FAQ
What to Do When A Death Occurs
What should I do if the death occurs in the middle of the night or on the weekend?
Angel Mountain funeral directors are available to assist you at any hour, seven days a week, 365 days a year. Call us anytime at (425) 296-9300, or contact us using the form on our home page.
Will someone come right away?
If you request immediate assistance, yes—we will come as soon as possible. If your family wishes to spend time with the deceased to say good-bye, then we will come when you request. We will come when your time is right.
What should I do if the death is unexpected?
Call 911 right away; the medical responders will help you through the next steps. When you are ready for us to assist, call Angel Mountain at (425) 296-9300 any time, day or night.
What should I do if the death was expected?
If your loved one was receiving hospice care, call the hospice to let them know. Many hospice organizations provide support for you if your loved one passes at home. They may call us for you, or you can call Angel Mountain directly at 425-296-9300 any time, day or night.
What options do I have?
Cremation is an extremely popular option, particularly in the Puget Sound area. Cremated remains are held in an urn and either buried, placed in a memorial niche or columbarium, or kept at home. They can also be scattered; the State of Washington has laws which govern this practice. Please let us know if you wish for the remains to be scattered, we can assist with this service.
We are proud to also offer Aquamation as an option to the families we serve.
If my loved one dies out of state, can Angel Mountain help?
At this time, Angel Mountain is only able to provide services within King, Snohomish, and Pierce counties in Washington State.
Other cremation services will only help me online or over the phone. What if I prefer to meet in person?
Absolutely! At Angel Mountain we believe that the availability of a funeral director to meet in person is a critical service to provide our families. Unlike other cremation services in the area, we have a physical location that is staffed by our funeral directors Monday - Friday 9am-5pm, or by appointment. Our funeral directors can also come to you for a small fee; please call for details.
Cremation
What is cremation?
Cremation is the process in which a body is reduced to bone fragments using high heat and flame.
Can I be present during the cremation process?
Yes, Angel Mountain can arrange for you and a limited number of the family to witness the initiation of the cremation process at our partner facility. Your Angel Mountain funeral director will be on site with you to support you during this time. Please call for details.
Is a casket needed for cremation?
No, a casket is not required for cremation. All that is required in Washington State is an alternative container constructed of wood or cardboard, which is cremated with the body.
Is embalming required prior to cremation?
No. In fact, it is against the law for a funeral home to say or imply that it is.
Can the body be viewed without embalming?
Yes, Angel Mountain can arrange for immediate family members to view the deceased prior to cremation.
Do pacemakers need to be removed?
Yes. In fact, this is a detail that you will discuss with your funeral director when making your arrangements.
The batteries in pacemakers will explode if left in the body during the cremation process, causing damage to the equipment and endangering the health and safety of the crematory operator.
There may be a fee to perform the removal of the pacemaker. The unit will be removed and recycled.
If you would prefer not to have the pacemaker removed, you may choose our environmentally friendly Aquamation option, which will allow the pacemaker to remain.
How can I be sure I receive the correct remains?
Angel Mountain has developed rigorous sets of operating policies and procedures to maximize the level of service and minimize the potential for human error.
In addition, we conduct monthly unannounced audits at our cremation partner facility to ensure the highest level of control. This means that your deceased family member is always tracked and we are always aware of his / her location.
Angel Mountain strictly adheres to a code of ethics that assures you of our commitment to dignity and honesty.
Many families choose to witness the initiation of the cremation process. Angel Mountain can arrange this for you and your Angel Mountain funeral director will be on site with you to support you during this time.
Why Choose Angel Mountain?
Experienced, Licensed Staff
Angel Mountain funeral directors and staff have been providing end-of-life services to thousands of families in the Greater Seattle area for over 25 years. You can trust that your loved one will be treated with compassion and respect from the moment that they enter into our care.
Independently / Women Owned
Angel Mountain Cremations and Memorials is the only 100% Women-Owned and operated direct cremation provider in the Pacific NorthWest. Unlike a vast majority of funeral service providers in the area, we do not answer to corporate managers and do not prioritize shareholders and profits over serving our families.
Trusted Cremation Facility
Nearly every other cremation provider in the PNW partners with a cremation facility that is part of a corporate, publicly traded, nation-wide conglomerate.
Our cremation facility is independently / local family owned and operated. You can trust that operations are closely monitored and that your loved one is our utmost priority.
No Hard-Selling / No Hidden Fees
For a overwhelming majority of our families, what you see is what you pay. The only additional mandatory fee is a small medical examiner fee charged by the county in which the death occurred.
For a very small number of our families, there may be additional fees required based on extenuating circumstances. Our promise is to be clear and transparent when these fees are necessary and all will be disclosed up front. No being shocked by additional costs at the last moment.