Frequently Asked Questions

No, we do not offer in-person meetings. Everything is done entirely online to maintain a discounted rate for our families. If you would like to make more in-depth arrangements or need more guidance, please consider our parent company, J.T. Morriss & Son.

You will be contacted via phone call — not exceeding 30 minutes —by a Funeral Director for the initial conversation. After that, we will contact you via email as well as through Planning Center, our portal. You may be contacted by phone for any additional information needed.

Once the initial paperwork has been completed by the family, it can take 2-3 weeks for you to receive the remains of your loved one.

Cremation is a process that uses high heat and flame to reduce the human body into cremated remains. Cremation is a type of final disposition of the remains and is often followed by other memorialization, including scattering or urn burial. Cremation is not a type of funeral.

Cremated remains resemble coarse sand and are the result of the cremation process. Cremated remains can range from a whitish to light gray color and typically weigh between four and eight pounds for an average adult.

No, a casket is not needed for cremation. However, Virginia law states that there must be an alternative container constructed of wood, cardboard, or fiberboard

No, an urn is not required by law. An urn may be desired if there is a memorial service, if the remains are to be interred in a cemetery, or to display. If an urn is not selected, the cremated remains will be returned in a temporary plastic

container. 

No. It is against the law for a funeral home to tell you otherwise.

Yes, most crematoriums allow immediate family members to view the deceased prior to cremation. At Memorial, an additional fee is required for an in-person viewing, rather than a photo viewing.

It is next to impossible to receive the incorrect remains. We have developed a rigorous set of operating policies and procedures. Every person in the care of our crematory is assigned a metal disk with a unique disk number. This disk stays with them for the entire process, and the number is also printed on the cremation certificate. Our crematory only cremates one body at a time; therefore, you will receive the correct remains.

Yes, they can; some cremation providers will allow family members to be present when the body is placed in the cremation chamber.  Some religious groups ask for this as part of their funeral custom. If this is something you are interested in, please let your Memorial Funeral Director know.

For an average-sized adult, cremation takes around three hours at a normal operating temperature between 1,500 to 2,000 degrees Fahrenheit, but each person is different.

While laws vary state by state, for the most part, remains can be buried in a cemetery lot or in a cremation garden, interred in a columbarium, kept at home, or scattered.  If burial is something you are interested in, please consider our parent company, J.T. Morriss & Son.

Yes, absolutely. The final disposition you choose does not determine whether your family has the ability to celebrate your loved one’s life. If a funeral service or reception is something you would like to have, please consider our parent company, J.T. Morriss & Son, for more in depth arrangements.

Nearly all Protestant Churches allow for the urn to be present during the memorial service. Most Catholic Churches also allow the remains to be present during the Memorial Mass. Ask your preferred house of worship if you are unsure.

There are many steps to take to get your loved one’s Death Certificate from the State of Virginia. We will walk you through the steps and let you know when you are able to pick up Death Certificates from your local Health Department.

To find your closest location, you can go to the Virginia Department of Health’s website: https://www.vdh.virginia.gov/health-department-locator/