Next Steps if Your loved one is at the County Medical Examiner’s Office in Salem
If you need to make cremation arrangements for a family member who is currently in the care of the Medical Examiner, you need to firstly select a funeral home and sign a Release Form. This gives your chosen funeral director the authority to collect your relative from the County morgue when the ME releases the body. The Coroner will liaise with the next of kin and advise when the deceased is expected to be released into the care of a funeral home for cremation.
Marion County Medical Examiner is Dr. Eliason, who has served as ME since 2017.
3180 Center St NE #1217, Salem, OR 97301. Phone (503) 588-5530
Holding Your Own Memorial Service in Salem, OR
More families are opting for a simple, direct cremation and then conducting a memorial service at a later date. As, where, and how they see fit. Direct cremation does take care of the immediate need to handle the disposition, and it also lets a family take time before concerning themselves with just how to memorialize a loved one.
With the beauty of the Willamette Valley area, there are so many great ways to hold an ash scattering ceremony, or find a special scenic location to host a gathering of remembrance. For more ideas and tips on conducting your own tribute celebration, or scattering ashes over land or water, visit our Resources on Memorialization.