Rivera Family Funeral Home

Cremation information

Rivera Family Funeral Homes own & operate our own crematory-located at our Espanola location. All cremations are under our control and supervision. Arrangements for cremation are requested frequently, and for various reasons. Some families request cremation because of convenience or practicality, while others appreciate simplicity. Cremation arrangements can be less expensive when all arrangements are kept simple. for Catholics, cremation is acceptable as well-with guidelines provided by the Archdiocese (scroll down for more specific Catholic references"Catholics & cremation").  We reccomend that you contact your minister or priest for guidance regarding a memorial service that will be held in their church. Please consider the following when thinking about cremation; Cremation is not "final disposition". Final disposition takes place when the cremains are interred or buried, etc. It is also important to read the cremation authorization completely, which describes the steps involved during the cremation of the human body, and other legal issues. By signing these legally required documents you are agreeing to & accepting the terms entirely. Because cremation is irreversable, it is vital that you understand everything involved, and that you address any concerns specifically. We want you to make informed decisions, and our experience can be helpful. "Cremation Authorization" forms will need to be completed by the legal next of kin or legal representative as determined by New Mexico State Law. These are legal documents and we assure that all forms will be in following with New Mexico state law. Please keep in mind that the crematory staff will carefully review the written instructions for acuracy (no verbal instructions will be followed). The cremation will proceed only when all paperwork is in order. It's important to communicate with your funeral service professional regarding any special circumstances or details to avoid delays or problems. It is our responsibility to answer your questions, assist you in complying with the terms of the cremation authorization forms, and arrange for the securing of all required documents.

Reminders about cremation:

-Cremation will only be performed when all neccessary paperwork is secured, and a day & time has been scheduled for the cremation to take place. An extra fee may be charged for after hours & weekend cremations, additional days requiring refrigeration of the body itself while legal paperwork is being obtained,  as well as any alternative arrangements requiring additional staffing requirements, such as when witnessing is desired, or a reserved day & time is requested by the family.

-The death certificate must be signed by the primary physician in order to obtain the cremation permit from the medical investigators office. Weekends & holidays typically cause delays in obtaining required paperwork, thus resulting in possible additional refrigeration fees from the funeral home. Per state statute, refrigeration is required after 24 hours after death if the body has not been cremated, buried or embalmed. Our funeral home will work diligently to obtain required documents to help avoid any additional expenses to the family.

-Cremation fees are based on the service(s) or merchandise being provided. Fee's can vary depending on what is ultimately decided on by the next of kin, and can cost as-much as a traditional funeral. Any arrangements through our funeral home will be based on the decisions made by the family regarding; viewings, public or private services, merchandise and of course, the financial budget of the family.

-There are more legal documents to abide by when arranging for cremation, please be patient with the funeral professional assisting you, and ask any important questions. We are here to serve you and are concerned with your peace of mind. All instructions need to be in writing, verbal wishes are not recognized by our funeral home, and are not legal.

-Should you wish to arrange for any memorial services please allow for extra time, as paperwork issues can delay the cremation. A benefit of cremation is that a servoice can be held at a day & time that is best for the family, and need not be held quickly. And since the funeral home will most likely need 2-3 work days (minimum), any services should be planned around the cremation schedule itself.

-PLEASE request and read through our "General Price List" showing all of our offerings and their respective fee's. Our company will provide you with a detailed billing statement reflecting all charges.

And finally, all expenses for cremation will need to be paid before the cremation will take place. Thank you for your understanding & cooperation.

Please note..

"We own & operate our own crematory, located at our Espanola location. All cremations arranged through any of the Rivera Family Funeral Homes are completely in our control & under our supervision."

Catholics & Cremation...

The Catholic church accepts the practice of cremation and has initiated some guidelines pertaining to acceptable cremation practices and the body itself. They believe that the body should always be shown respect, and reccomend that it be present during the recitation of the Holy Rosary, and the Celebration of the Mass of Christian Burial. They prefer that cremation take place after the rosary and mass and that the body be present in its physical form. While the church prefers to have the body physically present during these rituals, they do allow   the cremated remains to be present in an urn at both the rosary and mass services, in place of the actual body itself. The cremated remains should not be divided in any manner, and scattering of the cremated remains is not condoned. Cremated remains should be treated as would the body itself, by burial or placed in a niche.