Losing someone is a heavy, confusing mess. When you’re staring at a screen trying to find a specific name or a service time, the last thing you want is a clunky website or a dead-end search. If you are looking for Powell Coleman Funeral Home obituaries, you've likely realized there’s a bit of a trick to finding the right information quickly.
Honestly, the "Powell" name is everywhere in the funeral industry. There are Powell homes in Iowa, Arkansas, and even Missouri. But when people search for "Powell Coleman," they are almost always looking for the specific, long-standing pillar located in Gary, Indiana. Specifically, the one on West 15th Avenue.
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It’s a place that has handled the final goodbyes for thousands of Northwest Indiana families. But finding their most recent digital records can be kinda tricky if you don't know where the community usually posts them.
Where the actual Powell Coleman Funeral Home obituaries live
Most people start at Google, which is fine, but funeral home websites often lag behind the actual local news or social media announcements. For the Powell Coleman Funeral Home obituaries in Gary, you’ll find the most reliable, detailed archives on Legacy.com or the Post-Tribune’s digital obituary section.
Why? Because Gary is a tight-knit community. While the funeral home itself (located at 3200 W. 15th Ave) keeps its own records, the digital "Guest Books"—where you can actually leave a note for the family—are usually hosted on these larger platforms.
- Check Legacy first. It’s the gold standard for Indiana obits.
- Search the Gary Post-Tribune. Local newspapers still carry the most weight for official death notices.
- Social Media. Believe it or not, many families in Gary share the "Homegoing Service" details directly on Facebook before the official obituary even hits the press.
What most people get wrong about the search
The biggest mistake? Mixing up the locations. If you see an obituary for a "Powell Funeral Home" in Williamsburg, Iowa, or Bald Knob, Arkansas, that’s a different family entirely. Those are great businesses, but they won't have the records for a service held in Lake County, Indiana.
Powell-Coleman (often hyphenated in older records) is deeply rooted in the African American community of Gary. Their services are known for being elaborate, respectful, and deeply personal. If you’re looking for a "homegoing" schedule—which is often a more celebratory, spiritual send-off—you need to look for that specific wording in the obituary.
A quick look at what they offer
It isn't just about a name in a newspaper. People go to Powell-Coleman because they’ve been around forever. They handle the stuff that makes your head spin when you're grieving:
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- Traditional full-service burials (usually around $7,000 to $8,000).
- Direct cremations (much more affordable, often under $1,100).
- The "Wake" or "Viewing"—usually held the day before or the morning of the service.
- Interment details (most families they serve end up at Fern Oak Cemetery in Griffith).
How to find a specific name from the past
If you’re doing genealogy or just trying to find a service from a few years ago, the Powell Coleman Funeral Home obituaries archive is your best bet. If the digital search fails, you can actually call them. They are at (219) 885-5529.
Kinda old school? Maybe. But in the funeral business, sometimes a phone call to a real person who remembers the family is faster than clicking through twenty pages of search results.
People often look for names like Kerwin "Pee-Wee" Coleman, a name that resonates in Gary's local history. When you find these records, they usually include the "Order of Service," which is basically a roadmap of how the family chose to honor their loved one. It's more than just a date of death; it's a history of a life lived in the Region.
Why this specific home matters to Gary
Funeral homes in Gary aren't just businesses; they’re community hubs. Powell-Coleman has stayed put while other businesses moved to the suburbs. They’ve seen the city change. When you read an obituary from this home, you’re often reading a piece of Gary’s history—mentions of local churches like St. Timothy Community Church or Mason Temple are common.
Basically, if you’re looking for someone who lived their life in Gary, their obituary at Powell-Coleman is going to be the most authentic record of who they were and who they left behind.
Practical steps for your search
If you are currently looking for a service schedule or a place to send flowers, here is exactly what you should do:
- Verify the city. Ensure you are looking at Gary, IN, not a Powell home in another state.
- Use the full name. Don't just search "Powell Coleman." Search "Powell Coleman Funeral Home [Last Name of Deceased]."
- Check for the "Wake" time. In Gary, the wake is often as significant as the funeral itself.
- Confirm the Cemetery. Most services here conclude at Fern Oak or Evergreen Memorial Park.
- Send Flowers Early. If the service is at 11:00 AM, the florist needs that order 24 hours in advance to get it to the 15th Avenue location on time.
Searching for Powell Coleman Funeral Home obituaries doesn't have to be a scavenger hunt. Stick to the local Indiana sources, keep the Gary location in mind, and you'll find the details you need to pay your respects properly.