FAQ

1. Does the price you are quoting include everything, or are there add on fees that I need to be aware of?
   At Capital City Cremation, we offer a No-Hidden Fee Guarantee: the price we quote is the price, no surprises.
2. Where is the cremation being performed?
   Our cremations are performed at our crematory facility.
3. Where is my loved one going to be taken and held prior to the cremation?
   Prior to the cremation, your loved one will be held in our climate-controlled holding area at our crematory.
4. Can I witness the cremation?
   Yes, you may witness the cremation.
5. Do you own your own crematory?
   Yes, we own and operate our own crematory.
6. Do I have to come to your facility to finalize the paperwork?
   No, we have found that many families prefer to make arrangements in the comfort of their own homes. The arrangements can be handled online, by email, fax, or mail.
7. Is embalming necessary for cremation?
   No, embalming is not required. However, if you choose to have a public viewing or funeral service prior to the cremation… embalming may be required.
8. Is embalming necessary for cremation?
   No, embalming is not required. However, if you choose to have a public viewing or funeral service prior to the cremation… embalming may be required
9. Do all funeral homes and cemeteries have a crematory?
   No. While almost every funeral home offers cremation, only a small percentage of cremation service providers have their own cremation units.
10. What can I do with the cremated remains?
    You can keep the cremated remains in your possession, scatter where allowed, bury in a cemetery, or place in a mausoleum. A portion of the cremated remains may be kept as a remembrance usually in a mini urn or keepsake jewelry.
11. Can the body be viewed prior to cremation?
    Yes. We offer services that allow immediate family members to briefly view the deceased prior to cremation in our private viewing room at the crematory.
12. How does the entire process work?
    To arrange a cremation, the person or persons who are legal next of kin must consent to the cremation, by signing an authorization form. Our staff will prepare the death certificate and cremation permit. The death certificate will be taken to the physician who will sign it. After the death certificate is completed by the physician, it is taken to the health department in the county where death occurred. The health department contacts the medical examiner for that county who must approve the cremation permit. Upon receiving approval from the medical examiner, the local registrar of vital statistics will issue a cremation permit along with certified copies of the death certificate. After all of the properly executed documents are received in our office, the actual cremation can be scheduled.
13. How long does it take to complete the cremation and get the cremated remains back?
    Our goal is to complete the cremation as quickly as possible; however, the process is dependent on several different agencies and the doctor who is responsible for signing the death certificate. For 90% of the families we serve the average turnaround is 3 to 5 business days.
14. Can I place an obituary in the newspaper?
    Yes. We will be happy to assist you with placing an obituary in the newspaper of your choice. In addition, we will place the obituary on our website, where friends and family can leave condolences online.
15. Can I come in to your office to make these arrangements instead of completing them online?
    Yes. You are always welcome at our arrangement office, please just make an appointment prior to your visit. We are also available to come to your home, or meet you at your convenience.
16. How long does the actual cremation take?
    It takes about 2 1/2 to 5 hours to get the cremation complete from the time that all paperwork and cremation is started
17. Is there anything else I will be required to buy?
    No! We do offer other services; however, there are no hidden fees in our packages.
18. What is a memory table and/or a memory board?
    If a family chooses to have a service, the funeral home, a memory table may be used to display personal items of the deceased. A memory board would have a collection of family photographs attached and can be displayed on an easel at the funeral home for visitors to reminisce about their life experiences with the deceased.
19. Must an obituary be published in a newspaper?
    We publish the obituary notice on our website free of charge and there is no limit to the length of the online obituary. The publication of an obituary notice in a newspaper is a matter of your personal choice. While most newspapers control the editorial format, you have the right to limit the amount of information, if any, provided to them.
20. Is a funeral or memorial service always held in a funeral home or place of worship?
    A service can usually be held at any location that family and friends feel would be comfortable and appropriate. We can assist with arranging a meaningful service wherever you feel it would be appropriate.
21. What do Funeral Directors do?
    Primarily they care and safeguard the deceased person until final disposition, including embalming and restorative work. A growing number of funeral directors are trained as grief counselors to help families through the bereavement process. They also arrange and provide an orderly series of events that finalize the funeral, the final disposition, and legal paperwork so the family can proceed forward. They also provide the physical establishment in which all of this can be accomplished.
22. Is cremation a substitution for a funeral?
    No, cremation is simply a method of preparing human remains for final disposition.
23. Are there special cremation caskets?
    There is a choice of very affordable cremation caskets that are completely combustible. The selection includes options from a plain cardboard container to a hardwood casket.
24. Can I take the cremated remains home?
    Yes. The remains are normally placed in an urn. Most families select an urn that is suitable for placement on a mantle or shelf. Urns are available in a variety of shapes, sizes, and materials.
25. Is embalming necessary for cremation?
    No. It is your choice. It may depend on if the family selected a service with a public viewing of the body with an open casket, if they want the deceased’s appearance enhanced for a private family viewing, if the body is going to be transported by air or rail, or because of the length of time prior to the cremation.
26. What happens during the cremation process?
    The casket or container is placed in the cremation chamber, where the temperature is raised to approximately 1400 degrees to 1800 degrees Fahrenheit. After approximately, 2 to 2 1/2 hours, all organic matter is consumed by heat or evaporation. The residue which is left is bone fragments, known as cremated remains. 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 the container provided by the crematorium or placed in an urn purchased by the family. The entire process takes approximately three hours. Throughout the cremation process, a carefully controlled labelling system ensures correct identification.
27. How can I help a child deal with the death of a loved one?
    Children grieve just as adults do. Any child old enough to form a relationship will experience some form of grief when a relationship is severed. Adults may not view a child behavior as grief as it is often demonstrated in behavioral patterns which we misunderstand and do not appear to us to be grief such as “moody,” “cranky,” or “withdrawn.” When a death occurs, children need to be surrounded by feelings of warmth, acceptance, and understanding. This may be a tall order to expect of the adults who are experiencing their own grief and are upset. Caring adults can guide children through this time when the child is experiencing feelings for which they have no words and thus cannot identify. In a very real way, this time can be a growth experience for the child, teaching about love and relationships. The first task is to create an atmosphere in which the child’s thoughts, fears, and wishes are recognized. This means that they should be allowed to participate in any of the arrangements, ceremonies, and gatherings which are comfortable for them. First, explain what will be happening and why it is happening at a level the child can understand. A child may not be able to speak at a grandparent’s funeral but would benefit greatly from the opportunity to draw a picture to be placed in the casket or displayed at the service. Be aware that children will probably have short attention spans and may need to leave a service or gathering before the adults are ready. Many families provide a non-family attendant to care for the children in this event. The key is to allow the participation, not to force it. Forced participation can be harmful. Children instinctively have a good sense of how involved they wish to be. They should be listened to carefully.

Yes, we own and operate our own crematory.

No, embalming is not required. However if you choose to have a public viewing or funeral service prior to the cremation… embalming may be required.

No, we have found that many families prefer to make arrangements in the comfort of their own homes. The arrangements can be handled online, by email, fax, or mail.

No. While almost every funeral home offers cremation, only a small percentage of cremation service providers have their own cremation units.

You can keep the cremated remains in your possession, scatter where allowed, bury in a cemetery, or place in a mausoleum. A portion of the cremated remains may be kept as a remembrance usually in a mini urn or keepsake jewelry.

Yes. We offer services that allow immediate family members to briefly view the deceased prior to cremation in our private viewing room at the crematory.

To arrange a cremation, the person or persons who are legal next of kin must consent to the cremation, by signing an authorization form. Our staff will prepare the death certificate and cremation permit. The death certificate will be taken to the physician who will sign it. After the death certificate is completed by the physician, it is taken to the health department in the county where death occurred. The health department contacts the medical examiner for that county who must approve the cremation permit. Upon receiving approval from the medical examiner, the local registrar of vital statistics will issue a cremation permit along with certified copies of the death certificate. After all of the properly executed documents are received in our office, the actual cremation can be scheduled.

Our goal is to complete the cremation as quickly as possible; however, the process is dependent on several different agencies and the doctor who is responsible for signing the death certificate. For 90% of the families we serve the average turnaround is 3 to 5 business days.

Yes. We will be happy to assist you with placing an obituary in the newspaper of your choice. In addition, we will place the obituary on our website, where friends and family can leave condolences online.

Yes. You are always welcome at our arrangement office, please just make an appointment prior to your visit. We are also available to come to your home, or meet you at your convenience.

It takes about 7-10 days to get the cremation complete.

No! We do offer other services; however, there are no hidden fees in our packages.

At the funeral home, a memory table may be used to display personal items of the deceased. A memory board would have a collection of family photographs attached and can be displayed on an easel at the funeral home for visitors to reminisce about their life experiences with the deceased.

We publish the obituary notice on our website free of charge and there is no limit to the length of the online obituary. The publication of an obituary notice in a newspaper is a matter of your personal choice. While most newspapers control the editorial format, you have the right to limit the amount of information, if any, provided to them.

A service can usually be held at any location that family and friends feel would be comfortable and appropriate. We can assist with arranging a meaningful service wherever you feel it would be appropriate.

Primarily they care and safeguard the deceased person until final disposition, including embalming and restorative work. A growing number of funeral directors are trained as grief counselors to help families through the bereavement process. They also arrange and provide an orderly series of events that finalize the funeral, the final disposition, and legal paperwork so the family can proceed forward. They also provide the physical establishment in which all of this can be accomplished.

No, cremation is simply a method of preparing human remains for final disposition.

There is a choice of very affordable cremation caskets that are completely combustible. The selection includes options from a plain cardboard container to a hardwood casket.

Yes. The remains are normally placed in an urn. Most families select an urn that is suitable for placement on a mantle or shelf. Urns are available in a variety of shapes, sizes, and materials.

No. It is your choice. It may depend on if the family selected a service with a public viewing of the body with an open casket, if they want the deceased’s appearance enhanced for a private family viewing, if the body is going to be transported by air or rail, or because of the length of time prior to the cremation.

The casket or container is placed in the cremation chamber, where the temperature is raised to approximately 1400 degrees to 1800 degrees Fahrenheit. After approximately, 2 to 2 1/2 hours, all organic matter is consumed by heat or evaporation. The residue which is left is bone fragments, known as cremated remains. 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 the container provided by the crematorium or placed in an urn purchased by the family. The entire process takes approximately three hours. Throughout the cremation process, a carefully controlled labelling system ensures correct identification.

Children grieve just as adults do. Any child old enough to form a relationship will experience some form of grief when a relationship is severed. Adults may not view a child behavior as grief as it is often demonstrated in behavioral patterns which we misunderstand and do not appear to us to be grief such as “moody,” “cranky,” or “withdrawn.” When a death occurs, children need to be surrounded by feelings of warmth, acceptance, and understanding. This may be a tall order to expect of the adults who are experiencing their own grief and are upset. Caring adults can guide children through this time when the child is experiencing feelings for which they have no words and thus cannot identify. In a very real way, this time can be a growth experience for the child, teaching about love and relationships. The first task is to create an atmosphere in which the child’s thoughts, fears, and wishes are recognized. This means that they should be allowed to participate in any of the arrangements, ceremonies, and gatherings which are comfortable for them. First, explain what will be happening and why it is happening at a level the child can understand. A child may not be able to speak at a grandparent’s funeral but would benefit greatly from the opportunity to draw a picture to be placed in the casket or displayed at the service. Be aware that children will probably have short attention spans and may need to leave a service or gathering before the adults are ready. Many families provide a non-family attendant to care for the children in this event. The key is to allow the participation, not to force it. Forced participation can be harmful. Children instinctively have a good sense of how involved they wish to be. They should be listened to carefully.