrangements as the family wishes
Provide Aftercare, or grief assistance, to the bereaved
What do I do when a death occurs?
The funeral home will help coordinate arrangements with the cemetery.
Bring the following information to complete the State vital statistic requirements:
✓ Birthplace
✓ Father's Name
✓ Mother's Name
✓ Social Security Number
✓ Veteran's Discharge or Claim Number
✓ Education
✓ Marital Status
Contact your clergy. Decide on time and place of funeral or memorial service. This can be done at the funeral home.
The funeral home will assist you in determining the number of copies of the death certificates you will be needing and can order them for you.
Make a list of immediate family, close friends and employer or business colleagues. Notify each by phone.
Decide on appropriate memorial to which gifts may be made (church, hospice, library, charity or school).
Gather obituary information you want to include such as age, place of birth, cause of death, occupation, college degrees, memberships held, military service , outstanding work, list of survivors in immediate family. Include time and place of services. The funeral home will normally write article and submit to newspapers (newspaper will accept picture and they will be returned intact).
Arrange for members of family or close friends to take turns answering door or phone, keeping careful record of calls. If Social Security checks are automatic deposit, notify the bank of the death.
When I call, will someone come right away?
If you request immediate assistance, yes. If the family wishes to spend a short time with the deceased to say good-bye, that’s perfectly acceptable. Your funeral director will come when your time is right.
Should I choose Burial or Cremation?
Burial in a casket is the most common method of disposing of remains in the United States, although entombment also occurs. Cremation is increasingly selected because it can be less expensive and allows for the memorial service to be held at a more convenient time in the future when relatives and friends can come together.
A funeral service followed by cremation need not be any different from a funeral service followed by a burial. Usually, cremated remains are placed in urn before being committed to a final resting place. The urn may be buried, placed in an indoor or outdoor mausoleum or columbarium, or interred in a special urn garden that many cemeteries provide for cremated remains. The remains may also be scattered, according to state law.
What is the purpose of embalming?
Embalming sanitizes and preserves the body. Embalming makes it possible to lengthen the time between death and the final disposition, allowing family members time to arrange and participate in the type of service most comforting to them.
Does a dead body have to be embalmed, according to law?
The Federal Trade Commission says, "Except in certain special cases, embalming is not required by law. Embalming may be necessary, however, if you select certain funeral arrangements, such as a funeral with viewing. If you do not want embalming, you usually have the right to choose an arrangement that does not require you to pay for it, such as direct cremation or immediate burial."
What services does Kent Forest Lawn Funeral Home provide?
Kent Forest Lawn Funeral Home offers cemetery, burial services, funeral home services, veteran and memorialization services, cremation and life celebration services.
Is Kent Forest Lawn Funeral Home open on federal holidays?
Yes, the funeral home is open 24 hours on federal holidays.
How can I contact Kent Forest Lawn Funeral Home for immediate assistance?
You can contact them 24/7 by calling +1 850-763-4694 or emailing wecare@kentforestlawn.com.
What payment methods are accepted at Kent Forest Lawn Funeral Home?
They accept American Express, Cash, Discover, Mastercard, and Visa for payments.
What products are available through Kent Forest Lawn Funeral Home?
They provide caskets, urns, flowers, gravestones, burial property, mausoleum, crypts, cremation niche, tombs, and burial vaults.
What should I do immediately after a death occurs?
The funeral home will assist with coordinating cemetery arrangements; you'll need to provide vital info such as birthplace, parents' names, Social Security number, veteran information, education, and marital status; contact your clergy and decide on funeral times; make a list of close contacts and notify them; and work with the funeral home for obituary and memorial details.
What is embalming and is it legally required?
Embalming sanitizes and preserves the body, allowing time between death and funeral arrangements. It is not required by law except in certain cases, typically only necessary if a funeral with viewing is chosen.
How does Kent Forest Lawn Funeral Home assist with funeral arrangements?
The funeral director handles transport of the deceased, coordinates with authorities, arranges death certificates, prepares the body, coordinates funeral services, assists with casket and urn selection, and offers grief assistance.
What nearby cemeteries and funeral services are close to Kent Forest Lawn Funeral Home?
Nearby are the Forest Lawn Memorial Cemetery - KFL and Kent-Forest Lawn Funeral Home & Cemeteries, both providing funeral and cemetery services, which may be helpful for families looking for related services in the area.
What are some nearby healthcare providers that might assist families around Kent Forest Lawn Funeral Home?
Nearby healthcare options include Ascension Medical Group Sacred Heart Bay at Harrison Avenue, Gulf Coast Dermatology, The Clinic of Pediatrics and GI Medicine, and Emerald Coast Hospice, offering medical, specialist, and hospice care.
Are there any nearby parks or recreational areas close to Kent Forest Lawn Funeral Home?
St. Joe Beach, a local beach and park known for surfing, is near Kent Forest Lawn Funeral Home and could be a place to visit before or after your arrangements.