FAQ: Cremation Services

  • How long must we wait after their death before we can cremate a family member?

    Unlike burial, cremation is irreversible. For this reason, we're required to be "extra diligent" in obtaining the cremation authorization from the legally identified next-of-kin, as well as any authorization from necessary agencies (such as the medical examiner). During the first 48-72 hours (depending on state mandated requirements); the deceased will be held in a secure, refrigerated environment.

  • How much will I have to pay for the cremation?

    When we start to discuss the cost of your loved one's cremation, we are legally obligated to share our General Price List, or GPL, with you. That list outlines the actual cost of our cremation services, which is a combination of our basic professional services fee, the fee charged by the crematory for the use of their facilities, and any additional charges related to the transportation and safekeeping of the deceased prior to the cremation. It is impossible for us to quote an exact cost for cremation here; we urge you to speak candidly about cremation costs with your funeral professional.

  • Can I participate in the cremation?

    This is dependent on the specific crematory, but generally speaking, the answer to this is "yes". The degree to which you can participate may differ from crematory to crematory (depending on their facilities); please speak with your funeral director to get further details.

  • Can I purchase an urn from another source, or must I buy one from you?

    The FTC's Funeral Rule guides funeral directors in the ethical and fair presentation of funeral service options. The purchase of a cremation urn (or a casket, for that matter) from a second or third party source is one of the rights it guarantees. Your funeral director cannot prevent you from, nor can they charge you an extra fee for, the purchase of a third-party cremation urn. They also cannot demand you are present for its delivery to the funeral home.

  • What should I do with my loved one's ashes?

    There are many things you can do with their ashes–including simply taking them home with you for safekeeping. There may come a time when you realize exactly what you'd like to do with them, but it may not be right now. Be patient; the right way to care for them will appear in time. After all, there are a lot of options: scattering them on land or sea is one of the most common; but you can also use the cremated remains in keepsake jewelry or to create meaningful pieces of art. As we said, there is no have-to-do; there's only a want-to-do (and you are in complete control of it). If you're curious about your options, we encourage you to give us a call.

  • If we choose cremation, does my loved one have to be embalmed?

    The short answer is "no", but there are exceptions. If you wish to have a viewing, it may be prudent to embalm your loved one, so they look their best for the event. However, with that said, under the FTC's Funeral Rule, we cannot: provide embalming services without your permission, and cannot lead you to believe that embalming is required by law. In addition, we must provide you with written disclosures related to the embalming of your loved one.

  • How long will it take to cremate my family member?

    This is dependant on what type of cremator will be used? How large an individual was your loved one? Typically it takes 2 - 2 1/2 hours for the entire process. A cool-down period follows, and then the cremated remains are processed for a uniform appearance. Of course, if the issue is important to you, we urge you to speak to your funeral director.

  • What kind of fuel is used in the cremation?

    Most cremators use natural or L.P. gas, or in some cases diesel oil; a fact which troubles some who want to see cremation as an "environmentally-friendly" alternative to burial. If you're concerned about the impact of cremation on the environment, speak with your funeral director. There are alternatives, such as burial in a "green" or environmentally-pristine cemetery.

  • Are people dressed when they are cremated?

    This is a more common question than you may think. Some people might choose to be undressed in order to 'go out' the same way they 'came in' to the world; but most of the time, the deceased is dressed in the clothing they've selected prior to their death, or chosen by family members after their passing.

  • Can we put special items in their cremation casket?

    We do our best to accommodate the wishes of surviving family members. Most commonly, families will ask to place notes, children's drawings, or other personal messages of love; but we've certainly had some unusual requests (such as the inclusion of a cherished pet's collar or treasured keepsake). We encourage you to speak with your funeral director to discuss the regulations of the specific crematory responsible for your loved one's cremation.

  • Does this mean we don't need to plan a commemoration service?

    Certainly not. A commemoration service is intended for the living; the individuals emotionally impacted by the death deserve the same level of compassionate attention as the deceased. One of the benefits of cremation comes from the larger "window-of-opportunity" in which to plan a meaningful celebration-of-life it provides the surviving family members. Your funeral director can guide and assist you in making all the necessary service arrangements.

  • I'm thinking of placing my loved one's ashes in the care of a local cemetery. What is the difference between a columbarium and a mausoleum?

    Think of the Taj Mahal in India and you'll know exactly what a mausoleum is: it's free-standing building (in this case not in India but on the grounds of a local cemetery), which is intended as both a monument as well as the burial location for casketed individuals. A columbarium is the same in purpose, but not in design; instead of crypt spaces large enough for a full-size casket; it features smaller niche spaces, large enough for one (or maybe two) cremation urns.

  • Can you tell us which type of service is right for us?

    We would never try to tell you which service is best for your loved one. However, your funeral director will definitely be there to guide and advise you. They will explain the differences between service formats (traditional funeral, memorial service and celebration-of-life), and share stories of meaningful services they've been a part of–all with the intention of empowering you to make the decision for yourselves.

  • How much will I have to pay for the cremation?

    This is something that we will discuss at the very beginning. We are legally obligated to share our General Price List, or GPL, with you during this initial discussion. That list details the actual cost of our cremation services, which is a combination of our basic professional services fee, the fee charged by the crematory for the use of their facilities, and any additional charges related to the transportation and safekeeping of the deceased prior to the cremation.

  • What "extra" fees or charges will I need to pay?

    It's difficult for us to answer this question without knowing the specifics of your proposed cremation arrangements. Although, with that said we can tell you there will most likely be extra charges for anything that involves a second-party purchase (such as the publication of your loved one's obituary in a local newspaper). If you select a decorative cremation urn and would like to personalize it with an engraved nameplate; there could be a small fee.

  • What are "cash advance items"?

    When you arrive to make the necessary cremation service arrangements on behalf of a loved one, we will provide you with a copy of our General Price List; a section of which discloses the exact price of the most commonly-requested "cash advance items". Cornell University Law School's Legal Information Institute (www.law.cornell.edu) defines a “cash advance item” as "any item of service or merchandise...obtained from a third party and paid for by the funeral provider on the purchaser's behalf. Cash advance items may include, but are not limited to: cemetery or crematory services; pallbearers; public transportation; clergy honoraria; flowers; musicians or singers; nurses; obituary notices; gratuities and death certificates."

  • Why must I pay for these items at the time of arrangement?

    The answer to this is simple: we have to pay for these second-party services or merchandise at the time we make the purchase on your behalf. For this reason, we're required to ask for payment for all cash advance items at the time the cremation service contract is agreed to, and signed by the responsible family member. For more specific information about our payment policies, please call us to speak with a member of our staff of cremation service professionals.

  • Can we arrange to bury their ashes on cemetery grounds?

    Yes, you can. The burial can be in-ground, or your loved one's cremation urn can be placed in a columbarium niche. Speak with your funeral director to learn more about your specific cremation burial options.

  • What must I bring to the funeral home?

    You'll need to provide the documents/information required to complete your loved one's death certificate and obituary. If you are planning to have a service, you may also wish to bring in a collection of family photographs to be used in making a tribute video or in the decoration of the service location. Other items may be needed at some point, depending on the arrangements made. Your funeral director will provide you with an exact list of the things he or should would like you to bring along to the arrangement conference.

  • I'd like to write my loved one's obituary. Can I?

    Of course you can; in fact any member of your family (or even a close friend) can take care of this task. There are many valuable resources available in the Guidance section of this website, including tips on writing an obituary. You can always turn to us for assistance.

Share by: