Is A Casket Needed For Cremation?

No, a casket is not required for cremation. All that is required by state law is a rigid container which is cremated with the body.

Is Embalming Required Prior To Cremation?

Absolutely not and it is against the law for a funeral home to tell you otherwise.

Can The Body Be Viewed Without Embalming?

Yes, immediate family members may briefly view the deceased prior to cremation in our private viewing room. The deceased is first washed, dressed and prepared for viewing.

Yes. Our state-of-the-art cremation facility is set up to allow family members to be present when the body is placed into the cremation chamber. In fact, some religious groups include this as part of their funeral custom.

Is Cremation Accepted By All Religions?

Today most religions allow cremation except for Orthodox Jewish, Islamic, Eastern Orthodox and a few Fundamentalist Christian faiths. The Catholic Church accepts cremation as long as it is not chosen for reasons which are contrary to Christian teachings. Some people believe that cremation is against the teachings of the Bible, but according to one famous Biblical scholar, "what occurs to the body after death has no bearing on the soul's resurrection. The body that rises is not made of the same substances as the one that was buried, or cremated, but is immortal and incorruptible."

Can An Urn Be Brought Into Church?

Nearly all Protestant Churches allow for the urn to be present during the memorial service. If the family is planning on a memorial service, we encourage the cremated remains be present as it provides a focal point for the service.

What Can Be Done With The Cremated Remains?

There are many options. Remains can be buried in a cemetery lot or cremation garden, inurned in a columbarium, kept at home, or scattered on private property. We also offer a Lake Michigan scattering service, an eternal reef option, or you can have a diamond created from your loved one. Our staff will be happy to discuss these options with you and make any arrangements.

Are There Any Laws Governing Cremation?

Cremation regulations vary from state-to-state.

Do People Choose Cremation Only To Save Money?

While some people select cremation for economy, many choose this option for other reasons. The simplicity and dignity of cremation, environmental concerns, and the flexibility cremation affords in ceremony planning and final disposition all add to its increasing popularity.

Don't Most Funeral Homes Have A Crematory?

Most funeral homes subcontract this delicate procedure out to a third party provider in another town where the funeral home has little or no control over the crematory's operating procedures. Often, the family incurs additional transportation expenses and needless delay. By contrast, we own our cremation equipment which is operated by our fully certified and highly trained staff. Our cremation equipment is state-of-the-art and equals or exceeds every state and local operating standard and requirement. Our crematory is open for inspection any time during normal business hours.

How Can I Be Sure I Receive The Correct Remains?

We have developed the most rigorous set of operating policies and procedures in order to maximize our level of service and minimize the potential for human error.Positive identification of the deceased is assured throughout each stage of the cremation process. We only allow certified professionals to operate our cremation equipment. None of these safeguards are required by law and no other cremation facility in the state can match our rigid operating procedures. Listed below is our 8 step identification process.

1. Place wrist identification on deceased. If family is present, invite them to write name on tag.
2. Deceased is placed in cremation container (law in Illinois) and the person's name is written directly on the container.
3. Family signs an authorization for cremation, verifying the death of their loved one and giving us permission in writing to do the cremation.
4. The county medical examiner or coroner acknowledges awareness of the death and verifies cause of death or requires an autopsy or investigation. The death is recorded with the county and a cremation permit is issued.
5. The death certificate and medical examiners' permits are filed with the State. Certified copies of the death certificate are available to the family and a State permit is issued, giving us the authority to perform the cremation. Only now can the cremation be performed.
6. The cremation is logged in the record book. The name of the deceased, date, cremation chamber used, time started and operator's name are recorded. Copies of #3, 4 and 5 are attached to the outside of the cremation chamber.
7. Paperwork is prepared in the office while the cremation is taking place. Immediately following the completion of the cremation the cremated remains are placed in an urn or temporary container with the deceased's name already on the container.
8. The cremated remains are returned to the family. The family must show picture I.D. and sign a release stating that they are taking custody of the cremated remains.

How Long Does The Actual Cremation Take?

It depends on the weight of the individual. For an average size adult, cremation takes from two to three hours at normal operating temperature between 1,500 degrees F to 2,000 degrees F.

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 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.

Can Two Cremations Be Performed At Once?

Never. Not only is it illegal to do so, most modern cremation chambers are not of sufficient size to accommodate more than one adult. Thus it would be a practical impossibility to conduct multiple cremations simultaneously.

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 size adult usually weigh between four to six 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 the remains are to be interred in a cemetery. If an urn is not purchased through us, or provided by the family, the cremated remains will be returned in a temporary cardboard container.

Are There Any Special Benefits For Veterans?

We have a special program for veterans who pass away in a VA hospital, or a VA contracted health care facility. We accept the VA cash benefit to be applied towards the complete cremation services. We obtain the government provided flag for the next of kin and make arrangements for the cremated remains to be interred in a National Cemetery. The cemetery provides the grave, cost to open and close the grave, and the head stone. Abraham Lincoln National Cemetery in Elwood, IL is the closest National Cemetery to the Chicago-Metropolitan area.

Is There Any Assistance For Families On Welfare?

If the deceased as well as the surviving family member are both on public aid, we will submit the claim for public aid for payment for our basic cremation services to be sent directly to us. If, however, the family can pay for the services, we would be happy to file a claim of reimbursement with public aid to be sent directly to the family member who paid the final costs.