Cremation Services

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Cremation in the Catholic Church

Cremation is a practice that has been accepted by the Catholic Church for over 50 years. While traditional burial is preferred, as Christ was buried in the tomb, the Catholic Church offers two options when choosing cremation. In the Catholic Tradition, a funeral enables family and friends to join together in a celebration of faith to remember the life of a loved one who has passed. It is preferred that the body of the deceased is present for the vigil and funeral services; however, it is possible to have a memorial service with the cremated remains present. To respect the body as the temple of the Holy Spirit, the Church teaches that cremated remains should be kept together (not scattered or divided) and preferably interred in the consecrated grounds of a Catholic Cemetery. The cemeteries offer sacred places for the living to memorialize their loved ones, with a variety of burial choices including personalized glass front niches and beautiful cremation burial sites.

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The Catholic Church and Cremation - Funeral Facts with Deacon Marc 
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Catholic Cremation Dos and Don'ts - Funeral Facts with Deacon Marc 
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Cremation the the Catholic Holy Mass - Funeral Facts with Deacon Marc 
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Why Cremated Remains Should be Interred in a Cemetery - Funeral Facts with Deacon Marc 
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Can Catholics Be Cremated? 
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Why Does The Church Prefer Full Burial Rather Than Cremation?
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Why Should Cremation Be Done After A Funeral Mass, Not Before? 
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What If My Loved One Was Already Cremated? 
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Why Shouldn't We Take Cremated Remains Home or Scatter the Ashes? 
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How Does Cremation Relate to the Resurrection of the Body? 
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If I Do Choose Cremation What Steps Should I Take Next? 

The Catholic funeral tradition provides sacred and beautiful rituals that bring comfort to loved ones.

A church service is a special expression of faith and reverence. For those choosing cremation, there are two options for a church service:

Traditional Option

Traditional Denver CO Funeral Home And Cremations

Other Option

Aurora CO Funeral Services And Cremations
Aurora CO Cremations Services

OUR CFCS

Cremation Services

CFCS of Colorado, a ministry of the Archdiocese of Denver, owns and operates its own crematory and offers a variety of cremation services, from a simple gathering to a traditional ceremony. Our experienced and dedicated staff can guide you in selecting services to suit your family’s needs.

Cremation Plans

CFCS Colorado offers four cremation plans to best meet the needs of our local community.

We are here to guide you through this process and to ensure that your wishes are fulfilled.

See the information below on our cremation plans. Contact us with any questions or to schedule a meeting with one of our advisors to learn more.

01

Traditional Cremation Plan

Visitation/Vigil, Funeral Liturgy at Parish/Church or Funeral Home Chapel, and Committal.

More Information

Basic Services of our Funeral Director and Staff

Transportation:

  • Transfer of decedent into our care (Local Denver Metro Area)**
  • Funeral Coach (Hearse)
  • Utility/Flower Vehicle

Use of Facilities and Staff:

  • Vigil/Viewing/Visitation up to 2 hours
  • Funeral Liturgy at our Funeral Home Chapel or Church and Committal at cemetery

Preparation of Decedent:

  • Embalming
  • Dressing, casketing and cosmetics
  • Cremation following service (additional fee for oversized cremation)

Merchandise:

  • Memorial stationary package (includes registry book, 100 prayer cards/folders, and 25 acknowledgment cards)*
  • Crucifix/Cross (first Crucifix/Cross included, additional for an extra cost)*

A discount is available for purchasing a CFCS Cremation Casket* or Rental Casket, and Urn*

* Taxable items

** Transportation outside of the Denver Metro Area will be subject to an additional charge per mile.


02

Visitation Cremation Plan

Visitation and Committal Only.

More Information

Basic Services of our Funeral Director and Staff

Transportation:

  • Transfer of decedent into our care (Local Denver Metro Area)**
  • Funeral Coach (Hearse)
  • Utility/Flower Vehicle

Use of Facilities and Staff:

  • Viewing/Visitation up to 2 hours and Committal at cemetery

Preparation of Decedent:

  • Embalming
  • Dressing, casketing and cosmetics
  • Cremation following service (additional fee for oversized cremation)

Merchandise:

  • Memorial stationary package (includes registry book, 100 prayer cards/folders, and 25 acknowledgment cards)*
  • Crucifix/Cross (first Crucifix/Cross included, additional for an extra cost)*

A discount is available for purchasing a CFCS Cremation Casket* or Rental Casket, and Urn*

* Taxable items

** Transportation outside of the Denver Metro Area will be subject to an additional charge per mile.

03

Funeral Service Cremation Plan

Cremation, Funeral Liturgy at Parish/Church or Funeral Home Chapel, and Committal (No Vigil).

More Information

Basic Services of our Funeral Director and Staff

Transportation:

  • Transfer of decedent into our care (Local Denver Metro Area)**
  • Utility/Flower Vehicle

Use of Facilities and Staff:

  • Funeral Liturgy at Parish/Church or Funeral Home Chapel and Committal at cemetery

Merchandise:

  • Memorial stationary package (includes registry book, 100 prayer cards/folders, and 25 acknowledgment cards)*
  • Crucifix/Cross (first Crucifix/Cross included, additional for an extra cost)*

A discount is available for purchasing a CFCS Cremation Casket* or Alternative Container*, and Urn*

* Taxable items

** Transportation outside of the Denver Metro Area will be subject to an additional charge per mile.

04

Direct Cremation

Cremation Only

More Information

If you want to arrange a direct cremation, you can use an alternative container. Alternative containers encase the body and can be made of materials like fiberboard or composition materials (with or without outside covering). The containers we provide are made of cardboard. The decedent must be in a container or casket made of combustible ridged materials.

Our charges include the following services:

Fee for reduced services of Funeral Director and staff

Transportation:

  • Transfer of decedent into our care (Local Denver Metro Area)**
  • Transfer of decedent to the crematory

Cremation charge (additional fee for oversized cremation)

Includes Polyurethane temporary cremation urn

Cardboard alternative container from our mortuary*

Additional cremation casket or alternative container options are available. Please see our casket price list for prices.*

(Cremation container can be provided by purchaser at no additional charge.)

Other cash advance items, merchandise and committal may also be added at addition cost (please see pages 6 & 7 of our General Price List).

* Taxable items

** Transportation outside of the Denver Metro Area will be subject to an additional charge per mile.

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Frequently Asked Questions

What is the Church's position on cremation?

While there is a preference for traditional burial, as Christ was buried in the tomb, the Church has permitted cremation for over 50 years. Cremation should respect the human body and belief in the Resurrection. To respect the body as the temple of the Holy Spirit, the Church teaches that cremated remains should be kept together (not scattered or divided) and interred in a sacred burial space, preferably in the consecrated grounds of a Catholic Cemetery.


To learn more, please refer to the documents below:


  • Instruction Ad resurgendum cum Christo - Regarding the Burial of the Deceased and the Conservation of the Ashes in the Case of Cremation – Congregation for the Doctrine of the Faith (click here)
  • Cremation and the Order of Christian Funerals – U.S. Conference of Catholic Bishops (USCCB) (click here)
  • Proper Disposition of Bodily Remains – U.S. Conference of Catholic Bishops (USCCB) (click here)
When should cremation occur?

The preference is for cremation to occur following the funeral liturgy so that the body can be present for the vigil and funeral services. However, it is possible to have a funeral service with the cremated remains present.

What is the proper handling of cremated remains?

The Catholic Church teaches that cremated remains should be kept together (not scattered or divided) to respect the body as a temple of the Holy Spirit and be laid to rest in a sacred burial space, preferably interred in the consecrated grounds of a Catholic cemetery.


“The cremated remains of a body should be treated with the same respect given to the human body from which they come. This includes the use of a worthy vessel to contain the ashes, the manner in which they are carried, and the care and attention to appropriate placement and transport, and the final disposition. The cremated remains should be buried in a grave or entombed in a mausoleum or columbarium. The practice of scattering cremated remains on the sea, from the air, or on the ground, or keeping cremated remains at the home of a relative or friend of the deceased are not the reverent disposition that the Church requires.” (Order of Christian Funerals no. 417)


What does CFCS of Colorado offer?

Our cemeteries are sacred places for the living to memorialize their loved ones, with a variety of burial choices including personalized glass front niches and beautiful cremation burial sites.


Financial concerns should never stop one from choosing a place of permanent remembrance. As such, we also provide to people of all faiths the dignified placement of cremated remains at no cost to the family with our Crypt of All Souls Program.

What is the Catholic Church's position on "human body composting"?

In 2021, Colorado became the second state in the country to allow for “human body composting,” also referred to as natural organic reduction, which is a process that accelerates the biological decomposition of a deceased person’s body, turning it into soil.

Concerning Colorado’s Human Remains Natural Reduction Soil Bill (SB 21-006), the Colorado Catholic Conference, the united voice of the Catholic Bishops of Colorado, advised, “The Catholic Church teaches that human life and the human body are sacred, and the dignity of the human person is the foundation of a moral society. The conversion of human remains to soil does not promote human dignity. The Church’s objection is based on its belief that man is made in God’s image and likeness as a unified compositum of body and soul. While the Church does allow for cremation with limitations, the reduction of human remains into soil is not consistent with the Church’s theology of bodily resurrection and the promotion of human dignity […].”


“The guidance offered by the Congregation regarding burial and cremation reflects the Church’s overarching concern that due respect be shown to the bodily remains of the deceased in a way that gives visible witness to our faith and hope in the resurrection of the body. Unfortunately, the two most prominent newer methods for disposition of bodily remains that are proposed as alternatives to burial and cremation, alkaline hydrolysis and human composting, fail to meet this criterion.” (Proper Disposition of Bodily Remains no. 8 – U.S. Conference of Catholic Bishops) 

(click here to learn more)

What is the Catholic Church's position on "water cremation" (alkaline hydrolysis)?

Alkaline hydrolysis, sometimes referred to as "water cremation," is a process that places a body into a metal tank containing a chemical mixture of water and alkali and then subjects it to both high temperature and high pressure in order to speed decomposition.

“The guidance offered by the Congregation regarding burial and cremation reflects the Church’s overarching concern that due respect be shown to the bodily remains of the deceased in a way that gives visible witness to our faith and hope in the resurrection of the body. Unfortunately, the two most prominent newer methods for disposition of bodily remains that are proposed as alternatives to burial and cremation, alkaline hydrolysis and human composting, fail to meet this criterion.” (Proper Disposition of Bodily Remains no. 8 – U.S. Conference of Catholic Bishops)

“This procedure [alkaline hydrolysis] does not show adequate respect for the human body, nor express hope in the resurrection.” (Proper Disposition of Bodily Remains no. 10 – U.S. Conference of Catholic Bishops) 

(click here to learn more)


ARCHDIOCESE OF DENVER CEMETERIES

MOUNT OLIVET

CATHOLIC CEMETERY

12801 W. 44th Ave

Wheat Ridge, CO 80033

St Simeon Thornton CO Funeral Home And Cremations

SAINT SIMEON

CATHOLIC CEMETERY

22001 E. State Hwy 30

Aurora, CO 80018


ARCHDIOCESE OF DENVER MORTUARY

FUNERAL HOME LOCATIONS

Cemetery Wheat Ridge CO Funeral Home And Cremations

at MOUNT OLIVET

12801 W. 44th Ave

Wheat Ridge, CO 80033

Denver CO Cremations

at SAINT SIMEON

22001 E. State Hwy 30

Aurora, CO 80018

at CALDWELL-KIRK

2101 N. Marion St

Denver, CO 80205

Denver CO Funeral

at SAINT THOMAS MORE

8035 S. Quebec St

Centennial, CO 80112


Catholic Funeral & Cemetery Services (CFCS) of Colorado serves all faiths and offers funeral, cremation, cemetery, and burial services to everyone in Denver, CO;  Arvada, CO; Aurora, CO; Broomfield, CO; Centennial, CO; Commerce City, CO; Edgewater, CO; Englewood, CO; Greenwood Village, CO; Golden, CO; Highlands Ranch, CO; Lakewood, CO; Littleton, CO; Lone Tree, CO; Northglenn, CO; Parker, CO; Sheridan, CO; Thornton, CO; Westminster, CO; Wheat Ridge, CO; and the surrounding areas.

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