Online Planning

*Required if the family opts not to have an ID Viewing.

This is the minimum requirement for positive identification for The Cremation Society of Indiana. Our care center professionals will pose features and take a photograph of the deceased. This photo, taken of the face only, will be transmitted to the person making the identification electronically via email or our secure website.

Does not included NP ad for placement

Included in your package, the death certificate is filed in the county health department where the deceased died. Procuring the death certificate for you is a $100 trip fee, plus $20 per certified copy

A 20-minute identification viewing for immediate family only (spouse, children, grandchildren, parents, and siblings). Identification viewings do not include cosmetic improvements made to the deceased as with a traditional open-casket viewing. The body will be bathed and placed on a table and covered with a sheet or placed in the container selected by the family via our website or during arrangements. The viewing will take place at our facility, 4115 S. Shelby St., Indianapolis, IN 46227 or at our crematory location, 481 W. Main Street, Greenwood, IN 46142. This will be scheduled by the Funeral Director.

Please note: At times a funeral director will recommend against an identification viewing and suggest an alternative identification method. This most often occurs when the deceased has sustained serious injuries or if the deceased is in an advanced state of decomposition in an unembalmed state. If an identification viewing is discouraged, families should seriously consider taking this suggestion. With these types of cases, the funeral director will suggest completing a photo identification or identifying a unique physical characteristic. If the family still insists on viewing the deceased, The Cremation Society of Indiana will require for the body to be embalmed prior to viewing.

Family may observe the beginning of the cremation process at our crematory, Greater South Side Crematory, 481 W. Main Street, Greenwood, IN, 46142 (owned by Wilson St. Pierre Funeral Service & Crematory). Your loved one will be bathed and dressed in clothing provided by the family or in a hospital type gown and placed in the container decided upon by the family. If the family would like to spend a few moments with their loved one prior to cremation, that can occur at the crematory. The cremation process typically takes about 5-6 hours from start to finish, so the family may witness the beginning and receive the cremated remains as early as the next business day.

Please Note: Witnessing cremation is by appointment only. The cremation will be scheduled according to the timeline established by the State of Indiana (at least 48 hours after death) and upon receipt of all necessary documents for the cremation, including but not limited to a signed death certificate by an attending physician (or in coroner cases, a cremation waiver from the County Coroner’s Office from the county where death occurred), a Provisional Notification of Death-Burial Transit Permit, and a signed Cremation Authorization from the legal next-of-kin. We will coordinate to get this signed by the doctor during their normal business office hours. The Funeral Director will call the next of kin after all required documents are obtained and schedule a time for the witnessed cremation.