Dogwood Hill Crematory is our private crematory located within the Caldwell & Cowan facility.  We only cremate for families served by Caldwell & Cowan. We believe in our cremation process so much that we exclusively offer the Cremation with Confidence Guarantee. 

WHY CREMATION WITH CONFIDENCE?

We understand that those who choose cremation might have questions about the process and procedure of our crematory. our 10-step cremation process guarantees that your loved one is well cared for at all times and that the cremated remains returned to you are those of your loved one. The following information will help any answer any questions you may have about our 10-step process and the commitment we have to every family we serve.

1. YOUR LOVED ONE NEVER LEAVES OUR CARE

Many other funeral homes hire third party crematories, which may be located in a warehouse district or other industrial area. These funeral homes transfer your loved one to outside cremation services, making it impossible for the funeral home to manage and supervise the cremation.

We have our own private crematory; we only cremate for families we serve. All your services are handled and managed by our certified staff and your loved one never leaves our care.

2. SAFEGUARDING PERSONAL IDENTITY

To ensure security, a personal identification band is placed on your loved one at the moment they are transferred to our care.

3. UNIQUE TRACKING SYSTEM

Upon arrival, your loved one is logged into our tracking system and assigned an identification number, which is stamped into a stainless-steel tag. This number is used to track every phase of the cremation process. Our tracking system includes the date and time of arrival at our crematory and the names of both the delivery agent and the receiving agent.

4. FAMILY IDENTIFICATION

Our staff will bathe and dress your loved one in the clothes provided by the family or in a gown we provide. Then, we will ask you or a representative to positively identify him or her prior to cremation. A current photo ID may be used for identification if necessary, but in-person identification is preferable.

5. CHECKS AND BALANCES

Two individuals - a cremation technician and a funeral home staff member - will review all cremation paperwork and permits. This is to ensure authorizations and permits have been received and have been properly documented. Once all documentation is verified, both staff members must sign the cremation order prior to cremation.

6. CREMATION LOG BOOK

Immediately prior to the cremation process, your loved one is taken to our crematory and their personal identification is noted in our cremation log book. This log shows the name of the individual, date and time of the cremation, identification number, and crematory operator's name. Our crematory log is dated, and the start time is noted and initialed by a cremation technician before and after cremation.

7. DETAILS DURING THE CREMATION

The crematory checklist and identification card are placed on the outside of the cremation chamber during the cremation process. A stainless-steel identification tag is placed inside the cremation chamber with your loved one.

8. DETAILS AFTER THE CREMATION

After the cremation is complete, the cremated remains are placed into a plastic bag along with the identification card. The stainless-steel identification tag is secured to the outside of the bag. The cremated remains, identification card, and stainless-steel identification tag are then placed in the urn.

9. RETURN OF THE CREMATED REMAINS

Our staff will notify you to schedule a time for receipt of the cremated remains. At this time, we will provide a dignified setting in which to receive the urn, where you may spend a few moments privately in quiet reflection.

10. CELEBRATION OF LIFE

We will assist in planning a funeral or memorial service either before or after the cremation, which will appropriately celebrate the life of your loved one. A meaningful ceremony provides an opportunity for family and friends to pay tribute to your loved one and to share the memories of a lifetime.

For more information about the Cremation with Confidence Program, visit cremationwithconfidence.com.