Crematory
Michaelson Funeral Homes Inc. doing business as Owatonna Crematory is proud to have the only crematory in Steele County. Once your loved one enters our care they never leave our care.
Owatonna Crematory does not provide cremation services directly to the public, but rather as a service offered by Michaelson Funeral Homes, Inc.. All requests for cremation and the delivery of the deceased for cremation must be handled through Michaelson Funeral Homes, Inc or another a funeral establishment licensed by the Minnesota Department of Health or, if the funeral establishment is not located in the state of Minnesota, the appropriate licensing authority in the state, province, or country where the funeral establishment is located.
Requirements
Owatonna Crematory does not provide cremation services directly to the public. All requests for cremation and the delivery of the deceased for cremation must be handled through a funeral establishment licensed by the Minnesota Department of Health or, if the funeral establishment is not located in the state of Minnesota, the appropriate licensing authority in the state, province, or country where the funeral establishment is located.
In accordance with the Minnesota Statutes Section 149A.95, subdivision 6, Owatonna Crematory will not accept delivery of the body of the deceased for cremation until all of the following conditions have been met.
1. The body is delivered by a licensed funeral establishment.
2. The body is encased in a casket or an appropriate cremation container. Owatonna Crematory does not require a casket for cremation, however, all cremation containers must be made of a non-metallic rigid material like fiberboard or a similar composite product.
3. The body is accompanied by a completed disposition permit issued by the Minnesota Department of Health which includes either a photocopy of the completed death certificate or a written, signed release from the coroner or medical examiner in the jurisdiction where the death occurred that authorizes the cremation.
4. The body is accompanied by a completed authorization that complies with Minnesota Statutes Chapter 149A.95, subdivision 4.
Owatonna Crematory will not accept the body of the deceased for cremation if more than sixty-seven (67) hours have elapsed since death or the release of the body of the deceased by a competent authority with jurisdiction over the body. The only exception to this requirement is if the body of the deceased is properly embalmed.
Owatonna Crematory does not require that the body of the deceased be embalmed prior to cremation unless embalming is required by Minnesota Statutes Chapter 149A.91, subdivision 3. Minnesota Law requires embalming if the body of the deceased will be transported by public transportation, if there will be a ceremony where the body of the deceased will be publicly viewed, if ordered by the Commissioner of Health, or if final disposition will not be accomplished within seventy-two (72) hours after death or the release of the body of the deceased.
Owatonna Crematory requires that all implanted or attached mechanical, electrical, or radioactive devices that may create a hazard to crematory personnel or equipment be removed from the body of the deceased prior to delivery of the body to the crematory.
Policies
Owatonna Crematory has the statutory right to refuse the acceptance of the delivery of the body of the deceased for any lawful reason. It is further the policy of the crematory to refuse acceptance of the body of the deceased if there is a reasonable basis to believe that acceptance may place crematory personnel or equipment at risk of harm or damage. If acceptance of the body is refused, Owatonna Crematory will explain those reasons, in writing, and deliver the explanation to the funeral establishment in charge of the delivery of the body.
Due to the nature of the cremation process and the limitations of the crematory facilities, Owatonna Crematory will only schedule cremations with witnesses to begin between the hours of eight (8) A.M. and ten (10) A.M. Because of space limitations at the crematory only two (2) individuals will be allowed to witness the cremation. Those witnesses must have written permission from the individual signing the cremation authorization before they will be allowed into the viewing area. The time that witnesses are allowed to remain in the cremation area will be limited to ten (10) minutes after the body of the deceased has been placed in the cremation chamber and the cremation chamber is started. Witnesses shall comply all written or unwritten crematory policies and procedures and must comply with the instructions of the crematory personnel while in the viewing area. Witnesses may be asked to leave the viewing area if crematory personnel reasonably believe that the behavior of the witness is inappropriate or poses a danger to crematory personnel, equipment, or the witnesses.
Owatonna Crematory will make all reasonable efforts to accommodate witnesses that have physical limitations. Due to building limitations, advance notice of special requirements is requested.
Owatonna Crematory will make all reasonable efforts to allow the opportunity for visitation by the family and friends of the deceased. The body of the deceased will be held for up to eighteen (18) hours after delivery of the body is accepted by Owatonna Crematory for purposes of private visitation. If the body of the deceased is held for more than eighteen (18) hours for purposes of viewing there will be an additional charge as outlined in the applicable price lists. If Owatonna Crematory is asked to hold the body of the deceased for purposes of visitation that makes it impossible to accomplish final disposition within the statutorily required seventy-two (72) hour period, the crematory will require that the body of the deceased be embalmed.
Owatonna Crematory reserves the right to limit the number of individuals that will be allowed to privately view the un-embalmed body of the deceased prior to cremation. Minnesota Statutes Chapter 149A.91, subdivision 3, subparagraph 3 requires that a body be embalmed if the body will be publicly viewed. If, in the sole discretion of Owatonna Crematory, the number of individuals requesting a private visitation is sufficient to constitute a public viewing, the crematory may require that the body of the deceased be embalmed or limit the number of individuals allowed to view the body. In deciding what constitutes a public viewing and whether to require embalming or institute a number limitation on visitation, the crematory will exercise all reasonable care and consider the specific circumstances of each cremation.
Procedures
Owatonna Crematory will perform the cremation of the body of the deceased in accordance with all applicable federal, state, and local laws and will meet or exceed currently accepted industry standards.
Cremation Laws
Minnesota Statute 149a governs cremation in the state of Minnesota. More specifically 149a.95 focuses on Crematories and Cremation. Click the attached link for more information.
https://www.revisor.mn.gov/statutes/?id=149A.95
