Transparency, Accuracy, and Dignity in Every Service
At Standard Crematory, we believe families and funeral directors deserve complete transparency about how cremation works and how we ensure the integrity of every service we provide. This page explains our process step-by-step so you can understand exactly what happens and why you can trust us with your loved one’s care.
We know that some families have concerns about cremation. Maybe you’ve heard stories about crematory operators who cut corners or didn’t provide the individual, exclusive cremations they promised. Those concerns are valid, and they’re exactly why we’ve built our operation the way we have.
Our entire process is designed around one goal: ensuring that every family receives their loved one’s cremated remains with absolute certainty, handled with complete dignity and respect throughout.
Step-by-Step: What Happens During Cremation
Arrival and Initial Identification
When your loved one arrives at Standard Crematory, the first thing we do is verify their identity. We check all accompanying documentation against the identification on the body itself. This includes reviewing information from the funeral home or medical facility, death certificate details, and any identification tags or paperwork that traveled with your loved one.
We assign a unique tracking number that will follow your loved one through every single step of our process. This number is recorded in our detailed documentation system and is used to verify identity at multiple checkpoints throughout the cremation process.
Your loved one is then placed in a secure, refrigerated storage area until we’re ready to proceed with preparation and cremation. Each person in our care has their own designated space, and we maintain careful tracking of everyone in our facility at all times.
Verification of Authorization and Documentation
Before any cremation can proceed, we verify that all required legal documentation is complete and in order. This includes:
- Signed cremation authorization from the legal next-of-kin
- Death certificate or permit to cremate from the appropriate authority
- Any additional documentation required by Illinois law
We don’t proceed until everything is properly authorized and documented. This protects families, ensures legal compliance, and maintains the integrity of our process.
Preparation for Cremation
Your loved one is carefully prepared for cremation according to professional standards and state requirements. This includes:
- Removing any items that cannot be cremated (such as pacemakers, which can be dangerous during cremation)
- Placing your loved one in an appropriate cremation container if one hasn’t already been provided
- Conducting a final identification verification before proceeding
Throughout preparation, your loved one is treated with complete respect and dignity. Our staff understands the sacred responsibility of caring for someone’s family member, and we take that seriously.
Individual, Exclusive Cremation
This is where our commitment to individual cremations really matters. Your loved one is placed in the cremation chamber alone. There is never more than one person in the chamber at a time. We do not perform multiple cremations simultaneously, and we do not mix remains.
The cremation process itself typically takes several hours, depending on various factors. We maintain appropriate temperature and conditions according to professional standards. Our equipment is modern, well-maintained, and regularly inspected to ensure it operates safely and correctly.
During the cremation, identification remains with your loved one. We can verify at any point throughout the process that we’re cremating the correct individual.
Processing of Cremated Remains
After the cremation is complete and the cremated remains have cooled, we carefully remove them from the chamber. We then process the remains to a consistent texture, removing any metal fragments (such as surgical pins or staples) that may have been present.
Throughout this step, we continue to maintain identification tracking. The cremated remains are never left unattended or unidentified. We know exactly whose remains we’re handling at all times.
Placement in Container
Once the cremated remains have been processed, we place them in either a temporary container or a permanent urn, depending on what the family has selected. The container is clearly and permanently labeled with your loved one’s information, including their full name and any additional identifying details.
We seal the container securely and prepare all accompanying documentation, including certificates and forms that will be needed by the family or funeral director.
Final Documentation and Return
Before cremated remains leave our facility, we conduct a final verification to ensure:
- The correct individual’s remains are in the container
- All labeling is accurate and complete
- All required documentation is prepared and included
- The container is properly sealed and secure
The cremated remains are then returned to the funeral home or family according to the arrangements made. We maintain permanent records of the entire process, from arrival through return of remains.
How We Ensure Accuracy and Prevent Errors
Multiple Verification Checkpoints
Throughout the entire cremation process, we verify identification at multiple points:
- Upon arrival at our facility
- Before preparation for cremation
- Before placing your loved one in the cremation chamber
- After cremation is complete
- Before sealing and labeling the final container
- Before releasing cremated remains
Each checkpoint is documented, and each requires staff to physically verify that the identification matches our records. This redundant system catches any potential errors before they become problems.
Detailed Documentation and Tracking
We maintain comprehensive records for every person in our care. Our documentation includes:
- Arrival date and time
- Complete identification information
- Authorization and legal documentation
- Timeline of every step in the process
- Staff members responsible for each phase
- Final disposition and release information
This documentation serves multiple purposes. It ensures accuracy, provides accountability, demonstrates compliance with regulations, and gives families confidence in our process.
Systematic Procedures
Our staff follows established procedures for every aspect of cremation services. These procedures are designed to ensure consistency, prevent errors, and maintain the dignity of every person in our care. We don’t take shortcuts, and we don’t deviate from our established process.
Everyone on our team is trained in these procedures and understands why each step matters. We regularly review our operations to identify any potential areas for improvement.
Physical Facility Design
Our facility is organized to support accurate tracking and individual cremations. We have designated areas for different stages of the process, clear labeling systems, and physical separation that helps prevent any possibility of mixing or confusion.
When you tour Standard Crematory, you’ll see how we’ve designed our space specifically to support the accuracy and integrity of our services.
Why Individual, Exclusive Cremations Matter
We want to be direct about why we emphasize individual cremations so strongly. Unfortunately, not all crematories have maintained the standards that families deserve. There have been cases where crematory operators performed multiple cremations simultaneously, mixed remains, or failed to provide the exclusive cremations they promised to families.
These failures have understandably made some people skeptical about cremation services. They’ve damaged trust in an industry that depends entirely on trust.
At Standard Crematory, we believe the solution is straightforward: do things the right way, every single time, and be transparent about your process so families and funeral directors can verify that you’re keeping your promises.
Individual, exclusive cremations aren’t just a marketing claim for us. They’re built into our equipment capabilities, our facility design, our procedures, and our values. We simply will not compromise on this standard, regardless of business pressures or efficiency considerations.
When we tell you that your loved one will receive an individual cremation, we mean it. And we’ve built our entire operation to ensure we can deliver on that promise consistently.
Equipment and Facility Standards
Modern Cremation Equipment
Standard Crematory uses modern cremation equipment that’s specifically designed for individual cremations. Our equipment is regularly serviced and maintained by qualified technicians to ensure it operates safely, efficiently, and correctly.
We follow manufacturer specifications for operation, maintain detailed service records, and replace or upgrade equipment as needed to maintain high standards.
Clean, Professional Facility
We maintain our facility to high standards of cleanliness and organization. This isn’t just about appearances—though first impressions matter—it’s about creating an environment that supports careful, respectful work.
Our staff takes pride in maintaining a facility that we’re comfortable showing to families and funeral directors. We believe that transparency requires having operations that can withstand scrutiny, and we’ve built Standard Crematory to meet that standard.
Compliance with Illinois Regulations
Standard Crematory is fully licensed by the state of Illinois and operates in compliance with all applicable regulations governing crematory facilities. We maintain all required permits, follow mandated procedures, and stay current with any regulatory changes.
Beyond basic compliance, we strive to exceed minimum standards in areas that matter to families and funeral directors. Regulations set the floor, but we aim higher because we believe that’s what people deserve.
Questions About Our Process
Yes. We welcome facility tours for funeral directors and, in some cases, for families who would like to see where their loved one will be cremated. Tours give you the opportunity to see our operation firsthand, meet our staff, and ask any questions you have about our process. Contact us to schedule a tour.
We perform only individual cremations, meaning one person in the cremation chamber at a time. After each cremation, the chamber is carefully cleaned before the next cremation. Our processing equipment is also thoroughly cleaned between individuals. The physical design of our process prevents any possibility of mixing remains.
Items like pacemakers, certain medical devices, and some types of jewelry cannot be safely cremated. We carefully remove these items before cremation. If families want certain items returned, we can discuss that during arrangements. Otherwise, items are disposed of respectfully according to standard industry practices.
Cremation can be performed with a body in a casket or in a simpler cremation container, depending on what the family chooses. If a traditional viewing or service is held before cremation, families often use a rental casket or purchase a casket for the viewing. For direct cremation, a simple cremation container is typically used. We can accommodate whatever the family and funeral director prefer.
We maintain permanent records of every cremation we perform. These records include all documentation, tracking information, and details of the service. This protects families, supports our quality control, and ensures we can answer questions even years later if needed.
Our staff members are trained in crematory operations, proper handling of human remains, safety procedures, and the specific processes we use at Standard Crematory. We maintain ongoing training to ensure everyone on our team understands and follows our established procedures.
We’ve designed our process specifically to prevent errors, but we’re also honest enough to acknowledge that humans aren’t perfect. If any issue arises during the cremation process, we address it immediately and communicate openly with the family and funeral director. Our systematic procedures and multiple verification checkpoints are designed to catch potential problems before they affect the family’s service.
Our Commitment to Transparency
Standard Crematory believes that transparency builds trust, and trust is essential in cremation services. We’re committed to:
Open Communication: Answering your questions honestly and completely, without evasion or vague responses.
Clear Procedures: Using systematic, documented processes that can be explained and verified.
Facility Access: Welcoming tours and visits so families and funeral directors can see our operation firsthand.
Honest Representation: Making only promises we can keep and delivering on every commitment we make.
Continuous Improvement: Regularly reviewing our operations to identify areas where we can serve families and funeral directors better.
Transparency isn’t just about explaining what we do. It’s about building operations that can withstand scrutiny and that we’re genuinely proud to show people. That’s what Standard Crematory strives to be.
The Heart of What We Do
Behind all of these procedures, documentation systems, and verification checkpoints is a simple truth: every person in our care was loved by someone. They mattered to their family. They deserve to be treated with dignity and respect, and their families deserve absolute certainty that we’ve honored that responsibility.
We take that seriously. Every verification checkpoint, every documented procedure, every systematic process exists because we believe families deserve nothing less than complete confidence in the care their loved one receives.
Cremation is permanent. There’s no opportunity to fix mistakes or go back and do things differently. That’s why getting it right the first time, every time, is so important to us.
Standard Crematory isn’t just a business. It’s a responsibility. And we’re committed to fulfilling that responsibility with integrity, transparency, and unwavering respect for every person and family we serve.
Learn More or Schedule a Facility Tour
If you’d like to learn more about our cremation process or see our facility in person, we welcome the opportunity to show you our operation and answer your questions.
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Visit us: Standard Crematory, Chicago Heights, Illinois
Standard Crematory
Transparent Cremation Services
Chicago Heights, Illinois
Serving Chicagoland with Integrity
Available 24/7