Cremation
We understand that every family has unique needs, traditions, and preferences when it comes to honoring a loved one. Our cremation services are designed to provide flexibility, dignity, and support throughout every step of the process, allowing families to choose the arrangement that best reflects the life being remembered.
We offer a range of cremation options, from simple cremation services to more traditional services that include visitation, viewing, or a memorial gathering. Our goal is to ensure that families have the opportunity to create meaningful tributes that provide comfort, healing, and remembrance.
To ensure the highest level of care and professionalism, we partner with trusted, certified crematory providers who strictly follow established industry standards and ethical guidelines set forth by organizations such as the Cremation Association of North America (CANA). These standards are designed to ensure proper identification, careful handling, and respectful treatment at every stage of the cremation process.
Our relationship with experienced crematory professionals allows us to maintain confidence in every aspect of care while also giving us the ability to focus our time and attention where it matters most—supporting families. By entrusting the technical aspects of cremation to certified experts, we are better able to guide families through planning, answer questions, and provide personal, compassionate service during a difficult time.
We believe that meaningful service goes beyond the process itself. It is about listening, understanding, and helping families create a tribute that reflects a life lived and a legacy remembered. Whether a family prefers a private cremation, a traditional service before cremation, or a memorial gathering afterward, we are here to help design a service that is both respectful and personal.
Transparency, affordability, and dignity are at the heart of everything we do. We are committed to providing clear information, honest guidance, and thoughtful care so that families can make informed decisions with confidence and peace of mind.
In every situation, our promise remains the same: to honor each life with compassion, respect, and professionalism while supporting the families who entrust us with their care.
Frequently Ask Question About Cremation
Why Do Families Choose Cremation?
- Environmental Factors
- Religious & Personal Beliefs
- Economic Factors
Is embalming required?
No, embalming is not required for cremation. Families may choose direct cremation without embalming if no public viewing or visitation is planned.
However, embalming is typically required if a family wishes to have a public viewing or a funeral service with the body present in a casket prior to cremation. This allows for proper preservation and presentation during the service.
We are here to help guide you through these decisions and explain all available options, ensuring arrangements are made in a way that best honors your loved one and meets your family’s wishes.
Do I have to bury the cremains?
No, cremated remains do not have to be buried. Cremation is simply a method of disposition, and what you choose to do with the cremated remains is a personal decision. Families may keep the cremated remains, place them in a niche or grave, or scatter them in a meaningful location, in accordance with local and environmental guidelines.

For those of the Roman Catholic faith, the Church does require that cremated remains be placed in a cemetery or columbarium if a Mass of Christian Burial is held.
Is a cremation casket required?
No, a traditional casket is not required for cremation. Crematories do require an alternative container, which is typically made of cardboard or a pressed-wood composition material. This container is designed to be simple, dignified, and suitable for the cremation process, and is usually provided by the crematory or funeral home.
Cremation Caskets are most commonly used for a traditional funeral service with cremation to follow.
No, with the increasing popularity of cremation, we have carefully considered the option of installing a crematory on our property. However, there are important practical and community-based factors that make this option unfeasible.
Most is importantly, the time, cost, and responsibility involved in owning and operating a crematory would significantly impact the level of care we provide to families. The investment required to build and maintain a crematory can approach $1 million. Recovering that cost would require higher service prices across the board, which would ultimately increase expenses for every family we serve.
Just as important is our commitment to families. Operating a crematory requires substantial time and oversight—time that we believe is better spent with the families we serve, helping them plan meaningful services that honor and celebrate the lives of their loved ones.
By partnering with a trusted local crematory provider, we are able to ensure the highest level of care while also keeping costs more affordable. This approach allows cremation costs to be shared across a larger group, reducing the financial burden on individual families.
Our decision is based upon, cost-efficiency for the families we serve and dedicated personal attention during every step of the arrangement process.
DO YOU OWN YOUR OWN CREMATORY?
Where Do You Take People To Be Cremated?
We utilize the services of Schuylkill Alliance Crematory, located in Mahanoy Township, just one mile from the Mountain Valley Golf Course in a quiet, secluded setting.
This crematory is operated by a family of licensed funeral directors, all of whom are certified crematory operators. Their experience, professionalism, and strict adherence to ethical standards ensure that every cremation is handled with the utmost care, dignity, and respect.

By partnering with Schuylkill Alliance Crematory, we are able to provide families with a trusted, local option while maintaining our commitment to compassionate service and affordability.
Is There a Difference Not Having Your Own Crematory?
Yes, it is very common within the profession for funeral homes to highlight the presence of an “on-site crematory” as a distinguishing feature in their services. While this is often presented as an advantage, the reality is more nuanced and may not significantly impact the level of care families receive.
In practice, many crematories—whether owned by a funeral home or operated independently—are located in separate facilities due to zoning requirements and operational considerations. These locations may be nearby or, in some cases, at a greater distance from the funeral home itself. Regardless of ownership, the key factor is that each cremation is handled according to established procedures and standards of care.
Concerns about identification and the respectful handling of remains are addressed through strict protocols that are widely followed across the profession. Reputable crematories adhere to guidelines established by professional organizations such as the Cremation Association of North America (CANA), which provide standardized procedures designed to ensure accuracy, accountability, and dignity throughout the cremation process.
While some firms may emphasize proprietary processes or internal systems, it is important to understand that industry-wide standards already exist to safeguard every step of care. Families can be assured that certified crematory operators, whether working within a funeral home or an independent facility, are trained to follow these recognized best practices.
Ultimately, the most important consideration is not ownership, but rather the professionalism, certification, and commitment to ethical care demonstrated by those entrusted with the cremation process. Our role is to partner with trusted, certified crematory providers who meet these standards, allowing us to remain fully focused on supporting families with personalized attention and care.
Similarly, we are highly knowledgeable about cremation practices and maintain personal certification through the Cremation Association of North America (CANA) to ensure that Schuylkill Alliance Crematory continues to adhere to the highest professional standards.
By entrusting the cremation process to Schuylkill Alliance Crematory, we are able to dedicate more time and attention to the families we serve—guiding them through arrangements, answering questions, and ensuring every service is thoughtfully planned and meaningful.
We believe in assembling the right team of professionals to meet each family’s unique needs. In matters of cremation, Schuylkill Alliance Crematory serves as our trusted expert partner, providing consistent, certified care in accordance with established industry standards.
We are truly grateful for the confidence families place in us to coordinate and select trusted professionals on their behalf. Our responsibility is to ensure that every aspect of care is handled with dignity, transparency, and the highest level of professionalism.

CREMATION OPTIONS
If your family has chosen cremation, we offer affordable services that help celebrate the life of your loved one while giving you several options for a public gathering, and a final resting place.
Traditional Funeral Service Followed by Cremation
Many families find meaning and beauty in a traditional funeral service. With a traditional service combined with cremation, you can still choose to have a final viewing, visitation or wake, and a funeral service. However instead of in-ground burial, the funeral will be followed by cremation. Depending on your wishes, the cremated remains may be either returned to your family for storage in an urn, scattered, or interred in a columbarium. This option will include fees for the funeral services as well as the fees associated with the cremation itself.
Memorial Service
The memorial service can be held in our chapel, a church, or any other venue the family chooses. We work with our families to design a service that honors their loved one with stories, music, or scripture. We also have life celebrants that lead services where clergy may not be chosen. Our celebrants are trained in creating experiences that help start the healing process.
Graveside Service
Graveside services following cremation offer a meaningful way to honor your loved one with a final act of remembrance. This intimate gathering at the burial site of the urn provides a quiet moment for family and friends to reflect, share memories, and say goodbye in a peaceful setting. Whether simple or ceremonial, it’s a heartfelt way to bring closure and lay your loved one to rest with dignity.
Direct Cremation
Direct cremation involves the transportation of the deceased from the home, hospital, nursing facility, or coroner's office to our crematory facilities. It also includes the completion of all required paperwork. There are no formal memorial services and your loved one’s ashes are promptly returned to the family. You also have the option of viewing your loved one more time prior to cremation (NO EMBALMING, IMMEDIATE FAMILY ONLY FOR A MAXIMUM OF 30 MINUTES AT NO EXTRA CHARGE)
OUR CREMATION PACKAGES
Below are a list of our cremation packages please contact us for more information and prices.
Immediate Cremation
This service includes: the basic services of the funeral director and staff: obtaining necessary paperwork to complete the arrangements; removal of the deceased from the place of death to the Funeral Home, within a 25-mile radius, sanitary care of the remains; cremation container, refrigeration, crematory cost, return of cremains, transportation to the nearest crematory, and 2 PA Death Certificates (@$20 apiece.). Optional Private Identification (ID) Viewing under normal conditions (limited to parents, children, and siblings, with no service, for not more than 30 minutes.) No Embalming required.
THIS SERVICE DOES NOT INCLUDE: embalming, dressing, casketing, cosmetics; use of facility and staff for visitation or staff and equipment at church or other facility; use of facility and staff for the service or use of staff and equipment for church or other facility; merchandise selected such as cremation urn, register book and memorial folders, acknowledgement cards, and prayer cards clothing, any other transportation outside the 25-mile radius, or any cash advance items.
Alternative containers encase the body and can be made of fiberboard or composition material. The containers we provide are fiberboard box with wooden base.
Journey Cremation Package
his service includes: the basic services of the funeral director and staff administrative staff, and professional staff for coordinating and directing the service: obtaining legal documents, and other paperwork necessary to complete the arrangements; removal of the deceased from the place of death to the Funeral Home, within a 25 mile radius, sanitary care of the remains; use of facility and staff for visitation or staff and equipment at other facility; use of facility and staff for the service or use of staff and equipment at other facility; automotive equipment (flower van/utility vehicle); cremation container, crematory cost, 2 PA Death Certificates (@$20 apiece.) refrigeration, Optional Private Identification (ID) Viewing under normal conditions (limited to parents, children, and siblings, with no service, for not more than 30 minutes.) No Embalming required urn allowance of $475, Video Tribute, return of cremains, transportation to the nearest crematory, register book, memorial folders, (limit 200) acknowledgement cards (limit 100 cards), laminated obituary keepsake (limit 50) or Tri-Fold Memorial Cards (limit 100) and prayer cards (limit 200) 13X19 or 8.5X11 custom portrait.
NOTE: IF YOU SELECT AN URN OF LESSER VALUE OF $475 THE DIFFERENCE WILL BE CREDITED.
THIS SERVICE DOES NOT INCLUDE:
embalming, other preparation of the remains, dressing, casketing, cosmetics, and hair care, cemetery receptacles, clothing, any other transportation outside the 25-mile radius or any cash advance items
Memories Cremation Package
This service includes: the basic services of the funeral director and staff coordinating and directing the service: obtaining necessary paperwork to complete the arrangements; removal of the deceased from the place of death to the Funeral Home, within a 25-mile radius, embalming and sanitary care of the remains; other preparation of the remains; dressing, casketing, cosmetics; use of facility and staff for visitation or staff and equipment at church or other facility; use of facility and staff for the service or use of staff and equipment for church or other facility; crematory cost, transportation to the nearest crematory, 2 PA Death Certificates (@$20 apiece) cremation casket, automotive equipment (hearse, flower van/utility vehicle); urn allowance of $475, register book, memorial folders or prayer cards, (limit 200) thank you cards(limit 100) video tribute, 8.5X11or 13X19 custom portrait.
THIS SERVICE DOES NOT INCLUDE: cemetery equipment, merchandise selected such as jewelry, burial vault, clothing, family car, any other transportation outside the 25-miles or any cash advance items
NOTE: IF YOU SELECT AN URN OF LESSER VALUE THE DIFFERENCE WILL BE CREDITED.
Traditional Service with Cremation to Follow Package
This service includes: the basic services of the funeral director and staff coordinating and directing the service: obtaining necessary paperwork to complete the arrangements; removal of the deceased from the place of death to the Funeral Home, within a 25-mile radius, embalming and sanitary care of the remains; other preparation of the remains; dressing, casketing, cosmetics; use of facility and staff for visitation or staff and equipment at church or other facility; use of facility and staff for the service or use of staff and equipment for church or other facility; crematory cost, transportation to the nearest crematory, 2 PA Death Certificates (@$20 apiece) cremation casket, automotive equipment (hearse, flower van/utility vehicle); Register book, memorial folders or prayer cards, (limit 200) thank you cards(limit 100) optional video tribute,
THIS SERVICE DOES NOT INCLUDE: cemetery equipment, merchandise selected such as jewelry, burial vault, clothing, family car, any other transportation outside the 25-miles or any cash advance items
Graveside Cremation Package
This service includes: the basic services of the funeral director and staff administrative staff, and professional staff for coordinating and directing the service: obtaining legal documents, and other paperwork necessary to complete the arrangements; removal of the deceased from the place of death to the Funeral Home, within a 25-mile radius, sanitary care of the remains; use of staff and equipment; automotive equipment (flower van/utility vehicle); cremation container, crematory cost, 2 PA Death Certificates (@$20 apiece.) refrigeration, Optional Private Identification (ID) Viewing under normal conditions (limited to parents, children, and siblings, with no service, for not more than 30 minutes.) No Embalming required, return of cremains, transportation to the nearest crematory, register book, memorial folders, (limit 200) acknowledgement cards (limit 100 cards)
THIS SERVICE DOES NOT INCLUDE: use of facilities for service, cemetery equipment, merchandise selected such as jewelry, burial vault, clothing, family car, any other transportation outside the 25-miles or any cash advance items
