Cremation services are becoming a popular alternative to traditional funerals, due to the lower cost and the option for personalized use of the remains. But the cremation process has more options thanks to scientific advances, and each option has its advantages. If you’re considering cremation services in Spanaway, WA, we’re here to familiarize you with the options and help you pick the sendoff that’s right for your loved one.

Traditional Cremation

Most cremation services are done at a funeral home equipped with a cremator, an industrial furnace that can generate temperatures of up to 1,800 degrees fahrenheit. These furnaces are powered by oil, natural gas, or propane. They can burn an adult body to ashes in ninety minutes, and come equipped with a spyhole so that the funeral home staff can observe when the process is complete and the ashes are ready.

Cremation ashes are sterile and are packed in a transport urn after the cremation process is complete. They are then transported to their final resting place, chosen by the family of the deceased in partnership with the funeral home.

Aqua-Cremation

Aqua-cremation, or alkaline hydrolysis, is a new and eco-friendly alternative to traditional cremation that’s gaining popularity in the Spanaway, WA area. It uses water mixed with an alkaline solution that breaks down the body and speeds up the natural decomposition process, eventually leaving only the mineral ash from the bones. It has over 90% energy savings over traditional cremation and uses less water than a household uses in a day.

This green cremation process takes longer than traditional cremation services, but an average adult body will be dissolved in two to three hours. The bone ash is sterile and can be used in the same ways as regular cremation ashes and can fit in any of our extensive collection of memorial urns, centerpieces, and jewelry.

Cremation Services and Memorials

We offer basic cremation services for clients who want to arrange their own memorial services, but we offer full-service treatment for those who want the cremation paired with a traditional funeral. We can arrange visitation before the cremation, and the chosen urn or centerpiece becomes the focal point of a memorial service. If you have special plans like scattering for the ashes, let us know and we can provide an ideal scattering urn.

After cremation and the memorial, the ashes will be placed in their final resting place. For clients who want the remains interred in a grave or a family vault, we can arrange a proper memorial stone or plaque. We can also divide the ashes between family members or transfer them into a secure and sturdy urn or centerpiece for permanent placement in a home.

If you’re considering cremation services in Spanaway, WA, Weeks’ Dryer Mortuary can arrange a traditional cremation or aqua-cremation followed by a meaningful and personalized memorial service. Visit us for a consultation at our main office at 220 South 134th Street, Tacoma, WA, 98444, only two miles from Spanaway, WA, or reach us on our website or by phone at (253) 537-0253. Learn more about our empathetic funeral and cremation offerings by exploring our online presence. Our website is designed to assist you during this difficult period, offering the necessary resources and guidance to respectfully and lovingly commemorate your dear ones.