Frequent Questions

Arrangements can be made through our online planner (hyperlink to Parting Pro) or by calling 814-765-1124. If you provide us with an email address, we can email you the necessary forms which can all be completed electronically on any device.  

When the death occurs, you will be asked by a nurse or coroner (depending on where the death takes place) if your loved one has made any pre-arrangements and if they have not, you will be asked which funeral home or cremation service you would like them to be transported to. After you tell them you would like to use PA Simple Cremation, typically they will contact us with your loved one’s name, the place of death, and who the contact or legal next of kin is. Here is a list of the next steps: 

1. Our staff will reach out to the next of kin to gather more information 
2. We will ask for an email address to send the necessary forms to complete 
3. Payment will be required. We can take a credit card over the phone, send a link to pay on, or collect cash or check at the time of transportation. We do accept life insurance assignments; however, we have a $295 fee to do so, and the policy must be pre-verified before transportation takes place. 
4. Once payment is complete, we will arrange transportation to bring your loved one into our care as soon as possible. 
5.  In Pennsylvania, the cremation cannot take place until at least 24 hours after the time of death. It usually is not this fast as there are authorizations and other necessary paperwork we have to obtain before the cremation can take place.  
6. During the immediate days after the death occurs, we obtain all the necessary authorizations and forms needed for the cremation to take place. We will get the vital information and family authorization from the legal next of kin (forms can be signed and completed electronically) and then we will get the death certificate certified, whether that is by your loved one’s physician or the coroner/medical examiner. After this is complete, we can get the coroner’s authorization for the cremation to take place. 
7. After the cremation takes place, we will contact the next of kin to pick up the cremated remains and death certificates. If you are unable to pick up the cremated remains, we can send them Certified Mail through USPS for $95 

You can expect our staff to contact you within 7-10 days after the time of death to arrange a date and time to pick up your loved one’s cremated remains. They are sometimes ready within 3-4 days, but we typically wait until we have the certified death certificates so we can have you pick everything up at once.  

***We do not recommend scheduling a service until AT LEAST 7 days after the time of death if you would like to have the cremated remains present at the service*** 

You can pick up your loved one’s cremated remains at our office at 113 N. 3rd St. Clearfield, PA 16830. Please come in the double glass doors under the car port. Note: Please make an appointment to pick up cremated remains as we are not always in the office. Our normal office hours are 9 AM-3:30 PM Monday-Thursday and 9AM-12PM Fridays. We are not in the office on weekends or holidays.  

We can send you a link to create an obituary with our AI obituary writer. You can also upload photos and customize the obituary page on our website. If you already have one typed, you can email the obituary to info@pasimplecremation.com. We do not accept handwritten obituaries; they must be typed. 

If you would like the obituary printed in your local newspaper, you will want to contact them directly to do so. Most newspapers give you the option to submit directly to them via their website. 

Within the first 90 days after the time of death, we can obtain death certificates for you. Pennsylvania currently charges $20 for each certified copy. After the 90 day period, death certificates can be ordered online at www.vitalcheck.com. They can also be ordered in person at any of the PA Department of Health Public Offices which are located in Erie, Harrisburg, New Castle, Philadelphia, Pittsburgh, and Scranton. 

Typically, certified death certificates are available within 7-10 business days from the time of death. Once we have received the necessary information and the medical certifier (doctor, coroner, medical examiner, etc,) has completed their part, we submit the death certificate to the Department of Health for them to register it. Once it is registered, we can then order certified copies. 

If an autopsy takes place, it will likely take longer to get a final death certificate with a cause of death because of the investigation and testing that takes place. You can expect it to take 4-6 weeks to have the final results. A ‘Pending” certificate will be issued initially so you can use it to start handling your loved one’s affairs. 

Death certificates are the legal proof that someone is deceased. Many entities will ask to see a death certificate or require a copy to keep on file. When talking to these entities, you will want to ask them if they need a certified copy (with raised seal) or if they will accept a photocopy. Here is a list of entities or actions that might require a death certificate: 

-Banks 

-Life Insurance Companies 

-Investment Brokers 

-Property Transfers 

-Filing a Will 

-Loans 

-Credit Cards 

-Pensions/401k’s 

-Military Benefits 

Veteran Fee Waiver 

Pennsylvania currently offers Veterans with an Honorable discharge or discharge “Under Honorable Conditions” 10 free death certificates. We need a copy of the Veterans DD-214 to apply for the 10 free copies. 

Pre-Need is making your final arrangements while you are still living. This gives you the ability to put your wishes in place and take the financial burden off your loved ones. 

In Pennsylvania the law states whenever you pre-pay for any type of funeral expenses (funerals, cremations, burials, etc.) that the funds must be held by third party account. The money is placed in an irrevocable account, which means it cannot be touched until the time of death. We work with multiple companies including National Guardian Life and Funeral Directors Life to set up these accounts. Payment plans are offered on these policies. 

Yes, pre-paying allows you to pay for the services and merchandise YOU desire.  

Payment plans are offered for Pre-Need ONLY. Payment plans are calculated by age and time period of the payment plan (3 years, 5 years, 7 years, 10 years). If the death occurs before the payments are completed, the balance will be owed at the time of death. 

For At-Need cases, payment in full is required before any services are performed. 

A memorial service can be held at a church, club, park, or any venue you prefer. We do not hold memorial services at our facility or assist with planning them. We recommend coordinating with your pastor or manager of the venue where you would like to hold the service. 

Typically, a memorial service is a time to share memories of your loved one, play their favorite music, and display photos. Sometimes this will be referred to as a “celebration of life.” 

Yes, however it is recommended to get permission from the property owner if scattering on private property.  

If you would like to scatter the remains at sea, the remains must be spread at least 3 nautical miles from the land.  

Yes, you will want to check with the cemetery on what their requirements are. Some cemeteries require different types of enclosures for the cremated remains. Some require the urn to be placed in an urn vault, and others have requirements on the material of the urn (metal, marble, etc.). There are also some cemeteries that have no requirements at all. 

If you have plans to put the urn in a niche, you will want to check on the dimensions of the niche to make sure the urn fits inside.