Frequent Questions

What does the Bible say about cremation?

The Bible does not explicitly forbid or condone the practice of cremation, but most Christians would agree that the human body, being God’s creation, should be treated with respect.  It is a common misconception that cremation is not a dignified form of disposition.  At Perry Cremation & Funeral Alternatives we are committed to providing the utmost level of care to the deceased.  In Virginia, decedents are required to be positively identified prior to cremation and in most instances, families choose to identify their loved ones in person through private family viewing.  Consequently, every loved one that is entrusted to our care is bathed, and dressed, regardless of their manner of disposition.     

While most Israelites were buried, according to their custom, during Biblical times, there is an instance of cremation illustrated in the Bible.  King Saul and three of his sons were killed in battle by the Philistines and their bodies were being disrespected.   1 Samuel 31:11-13 says, “And when the inhabitants of Jabesh-gilead heard of that which the Philistines had done to Saul; all the valiant men arose, and went all night, and took the body of Saul and the bodies of his sons from the wall of Beth-shan, and came to Jabesh, and burnt them there.  And they took their bones, and buried them under a tree at Jabesh, and fasted seven days.”

Much concern surrounding cremation among Christians stems from fears of being excluded from the Resurrection at the Second Coming of Christ.  It stands to reason that God, who created the Heavens and the Earth, can resurrect the body of a believer no matter its disposition.  In the end, cremation reduces the body to the basic elements from which it was formed in the same way that the natural process of decomposition achieves the same outcome over time.  Afterall the Bible says in Genesis 3:19, “…for dust thou art, and unto dust shalt thou return.”

What are the requirements for cremation in Virginia?

In the state of Virginia, a written blessing to cremate must be garnered from the legal next of kin.  Our policy at Perry Cremation and Funeral Alternatives is to gain written permission to cremate from the next of kin or everyone who is the same degree of kindred.  For example, a surviving spouse may authorize cremation without further permission from the family, but when the nearest degree of kindred is a competent adult child or sibling, all competent adult children or siblings will be required to provide written consent to the cremation.  If a minor or handicapped adult is a next of kin, permission must be gained from that individual’s guardian.  This policy is a protective measure designed to shield both the family and the funeral home from the legal ramifications of wrongful cremation.  If a client feels as though this policy is particularly bothersome, they may request a Designee Form by which they can delegate the exclusive right to their disposition to an individual on a preneed basis.  This form is also especially useful when one doubts their family will carry out their wishes.  In the absence of a next-of-kin, designee or guardian, cremation may be achieved with a court order.

After the funeral director has received permission to cremate from the appropriate parties, the remains have been positively identified and vital statistics have been gathered, a provisional copy of the death certificate is sent to the certifying physician electronically.  Once that physician has provided their medical certification (cause of death), the death certificate is subsequently sent to a local deputized medical examiner who will consider the validity of the cause of death and externally examine the body.  Upon completion of the examination, if the medical examiner has no reason to question the physician’s stated cause of death, a cremation permit is issued, and the funeral home may complete the cremation process. 

Will I be able to view my loved one prior to cremation?

Absolutely.  In fact, it is a requirement pursuant to the Code of Virginia § 54.1-2818.1.

Prerequisites for cremation.

No dead human body shall be cremated without permission of the Office of the Chief Medical Examiner as required by § 32.1-309.3 and visual identification of the deceased by the next-of-kin or his representative, who may be any person designated to make arrangements for the disposition of the decedent's remains pursuant to § 54.1-2825, an agent named in an advance directive pursuant to § 54.1-2984, or any guardian appointed pursuant to Chapter 20 (§ 64.2-2000 et seq.) of Title 64.2 who may exercise the powers conferred in the order of appointment or by § 64.2-2019, or, in cases in which the next of kin or his representative fails or refuses to provide visual identification of the deceased, by any other person 18 years of age or older who is able to provide positive identification of the deceased.

Those who do not wish to view their loved ones for identification purposes have the right to delegate that responsibility to someone else.  However, at Perry Cremation and Funeral Alternatives we make every effort to create a peaceful atmosphere in which to remember your loved one. 

When families have elected to have their loved one cremated prior to holding public services, we choose to satisfy Virginia state law’s requirement for positive identification through private family viewings.  These viewings are limited to immediate family members and usually occur at the conclusion of the arrangement conference and during normal business hours.  

Pursuant to the Code of Virginia § 54.1-2811.1.

Handling and storage of human remains.

If a dead human body is to be stored for more than 48 hours prior to disposition, a funeral services establishment having custody of such body shall ensure that the dead human body is maintained in refrigeration at no more than approximately 40 degrees Fahrenheit or embalmed. A dead human body shall be maintained in refrigeration and shall not be embalmed in the absence of express permission by a next of kin of the deceased or a court order.

Without performing embalming, we cannot maintain the appearance of the deceased for an extended period of time, therefore, identification viewings of unembalmed remains should be accomplished privately and in a timely manner.

When families elect to have their loved one’s physical body publicly displayed for services prior to cremation, Perry Cremation & Funeral Alternatives requires embalming. Families have the option to either choose from our selection of wooden caskets, or from our wide selection of ceremonial (rental) caskets. If a service option requiring the use of a ceremonial casket is selected, the casket may have been used in a previous service. If the casket has been previously used, the interior lining has been replaced. 

Do you even have a hearse?

Yes!  We have a full fleet of professional rolling stock to meet our patrons’ needs.

What is the significance of your logo?

Our logo features a Victorian era urn that has been draped as a sign of mourning.  It is interesting that the Victorians used an urn as a form of funerary symbolism considering they would have never chosen cremation as a method of disposition.  Instead, the draped urn represents the veil dividing the living from the dead.  These urns can be observed atop granite monuments in many of our historic area cemeteries.