Deciding to Cremate... What to Expect

Typically the first decision to be made is that of burial vs cremation. The different resources featured below will help provide you some more information about decisions that need to be made, what to expect with the cremation process, what is required to arrange a cremation, and the cremation itself.

Before the Decision to Cremate is Made

  1. Learn about your cremation options. Review the cremation information found on our website. 
  2. Engage your family in a discussion. We urge you to bring your family into the conversation to get a better idea about how they feel about cremation and what they would prefer.
  3. Speak with a funeral professional. If there are any questions or concerns, please turn to us for the insights you may need at this time.
  4. Document your cremation intentions in writing. There are a number of forms we can provide to take this step. Call us to learn more.
  5. Arrange for the transportation of your loved one's physical remains. We can escort them to our facility or directly to the crematory.

What to Expect

Arrangement Begins

First, call us to notify us of the passing as soon as the death occurs. Then, arrangements can be completed from the comforts of home using the online arranger. If you prefer to meet face to face with a Cremation Specialist, you are welcome to come to our Cremation Center. If making arrangements online, you can sign all the legal documents, including the cremation authorization form. Once the approvals are complete, we can bring your loved one into our care.


Bringing Your Loved One into Our Care

As soon as you contact us letting us know about the passing of your loved one, we will begin making arrangements to bring them into our care. We are available to answer your call 24 hours a day no matter what time the death occurs.

  • Private Residence: If a death occurs at a private residence, please notify your physician, attending nurse, or hospice care staff, and they will give you instructions. Once contacted, we will come to your home and bring your loved one into our care.
  • Hospital or Nursing Home: If death occurs in a hospital or nursing home, let the staff know you have selected Highland Lakes Cremation Center, and they will coordinate with us on your behalf.
Registration & Permits

We will file all the necessary paperwork with the county and state to register the death and secure the necessary approval before the cremation process begins. The length of the cremation process may vary depending on how long it takes to secure the required permissions. The amount of time this process takes is influenced by multiple individuals, including necessary approvals from medical examiners and physicians. The cremation will begin as soon as the required permits are secured.


Cremation Occurs

As soon as we secure all the permits, we will contact you to know when the cremation will take place. The cremation will take approximately two to five hours to complete. Once it is complete, we begin refining the cremated remains and preparing them for you. If you have selected an urn, the remains are carefully placed inside the urn. We will contact you when this process is complete to schedule your loved ones return to you.

What is Required to Arrange for Cremation?

Once the decision to cremate has been made, all that's required from you is the cremation authorization. This is provided by the person who is the legally identified or appointed next-of-kin. Once all authorization documents are signed, and service charges are paid, the body can be transported to the crematory to begin the process of cremation. There are, however, some additional things you may wish to consider.
  • Is there a special set of clothes (such as a military uniform or favorite dress) your loved one would want to wear? 
  • Are there any keepsake items you'd like to include in their cremation casket? Perhaps there's a special memento, such as a treasured photograph or letter? 
  • Would you, or other family members, like to be present for, or even participate in some degree, in your loved one's cremation? This participation can be healing, often serving as an act of "letting go". We welcome the opportunity to bring interested family and friends into the crematory. This is called a "witness cremation" and can be easily arranged as part of your process.
  • In what do you keeping the cremated remains of your loved one after the cremation? To help you make this decision, we offer a large variety of urns, so you can find an urn that best symbolizes your love, and their life well lived. Ask one of our caring funeral director's to see the wide variety of urns available for purchase.

The Cremation Process

Traditional cremation is the process of using high temperatures to reduce the body to brittle, calcified remains, which are then processed into what is commonly referred to as "ashes". Returned to the family in a selected urn, or even a temporary urn, these remains can be kept, buried, or scattered. Some families even choose to place a loved one's cremated remains in a hand-crafted piece of cremation art.

Author Michelle Kim, in How Cremation Works, details the cremation process: "In modern crematories, the body is stored in a cool, temperature-controlled room until it's approved for cremation. The body is prepared by removing pacemakers, prostheses and silicone implants. The body is then put into a container or casket made out of flammable materials such as plywood, pine or cardboard."

The container is then placed in the retort, more commonly referred to as the cremation chamber. It takes approximately two to five hours to cremate the average adult. When the cremated remains are cooled, they are processed to a uniformly-sized pebble-like substance, and then placed in an urn. The funeral director will deliver the loved one's remains to their family.

 Spend Time with Us

Sit down with us to discuss your cremation options. We appreciate the opportunity to share our insights and experience to fully support you in making end-of-life decisions for you and your family. Call us to schedule an appointment or drop by our office.

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