Cremation Planning

 Both options ultimately return cremated remains to the family, but they use very different processes.

 Flame cremation uses intense heat to reduce a body to bone fragments, which are then processed into the cremated remains returned to the family.

 Water cremation, sometimes called aquamation or alkaline hydrolysis, is an alternative to traditional flame cremation.

Instead of using flame, water cremation uses water, and alkaline solution, gentle heat, and circulation to accelerate the natural process that occurs when a body returns to the Earth. At the completion of the process, the remaining bone minerals are processed and returned to the family, similar to the cremated, remains returned following flame cremation.

When we talk with you for the first time we will gather a little more information and arrange a time to meet with the Next of Kin and other immediate family members or friends at either our St. Paul or White Bear Lake funeral home location, usually within the next 24 to 48 hours, so we can sit down and discuss the plans you would like to make. If your loved one is within the Twin Cities metro area, we will often take them into our thoughtful care within an hour of that first phone call.

When we meet we are generally able to plan all of the details for the cremation and any memorial services in an arrangement meeting that will probably last between 1.5-2 hours. A crucial element of this meeting will be signing the cremation authorization by the next of kin(s). Another key decisions you will make is what kind of cremation service you would like.

Here are the general types of cremation services we offer:

• Simple Cremation means we take your loved one into our care, prepare the legal documentation, transport them to the crematory, provide for cremation and return their cremated remains to you. With this service we always offer the option of having a final goodbye, with your friend or family member respectfully presented so you and your immediate family can see them at rest one last time.

• Cremation with a Memorial Service means that we do all the things listed above, but also make arrangements for a Visitation, Gathering, Celebration, Funeral Mass, or whichever type of service suits your family's needs. This all happens on one day or evening and may be at one of our funeral homes or at an offsite location.

• Cremation with Visitation and Next Day Service means that, after cremation is performed, we will have a generally less formal evening gathering at either our White Bear Lake or St. Paul location, then a more formal funeral or Mass the next day at your church or special location. The cremated remains will then be buried at a graveside ceremony or returned to the family.

• Cremation with Full Visitation and Funeral for this service we prepare the body of your loved one for more public viewing. They will be presented prepared and dressed, in either a casket you purchase, or in a rented ceremonial casket with a plush single-use liner, for a visitation and then the next day for a formal church service. This allows the body to be present at services, which is a high priority for some traditions. The cremation will take place after and the cremated remains are either buried at a later date or returned to the family.

As you can tell by the large variation in cremation services we offer it is hard for us to give you an estimate without knowing what services are right for your family. There are also factors to consider like whether you would like memorial printing (prayer cards, programs, memorial video), flowers, an urn, an obituary in the newspaper, clergy presiding, musicians, catering, etc. To get the most accurate estimate for the service your family wants, it's best to call us for an absolutely no-obligation, quick consultation. Our funeral directors, Scott, Mary, Mandy, and Nicole are experts in helping families navigate these decisions and can get you the estimate that's right for your family. No pressure, fully informed, fully transparent.

It is important when comparing cremation services to compare apples to apples. Mueller Memorial is not in the business of making a body go away, we see cremation as just one part of your experience with loss and grief. This is why we offer every family that chooses cremation with Mueller Memorial the opportunity to have a private final goodbye at no additional charge. That final confrontation with the reality of the death, and the opportunity to see your loved one presented naturally at peace is a critical element in framing your future experience with grief. We would never require anyone to see their loved-one one last time, but we will always offer it if we can.

And because we know that grief doesn't end with the funeral, Mueller Memorial also provides a one-of-a-kind online support program that offers just a little bit of help navigating the year after loss. Your family will get weekly emails with practical tips and insights for better understanding how grief works. You will also have access to a 24/7 phone support line staffed my Masters-level or higher grief counselors.