Tacoma Cremation Services

At the Cremation Society of Washington, we understand that sending your loved ones off with dignity is a high priority. You have a wide range of options available from the method of cremation to the vessel used. We also have tailored packages to suit your budgetary and personal needs.

Easy Online Arrangements

When a death occurs, it’s important to let our team know immediately to allow us to start the arrangements immediately. The information that we’ll need from you includes:

• The size of the deceased
• Where they died
• Where the body is and who the attending doctor is

We may ask for additional information based on the circumstances. This first contact usually takes place telephonically. However, we have an online process that streamlines the entire process. You’ll answer a series of questions, such as whether the concerned party is deceased or about to die, whether they have any implants such as pacemakers and more.

Once you’ve worked through the questions and selected the cremation wishes, you’ll be presented with a quote.

Fire-based cremation

Flame-based cremation is performed in a special chamber in a crematory. This chamber reaches temperatures high enough to incinerate and decompose the body within four to six hours. Once done, the remaining ash and bone are collected and ground down. We place the remains in a box and hand it over to loved ones, who can do with the remains as they see fit.

Water-based cremation

Water-based cremation an eco-friendly alternative to regular flame-based cremation and traditional burials. It’s gaining popularity due to the ease of decomposition, as this method uses 90% less fuel and doesn’t take up any space in a cemetery.

This form of cremation goes by several names, such as resomation, alkaline hydrolysis, aquamation, liquid cremation, hydrocremation and bio cremation. Water, chemicals and heat are used to break down the body. There are different chemicals and processes that can be used, and depending on which one, the process can take anywhere from 4 to 14 hours. Once the process is complete, only the bones remain. The bones are then pulverized and given to loved ones.

How to Arrange a Cremation

When you’re ready to go ahead with cremation as your chosen service, we can assist you with every step of the planning process. Here’s how:

Step 1: Give Us a Call

While we have an online booking service, we encourage you to give us a call if you require a more personalized experience. We will take you through the various steps of arranging cremation services. Things to consider during this call include:

• Which cremation type you’d prefer
• Will you need the cremation expedited or not
• Whether you want us to take a DNA sample for an ancestry report
• What will happen with the ashes after the cremation

Step 2: Complete the Necessary Documents

We will need certain information from you before we can proceed. We will arrange for the documents to be sent using an online signature service making it convenient and easy for you to complete them, sign, and return to us for processing. This information is important for us to arrange the cremation, issue a death certificate, and prepare the crematory for cremation.

Step 3: Register Your Cremation Preplans

Our own mortality is not something we’d like to think about, but preplanning what happens to you in the event of your death can take a tremendous load off of your loved ones. Preplanning frees them up from the barrage of arrangements and allows your loved ones the space and time they need to grieve. This is how the process works:

• Formalize your wishes: Document everything you need to about your after-death wishes and what you would like to have done to your remains. This includes whether you wish to be buried or cremated in Tacoma and whether you’d like your remains to be buried.

• Arrange a cost prepayment: This means arranging the payment with a particular funeral or keeping the funds in a special account. Some insurances may also offer funeral benefits, but it’s essential to check whether the cover amounts are sufficient. The national average for funerals is over $7,000 for a basic package. It’s important to align the cover, prepayment or savings with your funeral wishes.

Step 4: We’ll Be Here When You Need Us

At the Cremation Society of Washington, we’ve walked alongside many families to help put their loved ones to rest. We understand the toll it can take on those who are grieving and that funeral arrangements can feel rushed and stressful. When you entrust your loved one’s service to our care, we will ensure that you receive support and guidance to allow the dayto run smoothly. We offer packages that start from as little as $650, and this includes the help of a funeral director.