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Funeral Options

What are my choices?

The following choices are available in Washington State:

To ensure your choices are honored, complete your preplanning documents. Designate an Agent and state your wishes in a Disposition Authorization separate from your will. Make sure you share your wishes with whoever might be involved to help with your death. Do not store your wishes only in a safe deposit box as it often takes several weeks or longer for next-of-kin to gain access.

Attend a free Ducks in a Row workshop to learn more about end of life planning. 

Cremation 

  • 79% of all Washingtonians choose cremation (2024)
  • Only one person is cremated at a time; no animals may be cremated with humans
  • Organic items may be placed in with a body and cremated at the same time
  • Cremation process takes about 4-6 hours and releases about 540 pounds of carbon dioxide per cremation, equivalent to a 500-mile car trip (2025)

Burial

Alkaline Hydrolysis

Also known as water cremation or Aquamation™️

  • A gentle process that uses water, temperature, pressure, and alkalinity (potassium hydroxide) to reduce the body to bones
  • Bones returned in an urn as ashes, similar to (flame) cremation
  • Alkaline Hydrolysis uses 1/8th of the energy of flame cremation
  • Legalized in Washington state in 2019 (SB 5001: Concerning human remains.) First legalized for humans remains in 2003 in Minnesota after decades of animal use (2024)

Natural Organic Reduction

Also known as human composting or Terramation™️

  • A gentle process that converts human remains into soil
  • It accelerates natural processes through temperature and airflow control and takes approximately 90 days
  • The family has the chance to take all or some of the soil home with them; unclaimed soil is donated to land trusts
  • It uses significantly less energy than cremation and sequesters over one metric ton of carbon dioxide per person

Anatomical Donation

Pet Funeral Homes

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