Cremation cannot take place until the following legal documents have been finalized: the death certificate is signed by the certifier (physician or medical examiner/coroner), the funeral director, and the county registrar. A burial-transit permit is issued by the county in which the death occurs. The next of kin gives written permission for the cremation unless the deceased signed their own cremation authorization prior to their death.

Yes, the body is exposed to direct heat and flame. Cremation is performed by placing the deceased in a casket or other container and then placing the casket or container into a cremation chamber or retort, where they are subjected to intense heat and flame.

Yes. We only cremate one deceased person at a time.

Cremating at the optimum temperature, the average weighted remains takes 2 to 2 1/2 hours. Several more hours may be required before the cremated remains are available to the family.

The optimum temperature range is 1400 to 1800 degrees Fahrenheit for the cremation chamber.

The casket or container is placed in the cremation chamber, where the temperature is raised to approximately 1400 to 1800 degrees Fahrenheit. After approximately 2 to 2 1/2 hours, all organic matter is consumed by heat or evaporation. The remaining bone fragments are known as cremated remains (or cremains). The cremated remains are then carefully removed from the cremation chamber. Any metal is removed with a magnet and later disposed of in an approved manner. The cremated remains are then processed into fine particles and are placed in a temporary container provided by the crematory or placed in an urn purchased by the family. The entire process takes approximately four hours. Throughout the cremation process, a carefully controlled labeling system ensures correct identification.