1 Cremation MSU Extension MontGuide HR Updated February 2013

2 Focus Personal Concerns Montana & Federal Regulations Costs

3 Marsha A. Goetting Professor & Extension Family Economics Specialist Corinne Cramer Former Extension Family & Consumer Sciences Associate Claire DelGuerra Former Cascade County Extension Agent

4 Historical Info First Crematory  1876  Pennsylvania

5 Cremation Acceptance Montana— % rate 5,664 cremations out of 8,739 deaths

6 States Nevada73% Washington70% Hawaii69% Oregon68% Vermont59%

7 National Rate Year 2009  38%

8 Why Choose Cremation National Survey  Cremation Association of North America

9 Why Choose Cremation?? Save Money30% Save Land13% Simpler & More Convenient 8% Personal Preference 6% Body not in Earth 6% Cremation Association of North America

10 Why?? Concerns for environment Cold-weather constraints Ease of transportation to distant burial sites

11 Who Regulates? Montana Board of Funeral Service  Montana Department of Labor & Industry

12 Montana Board of Funeral Service Administrative Rules Standards Licenses

13 Federal Level Federal Trade Commission (FTC)  Trade Regulation Rules  Itemized Price Info

14 Who can authorize the removal of my body to a crematory?

15 Removal of body? Vital Statistics Bureau  DPHHS Form  “Authorization for Removal,Transportation, & Final Disposition of a Dead Body”

16 Signature of One: Coroner Mortician Physician or Designee Certified Advanced Practice Registered Nurse

17 Who Submits the Form? Mortician  With appropriate signatures

18 22 Licensed Crematories Billings, Bozeman, Butte, Great Falls, Hamilton, Helena, Kalispell, Livingston, Malta, Martinsdale, Miles City, Missoula, Polson, & Whitefish

19 What are the costs of cremation?

20 Comparison Cost Cremation  $1,000 - $3,000  Average cost $1,650 Funeral  $7,755

21 Cremation Costs Funeral Homes  Must provide disclosure form − Itemizing Expenses

22 Does my body have to be embalmed? Not required unless certain funeral arrangements selected.  Private or public viewing

23 Casket Required? Not in Montana  Nationwide − 90% of cremations do not have casket

24 Montana Requirements Enclosed, rigid, leak proof container  Fiberboard  Pressed Wood  Cardboard

25 FTC Rules Must disclose in writing & make available:  Alternative container  Unfinished wooden box

26 Authorization Crematory must have written cremation authorization form  Signed by authorization agent

27 Authorizing Agent Person legally entitled to determine final disposition of human remains

28 Priority Order Unless other directions provided by deceased  Spouse  Majority Adult Children (not all)  Parent  Close relative of deceased

29 In Absence of Family Personal Representative Public Administrator Others as Designated by Montana Board of Funeral Service

30 List Request Prepaid funeral contract Written disposition direction Signed affidavit Videotaped disposition

31 Further Information What Are Your Rights Over Your Remains  Search by title 

32 What is done with the body before cremation?

33 Personal Possession Remove  Jewelry  Mementos

34 Pacemakers Remove  Could damage  Authorizing agent held responsible

35 Cremated with body Prostheses Mechanical Devices Implants

36 Wait 24 hours Signed Death Certificate Crematory Authorization

37 My ashes or others? Identifying metal disc attached to each receptacle containing a body

38 Identifying Disc During cremation disc secured on control panel outside the chamber

39 My ashes or others? Number of identifying metal disc written on outside of receptacle 12

40 Which survivors are ashes given to? Individual specified by authorizing agent on cremation authorization form

41 No Authorizing Agent After 90 days:  Crematory has the authority for disposition of remains

42 What should family do with ashes?

43 Businessman Put my ashes in an envelope and mail them to IRS. Write on envelope…”

44 Now you have everything!

45 Urns Hardwood Stone or Marble Bronze, copper, or other metals Biodegradable

46 Urn Burial Columbarium niche

47 Urn Burial Urn Garden

48 Keepsake Memorial Jewelry  Pendant  Ring

49 Keepsake Memorial Miniature Cast  Bronze Urn

50 What to do with ashes? Bury Scatter

51 Scattering--Where 30% water 29% land 18% preference of deceased

52 Scattering 59% preferred to be scattered rather than buried

53 Where to Scatter? Privately owned lands

54 Church-Owned Lands Ask Permission

55 City Lands, Parks, & Lakes City Attorney City Commissioner  Permission?  Forms?

56 County Lands, Parks, & Lakes County Attorney County Commissioner  Permission?  Forms?

57 School Trust Lands Montana Department of Natural Resources & Conservation (DNRC)

58 School Trust Lands Sections 16 & 36 Township Land use permit ($25) Area Office fee (varies)

59 State Rivers & Lakes Montana Department of Environmental Quality  No permit required

60 State Lands & Parks Montana Fish, Wildlife & Parks  Not allow unless authorized by commissioner

61 Tribal Trust Lands 7 reservations in Montana  Tribal Community Council  General Council

62 Bureau of Land Management Lands No federal permits are necessary  Unless commercial enterprises

63 Federal Waters At sea  3 nautical miles  Burial/Scatter at Sea Notification Form 

64 National Cemeteries Veterans  Spouses  Dependent children

65 Montana List from: VA Medical & Regional Office Center Fort Harrison, MT

66 National Forests Forest Service  No rules or regulations  Except for California

67 National Parks Each national park has conditions for granting permission Contact  Superintendent of Park 

68 Yellowstone National Park Special Use Permit-- $25  Yellowstone Visitor Service Office

69 Glacier National Park Undeveloped areas  Notify Special Park Uses Office 

70 Air Federal Aviation Administration  As long as no hazard to persons or property 

71 Hub Wheelman’s Daughter “I keep a small vial of his ashes in my glove compartment. I am nowhere near the driver he was, but at least he’s still spending a fair amount of time on the road.”

72 Hot Air Balloonist “….released my wife’s ashes from her balloon high in the desert where she broke the world’s record…I think she is smiling.”

73 Can I have my ashes mailed?

74 Shipping- Montana U.S. Postal Service  Only by Registered Mail  Return Receipt Services

75 Ship-Out of State Include:  Copy of cremation authorization form

76 Shipping Container Sift-proof Sealed Durable

77 No shipment of cremated remains United Parcel Service Federal Express

78 Prefer Cremation? Place request in writing  Preneed Authorization

79 Funeral Director “When planning to honor and memorialize a person who has died, the family should plan a funeral, memorial, celebration of life or gathering that best suits their religious beliefs, traditions, lifestyle & budget.”

80 Acknowledgements Montana Board of Funeral Service Montana Funeral Directors Association

81 Montana Department of Public Health & Human Services Environmental Quality Fish, Wildlife & Parks

82 Further Info p. 6 Montana Board of Funeral Service

83 Further Info Montana Funeral Directors Association Local Funeral Home

84 National Info AARP  Cremation Association of North America (CANA) 

85 National Info Funeral Consumers Alliance (FCA)  Funeral Service Educational Foundation (FSEF) 

86 National Info International Crematory & Funeral Association  National Funeral Directors Association (NFDA)  Selected Independent Funeral Homes (SIFH) 

87 Definitions of Terms in Cremation Industry At the end of MontGuide

88 Cremation MSU Extension MontGuide HR Updated February 2013