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Cremation Options

Cremation Options

Cremation is the process of reducing a persons body to its most basic state of calcium phosphate, or bone mineral, using high temperature and flame. The calcium phosphate is then processed into what is known as cremated remains. Cremation verses burial is only what will happen to a person’s physical body after death, and a person can have any type of arrangements leading up to or following the cremation process. Our staff will guide you through all of the available options, helping you put together arrangements that will me meaningful and representative of the unique life lived.

If you or your loved one has chosen cremation as the choice for final disposition, there are many options to consider depending upon your individual needs and preferences. We encourage everyone to think about theses choices long in advance so that their families will know exactly what their wishes are when the time comes. The cost for these arrangements will be based on those services that Mt. Scott Funeral Home will be providing for you and your family. Please don't hesitate to reach out to us for comprehensive pricing based on your individual needs.


General Price List



Following are some of the options to consider when choosing cremation:

  • Traditional Service - A traditional funeral service is a ceremony which serves to celebrate, honor, and remember the life of the deceased with the person’s body physically present. It is most commonly held at the funeral home or at a church, but can be held in a variety of other places. After the services are complete, the cremation process takes place and the family can then go forward with their plans for their loved ones cremated remains.
  • Memorial Service - When choosing cremation, a memorial service is a service which takes place independently of the cremation process. Some families choose to have their loved one’s urn present at the service, some choose not to have their loved one’s urn present. It is a ceremony which serves to celebrate, honor, and remember the life of the loved one. This type of service is can be held at the funeral home or at a church but can also be held in a variety of other places. Our staff can help you choose a location that will be meaningful to the family and friends and reflective of the life being remembered.
  • Celebration of Life - A celebration of life is a ceremony held to celebrate the life of the one who has passed away. They are usually not somber events, but rather a time for storytelling and remembering the joy the loved one brought to others. A celebration of life can be a stand alone event, but is more often times held in conjunction with a more traditional service or memorial service, commonly held after. We have on-site facilities at Mt. Scott Funeral Home that can accommodate a celebration of life event. We can also assist with catering needs.
  • Graveside Service - A graveside service is a service held inside the cemetery, most commonly at the gravesite or niche. A graveside service can follow a traditional service, memorial service or can be a stand-alone event.
  • Direct Cremation - The most basic option when choosing cremation. The person is cremated in the days immediately following the death without any type of service or ceremony.
  • Urn - Included in our cost for cremation, is a temporary plastic urn. We do offer a variety of more permanent or decorative urns. Depending on what will be done with a person’s cremated remains will determine what type of permanent urn will be needed, if any.


After the Cremation


There are many options available when it comes to what to do with a person's cremated remains. Although cremation allows for as much time as needed, it is important to have a plan for a person's cremated remains, and we suggest families discuss this together long before they need to decide.



Interment in a Cemetery


Funeral homes and cemeteries are separate businesses, even when they reside on the same property. Mt. Scott Funeral Home can assist with cremation and interment into any cemetery for placement. Cemetery costs will vary greatly depending on the cemetery itself and the property you select within each cemetery.

When choosing cremation, there are different interment options to consider:

  • In-ground burial of cremated remains - Just like traditional casket burial, cemeteries offer in-ground burial options for a person’s cremated remains.
  • Above ground placement in a niche - Some cemeteries offer both indoor and outdoor mausoleums, columbarium, with individual or companion niches. These are often memorialized with an engraved granite face or name bar.


Cemetery Costs to Consider

  • The property - Spaces for cremated remains will vary greatly in cost between cemeteries and within each cemetery itself.
  • An outer burial container or specific urn - Depending on the space selected, the cemetery may have a specific requirement for the type and size of the urn that can be selected.
  • A permanent memorialization - i.e., headstone, monument, name bar, plaque, etc. Each cemetery will have their own regulations to the size and type of memorialization they allow for each section. n some cases, these may be purchased directly through the funeral home as well as the cemetery. We recommend families check the cost with both entities before making a selection.
  • Opening and closing - This is the cost for the cemetery to physically place the individual in the selected space.
  • Administrative Fees - Some cemeteries may add additional administrative costs. It is important to inquire about the possibility of these fees.


Other Options

  • Scattering - Scattering allows you to spread your loved one's cremated remains in a memorial garden, a cemetery, over water, or across any other meaningful site. You also can choose to scatter some of the cremated remains and retain the rest in an urn for interment or another form of disposition.
  • Dividing into Multiple Urns - Placing cremated remains in multiple urns allows family members who are separated by distance to each feel the comfort of having their loved one's final resting place in a nearby location.
  • Keeping at home with family - Some families choose to keep their loved one’s cremated remains at home with them. When this option is chosen, we encourage families to consider what the plan will be for their loved one’s cremated remains for the generations to come. It is important to have a permanent plan in place.


Frequently Asked Questions

How do I know I am getting my loved one’s cremated remains back?

How do I know I am getting my loved one’s cremated remains back?

Cremation of more than one person at the same time is illegal in the United States and in many other countries. The cremation chamber is purposefully designed to only hold one person at a time. In addition, cremation is a highly regulated process with strict procedures, ensuring we are holding our cremation services to the highest possible standard. All necessary paperwork must be completed with local authorities, and then a checklist is completed at the crematory. A metal disk with a unique ID number accompanies your loved one from the time we receive the person into our care throughout the cremation process, and after cremation occurs we attach the metal disk directly to your loved ones cremated remains. Knowing the level of respect and meticulous care with which we treat your loved, you can rest assured that you are receiving only your loved one’s cremated remains.

Is more than one person cremated at a time?

Is more than one person cremated at a time?

No. Cremation of more than one person at a time is illegal in the United States and the cremation chambers are specifically designed to only hold one person at a time for cremation.

How long does the cremation process take?

How long does the cremation process take?

The cremation process can take between 3 - 5 hours.

Why does the cost of cremation vary so much?

Why does the cost of cremation vary so much?

Like most things in life, you get what you pay for. Not all cremation services are created equally, nor are all funeral homes. There are many funeral homes that advertise a “low cost” cremation, but in reality have many hidden fees. To keep costs low, many of these types of businesses cut back on the service they provide to families, maintain limited facilities or don’t have facilities at all, operate on limited hours which can translate into extended wait times for families to make arrangements, and charge extra fees for items that would otherwise be included with using an all-inclusive funeral home. It is extremely important that families research the facility they are choosing and ask about all of the costs up front.

Can I still have a viewing and funeral services with cremation?

Can I still have a viewing and funeral services with cremation?

Yes. In fact, we encourage you to do so. Choosing cremation only indicates how you would like to care for your loved one after the service and does not exclude you from celebrating and honoring their life in any way. Whether you would like to have a visitation beforehand, arrange a funeral service before cremation, or wait and hold the service after the cremation, we are happy to help you design a meaningful service to accompany the cremation.

Why should I have a viewing?

Why should I have a viewing?

Viewings play an extremely important role in helping people move through the grieving process in a healthy way. A viewing not only gives those impacted by the loss an opportunity to say a final goodbye, but it provides a reality that the loss has actually occurred.

Are there restrictions on scattering my loved ones cremated remains?

Are there restrictions on scattering my loved ones cremated remains?

In general, the government does not regulate the scattering of cremated remains. Make sure you check with your local regulations beforehand, but most locations are usually okay as long as you are considerate and dispose of the container properly. If you wish to scatter someones cremated remains on private property, it is a good idea to consult the landowner first.

Can I personalize my loved one’s service?

Can I personalize my loved one’s service?

Absolutely! Our staff has years of experience getting to know families and incorporating their loved ones' hobbies, activities, interests, and unique requests into meaningful and memorable services. Don’t hesitate to make a request — we’re honored to work with you to create a service that truly reflects and celebrates your loved one’s individual life.

Who can authorize someone to be cremated?

Who can authorize someone to be cremated?

The State of Oregon has a very clear order as to who has the right to control a person's final disposition when they pass away (ORS 97.130). The statute is lengthy, but the general order is as follows:

• Any individual of sound mind who is 18 years or older can sign their own authorization for cremation
• Any individual designated by the deceased by written instrument who is 18 years or older
• The spouse of the decedent
• Children of the decedent who are 18 years of age or older
• Parents of the decedent
• Siblings of the decedent
• Guardian of the decedent at the time of death
• A person in the next degree of kindred to the decedent
• The personal representative of the estate of the decedent
• The person nominated as the personal representative of the decedent in the decedent’s last will and testament
• A public health officer

I had power of attorney over my loved one, now that they have passed can I sign the authorization for cremation?

I had power of attorney over my loved one, now that they have passed can I sign the authorization for cremation?

No. Power of attorney authorization ends at death. Unless the deceased had made a prior legal designation of right to control disposition by a written instrument, the person who would be authorized to sign for cremation would default to the State of Oregon’s guidelines of right to control disposition of remains. With that said, a person with a power of attorney could sign a cremation authorization on behalf of the individual BEFORE their death, so long as the power of attorney authorization allows for it, and is presented at the time of signing.

Can I sign my own cremation authorization form so my family doesn't have to?

Can I sign my own cremation authorization form so my family doesn't have to?

Yes! We strongly encourage and recommend that every individual take care of their arrangements long before they are needed. This includes being able to sign your own authorization for cremation.

Can I set up and pay for my own cremation?

Can I set up and pay for my own cremation?

Absolutely! In fact, we strongly encourage and recommend that everyone take care of their own arrangements long before they need them. By taking care of your arrangements now you:

• Alleviate the burden from your loved ones having to make these decisions for you at perhaps one of the most difficult times in their lives.
• You decide the arrangements you want that best represent your life…it’s your story to tell!
• You are guaranteed to pay no more than today’s costs for your arrangements regardless of inflation.
• You have flexible payment options.

What is a columbarium?

What is a columbarium?

A columbarium is a place for the interment of an urn containing a person’s cremated remains. They are often located in mausoleums, chapels, or memorial gardens, and contain numerous small compartments, or niches, designed to hold urns.

Why should I choose Mt. Scott Funeral Home?

Why should I choose Mt. Scott Funeral Home?

• Mt. Scott Funeral Home is a private, family owned and operated funeral home, that has been serving families for almost 100 years. You will find that our costs are all-inclusive. Our experienced funeral directors will sit down with your family and walk you through the entire process from start to finish.
• We have on-site staff available to answer our phones 24 hours a day, 7 days a week. When you call us you will always to talk to one of our staff members, in our building, and never an answering service.
• We have funeral directors available in the office 7 days a week from 8:00 a.m. to 5:00 p.m., to answer questions, meet with families, and assist with services.
• We never charge overtime fees for evenings or weekends.
• We offer every family we serve, a one-time, private viewing for the immediate family members prior to burial or cremation, at no additional cost. We do not limit the number of immediate family members who can attend, and follow the time limit to what the State of Oregon allows.
• We take care of any and all paperwork, including death certificates, veteran’s paperwork and flag applications, insurance assignments, preparation assistance with and submitting obituary notifications, etc. at no additional cost to our families.
• We offer an online memorial wall on our website for each person we serve at no additional cost.
• We have facilities that can accommodate most any type of service from small and intimate gatherings to larger groups, including reception facilities and larger rooms for viewings.
• We have staff dedicated to handling death certificates resulting in a faster processing time for our families.
• We will place your loved one into any urn now or anytime in the future and will deliver your loved ones cremated remains to a local cemetery for placement at no additional cost.
• We strongly believe in treating the families we serve the way we would want our own families be treated and we hold ourselves to the highest standard of professionalism and care.

 
 

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Mt. Scott Funeral Home | (503) 771-1171
4205 SE. 59th Ave. Portland, OR 97206

 

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