Cremation With Confidence (TM)
Heritage Memorial Services is proud to be the exclusive provider of the innovative Cremation With Confidence (TM) program.

The program involves personally identifying every individual with a reliant fingerprint. Each cremation is performed individually, and family members who choose to be present for the cremation are welcome to do so. No other firm takes such care to insure that the wishes of both you and your loved one are carried out in the most professional manner possible.

Services that involve cremation vary widely among different religious and cultural groups. The most common types of cremation arrangements are listed below.

Traditional Service Followed By Cremation
When cremation became more common in the last quarter of the prior century, cremation was often erroneously thought of as being synonymous with direct disposition, meaning without services or viewing.

In reality, the greatest increase in the type of arrangements made has been among families desiring traditional services and visitation, followed by cremation. This is made feasible through the use of cremation caskets, which are made of wood or wood products and specifically designed for cremation. With the use of a cremation casket (or a conventional hardwood casket), traditional services can be held at either the mortuary chapel or the family’s church or temple, and with either an open or closed casket. Religious beliefs, ethnic customs, and personal preference will determine what type of service would be most appropriate.

Memorial Service
Another type of service is the memorial service, which is a funeral without the body present. If cremation is involved, the family may choose to have the cremated remains present, but this is a personal choice. A memorial service can be held in our chapel, the church or temple of your choice, or any other location that would be meaningful to you. Some settings, like a park, the beach, or the mountains, which would be impractical for a traditional funeral, make ideal locations for memorial services.

Since a casket is not present at a memorial service, photographs, flowers, or personal mementoes reflective of the decedent are usually arranged as the focal point of the service.

 

Visitation
Although visitation or viewing is usually held in addition to some type of service, some families desire a visitation at the mortuary followed by cremation. This would be appropriate when no services are desired, but the family would still like to have an opportunity to view the decedent, and to visit with relatives and friends. A visitation can be held for the family only, or be open to the public.

Direct Disposition
There is no requirement that any type of service be held prior to cremation. Some families choose to have a direct cremation, meaning that the body is cremated once the necessary legal documents have been completed. There is no viewing or service prior to the cremation.

Disposition Of Cremated Remains
Cremation affords a variety of options for the final disposition of the cremated remains. The family may take possession of the cremated remains, or the mortuary can deliver or ship the cremated remains to a cemetery or other location. The most common forms of disposition are as follows:

• Retention by the family at home
• Burial in a cemetery ground space (either individually or with previously interred family members)
• Placement in an above ground cemetery niche (called a columbarium)
• Scattering at sea (either through our own Scattering by Boat services or by the family)
• Scattering on land (on property owned by the person performing the scattering, or with the permission of the property owner)
• Scattering by plane over the sea, mountains, or other locations (where permitted by law)
• Placement in a cemetery scattering garden (availability varies by cemetery)

If you desire cemetery inurnment of cremated remains and do not already own cemetery property, Heritage Memorial Services can assist you with the purchase of cemetery property, often at 25% - 50% below the current selling costs quoted by the cemetery. Please contact us for more information on how you might be able to save several hundred dollars in cemetery costs.

We proudly use the White Light Yacht to charter our scattering services. Please visit their website by clicking on the following link

http://www.charterwhitelight.com/

Our mortuary is pleased to offer a variety of cremation options to meet every family's needs. If you have any questions regarding our services, please

contact us

.