Simple, Dignified Cremation – No Hidden Fees
Every plan includes respectful care, transportation, paperwork, and local support.
No pressure. No surprises. Just transparent pricing you can trust.
Ascend Cremations specializes in affordable cremation services and simple funeral pre-planning. Our direct cremation services offer a cost-effective, dignified alternative to traditional funeral services. We help families manage funeral arrangements with ease, providing compassionate care and straightforward options. Choose Ascend Cremations for low-cost cremation, practical funeral solutions, and peace of mind when it matters most.
Frequently Asked Questions
The Cremation Process
Direct cremation is a cremation service that does not include a formal viewing or funeral ceremony. It is a simple and respectful option that focuses on the cremation itself.
Embalming is not required for cremation. It is a process typically used for traditional funerals with viewings. Direct cremation services do not require embalming.
We understand that these are challenging times. While we do not offer direct payment plans, we are committed to supporting families in accessing available resources. We work closely with the Maricopa County Funeral Assistance Program and can provide guidance on how to apply for their support. Please contact us to discuss your specific needs, and we will do our best to assist you in navigating the available options.
The cremation process involves placing the deceased in a cremation chamber where they are subjected to intense heat, reducing the body to bone fragments. These fragments are then processed into a fine powder, commonly referred to as cremated remains. We follow strict protocols and procedures to ensure the utmost respect and dignity throughout the entire process.
The complete cremation process, from the time your loved one is taken into our care to the return of their cremated remains, typically takes less than two weeks, and often much sooner. This timeline encompasses several essential steps:
- Taking Your Loved One Into Our Care: This involves the respectful and timely transport of your loved one to our facility.
- Gathering Required Authorizations: We handle all necessary paperwork and obtain the required authorizations for the cremation.
- The Cremation Process: The actual cremation typically takes between 2 to 3 hours, depending on factors such as body size and equipment. After the cremation, there are cooling and processing periods.
- Return of Cremated Remains: We carefully prepare the cremated remains and return them to you. We typically return the cremated remains via USPS, or we can arrange for an alternative delivery method if preferred.
Please note that the receipt of certified death certificates may take longer, depending on the time it takes to receive certification from the attending physician. We will keep you informed throughout this process. In rare cases, unusual circumstances may extend the overall timeline. We are committed to completing the process as efficiently as possible while maintaining the highest standards of care and respect.
Our office is open Monday through Friday from 9:00 a.m. to 5:00 p.m. Our Care Team is available by phone 24 hours a day, seven days a week for immediate assistance and transportation of your loved one into our care.
Requesting our services is straightforward and typically takes just a few minutes. We will gather some essential details to begin the process promptly.
If your loved one is currently under the care of a hospice facility, hospital, or law enforcement agency, we strongly advise having them contact us directly. This ensures their information matches our records and streamlines the process. Additionally, if your loved one is in hospice care and you wish to pre-arrange a cremation package, please have the facility contact us or feel free to reach out to us directly.
We are here to guide you through every step and will provide all necessary forms.
Taking your loved one into our care
We understand the importance of both timeliness and respecting your need to spend time with your loved one.
- At Home: If your loved one passes at home, you may remain with them for up to 24 hours before they need to be taken into our care.
- Care Centers and Hospice Facilities: This 24-hour period also applies to most care centers and hospice facilities. However, we recommend confirming directly with an administrator at the specific facility.
- Hospitals: If your loved one passes at a hospital, we will bring them into our care as soon as the hospital contacts us and authorizes the release.
In all cases, we are available 24/7 and will respond promptly to your call. We will coordinate with you to arrange a time that is both timely and respectful and will provide an estimated time of arrival after receiving your call.
Our office is open Monday through Friday from 9:00 a.m. to 5:00 p.m. Our Care Team is available by phone 24 hours a day, seven days a week for immediate assistance and transportation of your loved one into our care.
Yes, we offer prepaid cremation plans, which allow you to make arrangements in advance and lock in today’s prices. This provides peace of mind for you and your family. Please contact us to discuss the options available.
Our care specialists arrive in discreet, professional vehicles designed for the safe and respectful transport of your loved one. This allows us to provide a more private and less conspicuous service.
Our care specialists will verify the information provided during the initial call and may ask for additional details to ensure accurate identification and documentation. This includes confirming the deceased’s name, location, and any specific instructions from the family or facility.
We understand that this is a difficult time. Here’s how to proceed depending on where your loved one passed:
- At Home Under Hospice Care or at a Care Facility:
- Please ask a staff member to contact Ascend Cremations directly at 480-996-3153.
- This allows them to provide us with the necessary medical information, and we can typically arrange for your loved one to be respectfully transported into our care within 1-2 hours.
- At a Hospital or the Medical Examiner’s Office:
- Please inform the institution that you have chosen Ascend Cremations as your cremation provider.
- Ask them to contact us at 480-996-3153 to coordinate the transfer of your loved one into our care.
- At Home, NOT Under Hospice Care:
- Please call 911 immediately and wait for emergency personnel to arrive.
- Once they have assessed the situation, they will advise you on the next steps, which may involve transport to the medical examiner’s office.
- Once you know where your loved one will be taken, please call us at 480-996-3153, and we will help explain the next steps and assist in any way that we can.
We are here to support you through this process. Please do not hesitate to contact us at 480-996-3153 if you have any questions or need further assistance.
Our office is open Monday through Friday from 9:00 a.m. to 5:00 p.m. Our Care Team is available by phone 24 hours a day, seven days a week for immediate assistance and transportation of your loved one into our care.
Your loved one will be transported by our professional and compassionate care specialists. They are highly trained to handle all aspects of the transport with the utmost respect and dignity. Our team is dependable and committed to providing compassionate care throughout the entire process.
Once our care specialists have respectfully transported your loved one to our facility, we will contact you to confirm their arrival and to discuss the next steps in the cremation process. If it is late at night, we will contact you the following morning.
We ask for an approximate weight of your loved one for several important reasons. First and foremost, it’s about safety. We need to ensure we have the appropriate number of care specialists available for the transport to safely and respectfully bring your loved one into our care. Your best guess is sufficient, and an overestimation is preferable to an underestimation.
Secondly, depending on our transport team, there may be additional charges if the weight of your loved one exceeds 200 lbs. This is due to the extra resources and effort required for handling and transport.
We do not accept cases where the deceased weighs more than 450 lbs. This is due to our equipment capacity.
We understand this is a sensitive question, but it’s crucial for us to have an accurate estimate to ensure the safety of our team and to provide the best possible service.
Please note that payment is required once the cremation authorization form and contract of funeral goods and services have been signed and the state permits have been issued.
Requesting our services is a straightforward process and typically takes just a few minutes. We will gather some essential details to begin the process promptly. If your loved one is currently under the care of a hospice facility, hospital, or law enforcement agency, we strongly advise having them contact us directly. This ensures their information matches our records and streamlines the process. If you wish to pre-arrange a cremation package while your loved one is in hospice care, please have the facility contact us or feel free to reach out to us directly. We are here to guide you through every step and will provide all necessary forms.
How it works
STEP ONE
Get in Touch with Ascend
Connect with our team anytime, day or night. You can reach us by phone or by filling out our online contact form. We’re available 24/7.
STEP TWO
We’ll Take Care of the Transfer
Once you provide your consent, our experienced team will take over. We will collect the necessary information and ensure your loved one is transported safely and respectfully into our care, with compassion every step of the way.
STEP THREE
Your Choices, Our Compassionate Care
Your dedicated care specialist will be by your side, offering support and helping you understand and select the most appropriate options. Once your preferences are confirmed and all necessary legal arrangements are complete, we will perform a dignified cremation for your loved one.
STEP FOUR
Your Preferred Delivery of the Urn and Remains
We offer several reliable options for the return of your loved one’s urn and cremated remains, tailored to your needs. Choose from local pickup, a trusted courier service, or tracked Priority Mail. We will handle this with care and ensure their safe delivery.