Cremation

The on-site crematory at Brunner Sanden Deitrick Funeral Home & Cremation Center serves the City of Mentor as well as surrounding communities such as Willoughby, Willoughby Hills, Eastlake, Kirtland, Painesville and Concord Township. Because our crematory is located on the Brunner Campus, your family may choose to inspect the facility and view your loved one in the crematory if they’d like. The benefit to having an on-site crematory is that your loved one never leaves our care and you are guaranteed that we will oversee the entire cremation process, treating them with the dignity and honor they deserve. The cremation cost varies based on the services you’d like to use to pay tribute to your loved one, however we are confident that we can provide an affordable cremation in Mentor, Ohio. 

What happens during the cremation process?

Cremation is a method of disposing of a body by burning it to ashes. Pacemakers and other similar devices are removed prior to the cremation process and the body is placed in a casket or alternative container. The crematory is heated to 1400ºF - 1800ºF and the cremation process takes anywhere between 2-3 hours (depending on the size of the person as well as the degree of heat in the cremation chamber). Once complete, the ashes are removed and placed in a metal container to cool. The remains are sifted to remove any additional metal (casket fragments, surgical implants, dental fillings, etc.) and then placed inside of a machine called a homogeniser, which further reduces the size of any larger particles. The ashes are placed in a plastic bag that is zip tied with an ID label and prepared for the family. Typically, the bag of ashes will be placed inside of a cremation urn (available in our arrangement center & store) and presented to the family. Cremation services and cremation prices vary.

What kind of service is available if I choose cremation?

traditional service includes the professional services of a funeral director and staff to prepare the body to be shown during visitation hours in a casket (purchased or rented). Your loved one will be embalmed, dressed, and casketed for visitation prior to being cremated. The urn is transported to the cemetery for graveside services and committal/burial. Some cemeteries may require an urn vault when burying your loved one. A columbarium for urns is like a mausoleum for caskets and is another option at the cemetery. 

  • The opportunity for friends and family to view the loved one’s body during visiting hours often helps many to find closure and peace in the bereavement process. 

memorial service is similar to the traditional service; however the body is not embalmed, is immediately cremated, and presented at visitation hours in the cremation urn. The professional services of a funeral director and staff involve overseeing funeral services, transportation of the cremated remains to the cemetery for graveside services and committal/burial. Some cemeteries may require an urn vault when burying your loved one. A columbarium for urns is like a mausoleum for caskets and is another option at the cemetery.

graveside service includes the professional services of a funeral director and staff to cremate, present in a cremation urn and transfer the cremated remains directly to the cemetery for graveside funeral services and committal/burial. Some cemeteries may require an urn vault when burying your loved one. A columbarium for urns is like a mausoleum for caskets and is another option at the cemetery.

direct cremation includes the professional services of a funeral director and staff to cremate and return the cremated remains to a family member. Many families choose to keep the cremation urn at home or scatter some or all of the cremated remains at a special location. It’s important to check with your funeral director with your plans to scatter to ensure this act is permitted in the location of your choosing. 

  • Cremation jewelry is available for purchase in our arrangement center & store and is a unique option that can hold a precious memento of your loved one.

 

Many families choose to add a Celebration of Life event following the burial or return of cremated remains where friends and family can gather to pay tribute to a loved one. The Reception Center on the Brunner Campus has a private entrance, reception room with bar and lounge area and can host up to 125 guests. A full bar including beer, wine and liquor is available as well as a menu ranging from hors d’oeuvres to plated hot meals. Pastry table and coffee services are available. The National Funeral Directors Association (NFDA) is also a great resource if you have additional questions about cremation.

If you’re interested in pre-planning a cremation at Brunner Sanden Deitrick Funeral Home & Cremation Center, more information can be found here