An Exclusive Signature Service of
Lake Ridge Chapel and Memorial Designers:

Lake Ridge Chapel Cremation with Confidence Logo

Integrity | Standards | Reliability | Trust | Values

Our 10-step Cremation Process

Lake Ridge Chapel Crematory
1. Your loved one never leaves our care: Many funeral homes hire third-party crematories, typically located in a warehouse district. Your loved one is transferred to outside cremation services, making it impossible for the funeral home to manage and supervise the cremation. We have our on-site crematory located within our funeral home, nestled in a peaceful setting down the hall from our chapel. All your services are handled and managed by our certified staff who carefully bathe, clean and dress your loved one before cremation and they never leave our care.
2. Safeguarding personal identity: A Witness of Removal document is signed upon transfer into our care to verify your loved one's identity. To ensure security, a personal identification band is placed on your loved one to track them through the cremation process. Our on-site crematory is used exclusively for the families we serve.
Lake Ridge Chapel Crematory Casket
Lake Ridge Chapel Family ID
3. Family identification: Upon arrival, our staff will bathe and dress your loved one in the clothes provided by the family. Then, we will ask you, or a representative, to positively identify him or her prior to cremation in our private viewing room. During this time, we give the immediate family a few moments to say your final goodbyes.
4. Verify identity: We use state-of-the-art technology to verify your loved one's identity through a barcoding system that tracks them through the entire cremation process. In addition, we have a closed-circuit camera system that records the entire process from before your loved one enters the crematory until the cremation process is complete.
Lake Ridge Chapel Closed-Circuit Camera
Lake Ridge Chapel Cremation Authorization

5. Checks and balances: A cremation specialist and a staff member will review all cremation paperwork and permits. This is to ensure authorizations and permits have been received and properly documented.

Once verified, both staff members must sign the cremation order before starting the cremation process. Your loved one is taken to the cremation chamber, and their personal identification is put in our digital cremation system prior to the cremation process.

The name of the individual, date and time of the cremation, identification number, and crematory operator's name are entered. Our digital cremation system is dated and the start time is noted and signed by a cremation specialist before and after the cremation.

6. Details before cremation: Our memorial designers will sit down and discuss with your family the desired level of participation during the cremation process. Our spacious Ceremonial Room allows families to witness the full cremation process if so chosen.
Lake Ridge Chapel Listens
Lake Ridge Chapel Ceremonial Room

7. Details during the cremation: The crematory checklist, the barcode, and the tag, are placed on the outside of the cremation chamber during the cremation process all under constant video surveillance to preserve the identity of your loved one.

8. Details after the cremation: After the cremation is complete, the cremated remains are placed with the identification tag into a wooden urn engraved with your loved one's name. Your loved one's fingerprint, the video feed, and documentation are placed into our permanent files.
Lake Ridge Chapel Comforts
Batesville Honey Brown Urn available at Lake Ridge Chapel

9. Return of the cremated remains: Our staff will notify you to schedule a time for receipt of the cremated remains. At this time we will provide a dignified setting, in which to receive the urn, where you may spend a few moments, privately, in quiet reflection.

10. Celebration of life: We will assist in planning a memorial service either before or after the cremation, which will appropriately celebrate the life of your loved one. Families have many opportunities to personalize the service, from a dove release to a reception where refreshments are served. A meaningful ceremony provides an opportunity for family and friends to pay tribute to your loved one and to share the memories of a liftime.
Lake Ridge Chapel courtyard service
Lake Ridge Chapel Cremation with Confidence Logo

Considerations for Cremation in Lubbock County

In Lubbock County, a variety of respectful interment choices are available for those who have chosen cremation. From Urn Vaults to dedicated niches, there are numerous ways to memorialize loved ones in a manner that reflects their personal values and family traditions. 
Urn Niche image
Niches: Niches are small compartments within a columbarium, designed to hold urns containing cremated remains. Each niche typically includes a memorial plaque that identifies the deceased. Niches offer a compact and respectful way to memorialize loved ones, especially in cemeteries that might have limited space for in-ground burials. Families can choose from communal columbaria or opt for family-sized niches to keep multiple urns toegether
Urn Vaults: Urn vaults are similar to burial vaults but designed for urns containing cremated remains. They provide a protective enclosure for the urn, preventing the ground above from collapsing and shielding the urn from environmental damage. Urn vaults are used in both traditional and green burial plots. **
Urn Vault Image

The Importance of Closure

The experienced staff at Lake Ridge Chapel firmly believes that cremation families deserve the same opportunities that burial families have always been granted. To bridge this gap, a viewing prior to cremation is a vitally important standard practice, offering the family a private time to say their final goodbyes while providing the peace of mind that a "positive identification" of the loved one can bring. It has been our experience that this form of closure is worth its weight in gold.
Memory Glass Heart at the beach image - available at Lake Ridge Chapel
Misconceptions about Cremation: Through our experiences at Lake Ridge Chapel & Memorial Designers, we have come to realize there is a huge misconception surrounding cremation.  Whether for or against the practice, many believe that cremation does not, nor cannot, accompany more traditional services, much less the opportunity to see their loved one once more. It saddens us to think that cremation is viewed by so many, including some mass crematories, as a means of direct disposal. In and of itself, cremation is simply another form of disposition, with the freedom to encompass the opportunities both for closure and celebration
Can two urns be buried in the same cemetery plot? Yes. Most cemeteries will allow two urns to be buried in the same cemetery plot, as well as one urn being buried at the head or foot of a cemetery plot in which a previously deceased family ember currently resides.
Memory Glass Votive display image - available at Lake Ridge Chapel
Memory Glass Solid Galaxy image - available at Lake Ridge Chapel
Is cremation more economical than burial? Cremation, like burial, is simply a preference of disposition. Disposition means the manner in which human remains are finally handled. Any price differences would be related to the type of memorial services held, andy merchandise purchased, and the like. Even these monetary differences between burial and cremation services are minimal

How long does the cremation process take? The cremation process itself is completed anywhere between 3 1/2 and 5 hours. The authorization and paperwork processes add additional time. Most cremations can be completed within 3 to 5 days.

Batesville Urn Clock with Picture Insert - available at Lake Ridge Chapel
Memory Glass Touchstone with etched fingerprint image - available at Lake Ridge Chapel
What is "Right of Disposition" and "Authorization to Cremate?" Upon death, the decedent's next-of-kin reserves the Right of Disposition and has the Authorization to Cremate. Powers of Attorney cease upon death and executors, who are not considered legal next-of-kin, hold no authority if the decedent has blood relative still living.

Who is considered next-of-kin? Because each situation is unique, we suggest consulting a funeral professional when attempting to establish "legal next-of-kin" and who has or will have the legal Right of Disposition. However, next-of-kin, by law, states that legal next-of-kin proceeds in the following order: spouse, children (all share this equally no matter their age), parents, siblings, grandchildren, and on to nieces and nephews.

Thumbie Phoenix-Family Ties - available at Lake Ridge Chapel
Batesville Fireside Casket in Lake Ridge Chapel Service
Can the physical body be present at the service if cremation is chosen, and can someone be embalmed if they are going to be cremated? Yes, you can still have the comforts and closure of a tradition service when choosing cremation and embalming does not have any effect on the cremation process. Individuals desiring a viewing will choose to embalm before cremation.

What happens to any jewelry worn by the deceased? Jewelry or other similar items may be placed on the deceased for viewing purposes but should be returned to the family prior to cremation or placed in the urn immediately before cremation. Metal items are melted down during the cremation process and cannot be recovered.

Thumbies organic-trio available at Lake Ridge Chapel
Little-Girl-With-Peony-Flowers at a Scattering Garden
Where can remains be scattered? Scattering cremated remains is a very personal decision. No matter your wishes for the locations of your scattered remains, it is always best to inquire about local regulations: private property (with property owner permission), at sea (at least three nautical miles from shore), on a beach (many states prohibit this, so check with local authorities first), in the mountains (clear of developed areas), and in scattering gardens provided by the cemetery. 

Is cremation an accepted form of disposition within the Catholic Religion? Yes. However, according to church doctrine, the cremated remains must then be buried in order to fulfill the wishes of the church. The church does prefer that the body be present at the mass and then cremated once services are concluded. However, if this is not feasible for economic or circumstantial reasons, then they request that the urn containing the cremated remains be present. Other religious groups such as Orthodox Jews and Muslims forbid the cremation practice.

Thumbies Phoenix Crosses available at Lake Ridge Chapel
Memory Glass Veteran's Orb available at Lake Ridge Chapel
What is water cremation? Water Cremation (also referred to as Bio Cremation and Aquamation) is another name for a process officially termed as Alkaline Hydrolysis. This is a flameless cremation process using water, potassium hydroxide, heat and pressure, resulting in cremated remains similar in color and texture to those of tradition cremation methods.  Alkaline Hydrolysis in essence, speeds up the natural decomposition process which occurs during burial and is said to be more environmentally friendly than traditional cremation practices. This being said, Alkaline Hydrolysis is not legal or readily available in all states. Minnesota was the first to legalize this method of cremation in 2017 with 14 other states following suit soon after. Twenty-eight states have legalized the process as of 2024. Texas has a of yet to legalize this practice.

We are here to assist you at any time, whenever you are ready.

Click the button below to schedule a time with our Pre-need Cremation Specialist

West Texas State Veterans Cemetery West Texas State Veterans Cemetery
Servicemen folding the flag at a gravesite Servicemen folding the flag at a gravesite
Final wishes organizer from Lake Ridge Chapel and Memorial Designers Final wishes organizer from Lake Ridge Chapel and Memorial Designers
Insurance Comparison Peace of Mind Why It Matters