Cremation Disclosure Information

Cremation Disclosure Information
Straub’s Funeral Home / Columbia River Crematory 

As required by Washington State Law, human remains must either be embalmed or refrigerated within 24 hours of receipt by a funeral director or crematory. At Straub’s Funeral Home, there is a charge for either service on your “Statement of Goods and Services.” The appropriate charges will reflect the services you select. In general, if the cremation is delayed beyond two days for reasons not directly under the control of Straub’s Funeral Home you will be charged additional refrigeration charges.

Cremation is a process through which human remain are reduced to elemental bone fragments (approximately 7 pounds) through the process of subjecting the body to intense heat and flame at a temperature in excess of 1600 degrees Fahrenheit. Any casket or cremation container in which the human body is encased is consumed in the cremation process.

Certain portions of the casket may not be combustible, such as handles, hinges, latches, nails or screws. These materials are removed from the cremation chamber or the cremated body by visual selection, magnetic selection, or a combination of both. Certain types of caskets are not combustible such as fiberglass or metal caskets. The body will be transferred to an alternative container and cremated and the casket will be destroyed. It is the responsibility of the funeral director to notify you if these circumstances pertain to the cremation you are authorizing. 

Upon completion of the cremation process, all recoverable cremated remains will be vacuumed from the cremation chamber, together with any non-combustible materials which accompanied the body. Remains thus recovered will be cleaned of foreign materials such as casket parts, prostheses and similar materials. Prostheses and other foreign elements recovered from cremated remains will be disposed of in accordance with state law, unless otherwise directed.

Unless otherwise requested, the cremated remains will then be processes to fragments of less than five (5) millimeter in diameter (Washington Administrative code 98-40-060 and Revised Code of Washington 68.04.110). Processing is accomplished by a mechanical grinding and crushing procedure.

Following processing, all recoverable cremated body fragments will then be placed in a temporary container or in the urn ordered by you. Should the volume of cremated remains be such as to exceed the capacity of the container to be used, the additional cremated remains will be placed in a separate container. Straub’s Funeral Home assumes no responsibility for the temporary or permanent disposition or storage of cremated remains unless specifically authorized and ordered by a separate contract. Cremated remains for which no disposition instructions have been made nor financial arrangements completed are subject to the provisions of Washington Administrative Code 98-40-080, which authorizes the disposition of unclaimed cremated bodies in any manner it may be suitable.

For Your Information

Cremation is NOT the final disposition, nor is the placing of the cremated remains in storage at a funeral home the final disposition. The cremation process simple reduces the decedent’s body to cremated remains. These cremated remains usually weigh several pounds and are usually in excess of 50 cubic inches. Some provision must be made for the final disposition of these cremated remains. There are several options available to you. Cremated remains may be buried, placed in a columbarium or niche wall, retained or scattered. If the option selected for final disposition includes scattering, then the cremated remains will not be recoverable. Furthermore, if scattering is performed in a common area, then the cremated remains may be commingled with partied of other cremated remains that have been previously scattered. 

Sometimes, people scatter because it was the decedent’s request. However, then the loved ones are left with no permanent and/or tangible place to go to “be with” the decedent. Cremated remains can be, and often are, divided among family members and friends and then those individuals may decide what they would like to do with their portion of the cremated remains. Some people place the remains in a keepsake urn and keep it close. Some people scatter. Some people bury the cremated remains beside a favorite spot where they can remember the decedent. The options are endless, and should be explored before a final decision is made.