Cremation Services

Cremation: A Meaningful Choice

Cremation stands out as an appealing option for many families due to its affordable price and the versatility it offers. This practice involves reducing the deceased's body to cremated remains through high-temperature processes. The cremation process is significant in how it transforms the body. Families are then presented with several choices for the final resting place. These final disposition options ensure that every choice respects the wishes of the deceased and their family.


Options include scattering the remains, burying them in a cemetery, or keeping them safely in an urn. This flexibility allows for a personal memorial service that commemorates the deceased uniquely, offering a form of tribute not usually catered for by traditional burials. Unlike traditional burial options, cremation allows you to use different methods to honor a loved one.

two exchanging an urn

The journey of the cremation process initiates with the careful transportation of the deceased to the selected crematory. A crucial step is ensuring that an authorization form is duly completed, enabling the legal progression of cremation services under the law. During this time, the body is placed in a special cremation casket, which allows the transformation into ashes and bone fragments to occur within hours. Once the process is completed, the body has been transformed. After the cremation, the bone fragments and ashes are processed further and returned to the family. Choices for handling the cremated remains include placing them in an urn, scattering them at a meaningful site, or opting for cemetery internment as a final destination.



Exploring Cremation Service Options

Families often gravitate towards cremation services for their flexibility and cost-effectiveness. Options like direct cremation offer a simple, economical alternative, while more comprehensive services might include a viewing or memorial. Consulting with a Cremation Society or funeral home can provide valuable information regarding cremation services, including burial, pricing, and required legal authorization. Organizing a special ceremony can also be a thoughtful way to pay tribute to the loved one.


Managing Cremated Remains

Following the cremation process, families can choose from several methods for managing cremated remains, such as placing them in an urn or scattering them at a designated meaningful location. Options include placing them in an urn, scattering them at a designated location, or interring them in a cemetery. Each method has associated regulations and considerations; hence, careful planning is advised. Regardless of the method chosen, cremated remains offer a tangible connection to the deceased, providing solace and a visible focus during mourning.


Traditional Funeral Service followed by Cremation

Many families find meaning and beauty in a traditional funeral service. With a traditional service combined with cremation, you can still choose to have a final viewing, visitation or wake, and a funeral service. However instead of in-ground burial, the funeral will be followed by cremation. Depending on your wishes, the cremated remains may be either returned to your family for storage in an urn, scattered, or interred in a columbarium. This option will include fees for the funeral services as well as the fees associated with the cremation itself.

Memorial Service

The memorial service can be held in our chapel, a church, or any other venue the family chooses. We work with our families to design a service that honors their loved one with stories, music, or scripture. We also have life celebrants that lead services where clergy may not be chosen. Our celebrants are trained in creating experiences that help start the healing process.

Graveside Service

A graveside or committal service is typically held immediately following the funeral service but it can also be a small intimate gathering of those closest to you.

Permanent Memorialization

Keeping an Urn at Home

This is a common choice and families can select the perfect urn for their loved one.

Placing the Urn in a Columbarium (aka, a “niche”)

Many families find comfort in having a final resting place that they can visit.

Burying the Urn

Similar to a casket, the in-ground burial of the urn allows for a final resting place.

Scattering the Cremated Remains

Some families find comfort scattering the cremated remains in a place that was special to their loved one.

Cremation FAQ

Click on the questions below to reveal each respective answer.

  • What is Cremation?

    Cremation is the process of reducing the human body to bone fragments using high heat and flame.  Cremation is not the final disposition of the remains, nor is it a type of funeral service.

  • Is a casket needed for cremation?

    No, a casket is not required, most states require an alternative container constructed of wood or cardboard, however, in some states no container is required.

  • Is embalming required prior to cremation?

    No.  In fact it is against the law for a funeral home to tell you otherwise.

  • Can the body be viewed without embalming?

    Yes, most crematories allow immediate family members to briefly view the deceased prior to cremation.

  • Can the family witness the cremation?

    Yes they can; some cremation providers will allow family members to be present when the body is placed in the cremation chamber.  Some religious groups even include this as part of their funeral custom.

  • Can an urn be brought into church?

    Nearly all Protestant Churches allow for the urn to be present during the memorial service.  Most Catholic Churches also allow the remains to be present during the Memorial Mass.  It is encouraged that cremated remains be a part of a funeral as it provides a focal point for the service.

  • What can be done with the cremated remains?

    While laws vary state by state, for the most part remains can be buried in a cemetery lot or a cremation garden, interred in a columbarium, kept at home or scattered.

  • How can I be sure I receive the correct remains?

    All reputable cremation providers have developed rigorous sets of operating policies and procedures in order to maximize the level of service and minimize the potential for human error.  Since it is illegal to perform more than one cremation at a time, and the vast majority of crematories can only cremate one body at a time, it is next to impossible to receive the incorrect remains.

  • How long does the actual cremation take?

    It all depends on the weight of the individual.  For an average sized adult, cremation can take two to three hours at a normal operating temperature of between 1,000 and 2,000 degrees Fahrenheit.

  • What happens after the cremation is complete?

    All organic bone fragments, which are very brittle, as well as non-consumed metal items are "swept" into the front of the cremation chamber and into a stainless steel cooling pan. All non-consumed items, like metal from clothing, hip joints, and bridge work, are separated from the cremated remains. This separation is accomplished through visual inspection as well as using a strong magnet for smaller and minute metallic objects. Items such as dental gold and silver are non-recoverable and are commingled in with the cremated remains. Remaining bone fragments are then processed in a machine to a consistent size and placed into a temporary or permanent urn, selected by the family.

  • What do the cremated remains look like?

    Cremated remains resemble coarse sand and are whitish to light grey in color.  The remains of an average sized adult usually weighs between 7 and 8 pounds.

  • Are all the cremated remains returned?

    With the exception of minute and microscopic particles, which are impossible to remove from the cremation chamber and processing machine, all of the cremated remains are given back to the family.

  • Do I need an urn?

    An urn is not required by law.  However, an urn may be desired if there is to be a memorial service or if the remains are to be interred in a cemetery.  If an urn is not purchased or provided by the family, the cremated remains will be returned in a temporary plastic container.