Cremation services you can count on

Kyle Gibbs, Managing Funeral Director of the Cremation Society of Virginia

Kyle Gibbs, Managing Funeral Director, at the Cremation Society of Virginia, understands the difficulties of death – whether the arrangements are being planned in advance or the death was unexpected. That is why in 2012 he launched an app for the Cremation Society of Virginia. The app is informative about the cremation process, has a step-by-step questionnaire to report a death, a marketplace and easy ways to contact them. Mr. Gibbs explained, “They might be at a nursing facility or somewhere that they don’t have a laptop or notebook in front of them. And they can get on their cell phone…we wanted it to be at the touch of their fingertip.”

The Cremation Society of Virginia provides simple, dignified cremation and burial services. Family owned and operated, they specialize in cremation and, unlike other crematories, own and operate their own crematory. The Cremation Society of Virginia provides the whole package – cremation, urns, caskets and services (memorial and funeral); they pride themselves on offering low prices with no hidden costs. Their staff specialize in cremation, which means they can answer any questions and suggest alternatives based on their extensive knowledge.

Members of the Cremation Society of Virginia are provided with the assurance that their chosen method of burial will be implemented. All of the costs are explained up front and arrangements are made in advance. Their services will be well organized and expenses fully covered at the time of death, eliminating one source of stress during a difficult time.

One concern some may have is about the identification process. On their website, the Cremation Society of Virginia lists their “8 Step Identification Process”:

1. Place wrist identification on deceased. If family is present, invite them to write name on tag
2. Deceased is placed in cremation container (law in Virginia) and the person’s name is written directly on the container
3. Family signs an authorization for cremation, verifying the death of their loved one and giving us permission in writing to do the cremation
4. The county medical examiner or coroner acknowledges awareness of the death and verifies cause of death or requires an autopsy or investigation. The death is recorded with the county and a cremation permit is issued
5. The death certificate and medical examiners’ permits are filed with the State. Certified copies of the death certificate are available to the family and a State permit is issued, giving us the authority to perform the cremation. Only now can the cremation be performed
6. The cremation is logged in the record book. The name of the deceased, date, cremation chamber used, time started and operator’s name are recorded. Copies of 3, 4 and 5 are attached to the outside of the cremation chamber
7. Paperwork is prepared in the office while the cremation is taking place. Immediately following the completion of the cremation the cremated remains are placed in an urn or temporary container with the deceased’s name already on the container
8. The cremated remains are returned to the family. The family must show picture I.D. and sign a release stating that they are taking custody of the cremated remains.

For more information, see the Cremation Society of Virginia website at www.virginiacreamte.com

For more articles like this, see: Resources for Central Virginia, Care for the Caregiver, Legal and Financial.

Know someone who worries about their elderly parent in Charlottesville, Staunton, or Harrisonburg Virginia? Care is There Geriatric Care Management can help! Have them contact us for a free consultation: 434.326.5323 or info@careisthere.com.
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Elizabeth Swider, Geriatric Care Manager, Certified Senior Advisor
President, Care is There Geriatric Care Management
Support for independent living and long distance caregiving; assisted living enhancement