We understand, due to national scandals, that those who choose cremation might have concerns about the process and procedures of cremation. Your loved one's care is our top priority. Our 10-step cremation process guarantees that your loved one never leaves our care and that the cremated remains returned to you are those of your loved one. We are proud to be the only funeral home in the area that requires all of our funeral directors to be licensed crematory operators. Information on this page will help answer any questions you may have about our 10-step cremation process, and the commitment we have to every family we serve.
10 Step Cremation Process
1. Your Loved One Never Leaves Our Care
Many other funeral homes hire third party crematories who handle large numbers of cremations for several funeral homes at once. These funeral homes transfer your loved one to outside cremation services, making it impossible for the funeral home to manage and personally supervise the cremation. We have our own privately-owned crematory and only provide services to the families that we serve. Our certified staff manages every detail and your loved one never leaves our care.
2. Safeguarding Personal Identity
To ensure proper identification, a personal identification band is placed on your loved one at the moment they are transferred to our care. To further safeguard your loved one’s identity, a Witness of Removal is signed by you, a healthcare professional or law enforcement officer
3. Unique Tracking System
Upon arrival at our care center, your loved one is logged into our unique tracking system. Our tracking system includes date and time of arrival at our facility and name of the staff member who facilitated the transfer. Personal belongings are catalogued and placed in a secure area for their return to the family.
4. Family Identification
Our staff will bathe and dress your loved one in the clothes provided by the family or a gown we provide. An opportunity will be provided for you or a representative to positively identify him or her prior to cremation.
5. Checks and Balances
One of our dual licensed funeral directors and crematory operator, will review all cremation paperwork and permits. This is to ensure authorizations and permits have been received and have been properly documented. Your loved one is assigned an identification number, which is stamped into a stainless-steel identification disc. This number is used to track every phase of the cremation process. Once all documentation is verified and your loved one is ready to be cremated, a second id band will be placed on your loved one, then they will be transported to our privately-owned crematory.
6. Cremation Log Book
Immediately prior to the cremation process, your loved one is taken to the cremation chamber and their personal identification is noted in our cremation log book. This log shows the name of the individual, date and time of the cremation, identification number and crematory operator’s name. Our crematory log is dated, and the start time is noted and initialed by the cremation technician before and after the cremation.
7. Details During the Cremation
Prior to placing your loved one in the cremation chamber, one identification band is removed (one remains on with them) and placed with the cremation check list on the outside of the cremation chamber during the cremation process. The stainless steel id disc is placed in the cremation chamber and remains with your loved one at all times.
8. Details After the Cremation
After the cremation is complete, the cremated remains are placed with the stainless-steel identification tag into an urn. The identification band and crematory check list is placed into our permanent files.
9. Return of the Cremated Remains
A licensed member of our staff will transport your loved one’s urn back to the funeral home and will notify you to schedule a time for receipt of the cremated remains. At this time, we will provide a dignified setting, in which to receive the urn, where you may spend a few moments, privately, in quiet reflection.
10. Life Celebration
We will assist in planning a Life Celebration before or after the cremation, which will appropriately celebrate the life of your loved one. A meaningful ceremony provides an opportunity for family and friends to pay tribute to your loved one and to share the memories of a lifetime.
Visit www.prepaidfunerals.texas.gov for information relating to the purchase of pre-need funeral contracts including descriptions of the trust and insurance funding options available under state law.
Complaints concerning perpetual care cemeteries should be directed to:
Texas Department of Banking, 2601 North Lamar Boulevard, Austin, Texas 78705; 1-877-276-5554 (toll free), www.dob.texas.gov
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