Frequently Asked Questions

In order to maintain a discounted rate for our families, we do not offer in-person meetings. Every interaction will take place through our Planning Center, phone, or email. If you would like to make more in-depth arrangements or need more guidance, please consider our parent company, J.T. Morriss & Son.

Everything will be done through our portal. You may be contacted via phone or email for any additional information needed.

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

Cremation is the process of reducing the human body using high heat and flame. Cremation is a type of final disposition of the remains but often followed by other dispositions like scattering or burial. It is not a type of funeral.

No, a casket is not required. In Virginia, it is required to at least have an alternative container constructed of wood, cardboard, or fiberboard.

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

Yes, most crematories allow immediate family members to view the deceased prior to cremation. At Memorial, you do need to pay an additional fee for the in-person viewing, rather than a photo viewing.

An urn is not required by law.  An urn may be desired if there is to be a memorial service or if the remains are to be interred in a cemetery. The cremated remains will be returned in a temporary plastic container unless a different urn is purchased.

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 can only cremate one body at a time; therefore, it is next to impossible to receive the incorrect 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. 

It all depends on the weight of the individual.  For an average sized adult, cremation can take 3-4 hours at a normal operating temperature of between 1,500 and 2,000 degrees Fahrenheit.

Cremated remains resemble coarse sand and are whitish to light grey in color.  The remains of an average sized adult usually weigh between 7 and 8 pounds.

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. 

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. Including cremated remains as a part of the funeral provides a focal point for the service. If you are unsure, please ask your preferred house of worship. 

Most counties and cities in the state of Virginia have a local Health Department to them. If you are unsure where yours is located, it is usually near other government agencies. To find your closest location, you can go to the Virginia Department of Health’s website: https://www.vdh.virginia.gov/health-department-locator/