Oualie Funeral Home & Crematory
Service with Compassion on Nevis
Why Go
Nevis's most modern funeral facility, purpose-built at New River Estate to give island families - and visitors caught by unexpected loss - a calm, dignified place to plan a farewell close to home.
The Experience
Set in the quiet Parish of St. James' at the eastern end of Nevis, Oualie Funeral Home & Crematory opened in July 2020 after a four-year build, and it noticeably raised the bar for what end-of-life care looks like on the island. The facility handles the full arc of arrangements - collection, preparation, viewings, chapel service, cremation and repatriation - inside one purpose-designed building rather than the piecemeal setup families used to navigate. Staff are known locally for a measured, unhurried manner: they walk first-time planners through paperwork, help liaise with churches across Nevis and St. Kitts, and are experienced with the extra layer of coordination visitors need when a death happens away from home (consular contacts, airline documentation, embalming certifications for international transport). The rooms are simple and dignified rather than ornate, and the crematory - the first on Nevis - means families no longer have to ship remains to St. Kitts or overseas for cremation.
What to Try
For a traditional Nevisian send-off, ask about a chapel service at Oualie followed by burial at a home-parish cemetery - staff coordinate the procession and graveside logistics. Families who prefer something smaller can hold a private viewing on-site and move straight to cremation, with the option to collect the urn the same week. For visitors, request the international repatriation package: they'll handle the death certificate, embalming, hermetically sealed casket or urn, and airline consignment paperwork end-to-end. Pre-planning consultations are also available for expats and long-stay residents who want arrangements documented in advance.
Insider Tip
If you're a visitor dealing with a death on-island, call Oualie before you call your embassy or airline - they know exactly which St. Kitts & Nevis forms the coroner, registrar and customs each require, and getting them started in the right order can shave days off repatriation. Bring the deceased's passport, travel insurance details and next-of-kin contact when you first sit down.
The Practical Stuff
Location: New River Estate, Parish of St. James', Nevis (eastern side of the island, roughly 20-25 minutes' drive from Charlestown). Contact via their active Facebook page 'Oualie Funeral Home' for current phone numbers and after-hours line. Services offered: funeral arrangements, embalming, chapel and graveside services, cremation (the only on-island crematory), urns and caskets, international repatriation. Payment: cash and bank transfer are standard; ask about instalment plans. Language: English. Discreet parking on-site; modest, respectful dress expected for viewings and services.
Pair It With
- Birthplace of Alexander Hamilton Guide — A quiet Charlestown museum and garden that offers a reflective, historically grounded place to sit before or after arrangements - useful for out-of-town family with time between meetings.
- Bananas Restaurant Guide — A calm hillside setting in nearby Upper Hamilton Estate that regularly hosts small post-service repasts and family gatherings in a private, unhurried atmosphere.
- Cat Ghaut Nevis Guide — A discreet self-catering property option for grieving family members flying in who need a quiet base within easy reach of the funeral home rather than a busy resort.