Cremation Information

Decisions to Make When Choosing Cremation

When a loved one dies, there are many decisions to be made. The three most important are

1) “How will we care for the deceased”; 2) “How will we care for the needs of the family and those most closely affected by the death”; and 3) “How will we allow others to show their love and support for us?”

Although many people believe that 90% of what a funeral home does is for the deceased, in reality it’s just the opposite. 90% of what we do at Strode is to help family and friends begin healing by creating ways to gather, celebrate, share, and support.

Families who choose cremation as the answer to the first question often need guidance regarding the next two questions: care of the family, and care of friends and the

community.

The choice of cremating rather than whole-body burial is often the easiest choice, but the other choices deserve thoughtful consideration.

You can learn the basics below, however, if the content here raises additional questions for you, please give us a call. One of our cremation specialists will address any of your inquiries or concerns.

Why Use Strode for Cremation?

We are the local cremation experts, serving by far more cremation families than any other funeral home or cremation provider in Payne County. We take your trust seriously, and do our best to provide all available cremation options. Following are just a few reasons to consider Strode:

• We Operate Payne County's Only Crematory: When you call upon Strode, once your loved one comes into our care they never leave us until the cremation or burial takes place. Unlike many “discount” providers, we do not ship our families loved ones to third-party common crematories in other cities or states. Our crematory is for the exclusive use of Strode families and is always available for your inspection. Very few funeral homes operate their own crematory. If you are anticipating utilizing a funeral home without a crematory, insist on knowing where your loved one will be taken and inspect the location for yourself.

• We Have Our Own On-Site Refrigeration Facility: Just as with the crematory, we have our own on-site refrigeration facility to accommodate remains that have not been embalmed. Many of the funeral homes in our area do not have an on-site refrigeration facility, which means that your loved one may be sent to a facility many miles away that is not under their supervision or control.

• Licensed Funeral Directors Supervise Our Crematory: Many funeral homes and “discount” providers allow non-licensed staff to oversee their cremation operations. Our crematory and refrigeration facility is under the supervision and control of licensed funeral directors.

• We Allow Families to be Present at the Crematory: In some instances, certain family members may gain peace-of-mind witnessing their loved one placed into the cremation chamber. This is analogous to someone staying at a gravesite to witness a burial. Since we operate the only crematory in Payne County, we are the only area funeral home able to offer this important service.

What is Required to Arrange for Cremation?

Once the cremation decision has been made, we will move forward with finalizing the arrangements. This is usually done with an in-person meeting with the person legally authorized to make the final arrangements for the deceased. If an in-person meeting is not possible we are happy to meet with you over the phone, a Zoom call, etc. and can take care of all the paperwork online or via e-mail.

We will gather the statistical information needed for 1) the death certificate, 2) the Medical Examiner Cremation Permit, 3) the funeral home and crematory authorizations, and 4) the final statement of charges reflecting all goods and services selected.

Once all authorization documents are signed, and service charges are paid; the deceased can be taken to our local crematory and the cremation process can take place. However, there are some additional things you may wish to consider, such as:

Is there a special set of clothes (such as a military uniform or favorite dress) your loved one would appreciate the thought of wearing? This will be a focus of the cremation arrangement conversation, and you will be advised by your funeral director as to your best options regarding jewelry or other valuable personal items.
Are there any keepsake items you'd like to include in their cremation casket? Perhaps there's a special memento, such as a treasured photograph or letter? We sometimes suggest family members write cards, notes or letters to their deceased loved one, and place them in the casket prior to the cremation.
Would you or other family members like to be present for–or participate to some degree in–your loved one's cremation? Because we know how healing it can be to take part in an act of "letting go", we welcome the opportunity to bring interested family or friends into the crematory. Please discuss your desire to participate with your funeral director.
What will you keep the cremated remains or ashes in after the cremation or the service? Many families are simply unaware that they can purchase a cremation urn to be placed in a special place such as the family home. We offer a large selection of urns that will help memorialize your loved one. Ask one of our caring funeral director's to see the wide variety of urns.

There are MANY Options When Cremation is Chosen

There are numerous reasons cremation is chosen over whole-body burial. Cremation allows a family the flexibility they may need in planning and preparing for a memorial service, celebration-of-life, or a scattering ceremony. While the cremation process can occur almost immediately (once all the proper paperwork is complete), the decisions required in planning a meaningful memorial for a loved one can be made in a relaxed, rational way.

Cost, simplicity, the environment, and the wishes of the deceased are also significant factors related to choosing cremation.

Are You Ready to Talk About Cremation?

We want you to know that no matter your reasons for choosing cremation, we're here to help you explore your options. When you're ready, call us to set an appointment or simply drop by our office. You can also send us an email via our online contact us form.

Sources:

What is Cremation, Cremation Association of North America
Mathisen, Tyler, "Cremation is the Hottest Trend in the Funeral Industry"