A Gentle Departure.
A Greener Legacy.
As the local pioneers of Alkaline Hydrolysis, commonly known as water cremation, we offer a sophisticated, eco-friendly alternative to traditional flame cremation and burial.
A loved one has passed
Call us and a member of our staff will guide you through the initial steps.
Planning ahead
The first steps of pre-planning can be the most difficult. At Water Cremation of Kansas City we will assist you through the process of your pre-planning options, service choices, and aftercare of your arrangements.
Recent services
Andrew Feagler, Founder
The person caring for your family
Raised on a farm in southeastern Wyoming, Andrew felt a profound calling to the funeral profession from an early age. He began his academic journey at the University of Wyoming, where he earned a Bachelor's Degree in Business Administration, before moving to Fort Collins, Colorado, to launch his career in funeral service. While working full-time at a funeral home, he completed his degree in mortuary science at Arapahoe Community College and quickly demonstrated leadership by managing a funeral home location early in his career.
After a brief period away from the industry, Andrew returned to the work he loved and relocated to Kansas City. Recognizing a need for more diverse options within the local funeral community, he sought to further his expertise by enrolling in the Executive MBA Program at Rockhurst University, graduating in 2022. That same year, he established Laurel Funeral Concierge and End-of-Life Planning. Fueled by a long-held dream of offering Kansas City families an eco-friendly end-of-life alternative, his vision reached its full realization in 2026 with the opening of Water Cremation of Kansas City.
What is Water Cremation
At the center of our process is the water cremation unit itself, a state-of-the-art, stainless-steel vessel. We begin by carefully loading your loved one into this clean environment and adding a precise combination of water and alkali solution.
Once the cycle commences, a gentle, wave-like motion is introduced. This motion, combined with the alkali, serves to accelerate the same biological process that would naturally occur over time if a body were buried in the earth.
No flame is involved at any point.
Why families are choosing water cremation
Choosing how to say goodbye is a personal decision. More families are asking for water cremation, for a few reasons.
Eco-friendly
90% less energy than flame cremation, with no greenhouse gas or mercury emissions
Gentle
No fire and no high-pressure flame, just a quiet flow of water
Simplicity
One straightforward process, and one team to ask about it
How the process works
Every step takes place in our local facility, overseen directly by Andrew Feagler, licensed funeral director and certified crematory operator.
01
Creating The Right Environment
The process takes place inside a sealed stainless-steel vessel, where the body is placed in a warm bath of water mixed with a mild alkaline solution. This controlled setting boosts the body's natural return to the earth by encouraging molecular breakdown.
02
Breaking Down The Body With Care
Over 3 to 6 hours, depending on body mass and bone density, the combined action of heat and alkalinity breaks down everything but the bones. Our team carefully oversees this process from start to finish.
03
What Remains, And What Is Returned
The bones, mostly mineral, are gently dried and processed into a smooth, white powder-like substance. The sterile, water-based byproduct, called essence, contains no DNA or pathogens. Families may return it to the natural water cycle, use it to nourish a memorial garden or tree, or return it in a meaningful place.
04
A Meaningful, Positive Outcome
Families receive the finely processed remains in an urn, offering a tangible way to remember a loved one. The nutrient-rich essence supports ecological balance and continues to nourish the planet, becoming part of a cycle that promotes renewal and honors life's continuity.
Packages
We have pricing options to fit every family and budget, whether that is a simple direct cremation or something more customized. Both are handled locally, from the transfer into our care through the filing of the death certificate and every state and local permit.
Direct Water Cremation
This selection is tailored for families seeking a simple, dignified, and environmentally conscious choice. We provide gentle, eco-friendly care for your loved one entirely within our local facility, ensuring the highest standards of respect throughout the process.
Professional Services
Direct oversight by our licensed funeral director and certified crematory operator.
Local Transfer
Safe and respectful transportation of your loved one into our care from the greater Kansas City metro area.
The Water Cremation Process
A gentle, eco-friendly water cremation utilizing our advanced, energy-efficient alkaline hydrolysis system.
Safe Keeping
Secure, climate-controlled care of your loved one prior to the process.
Filing of Documents
Complete management and filing of the death certificate and all necessary state and local permits.
Return of Remains
Safe placement of your loved one’s pure, white mineral remains into a permanent urn, prepared for memorialization, scattering, or keeping close.
This choice uses 90% less energy than flame options and eliminates direct greenhouse gas emissions.
Direct Water Cremation with Parting Stone® Solidification
A complete return to nature, transformed into a permanent, comforting keepsake.
For families seeking a tangible, lasting connection without the traditional collection of powdery remains, this comprehensive option includes full solidification services. Through our exclusive partnership with Parting Stone®, 100% of the mineral remains are gently transformed into a collection of smooth, beautiful, stone-like solids that you can comfortably hold, share, and cherish forever.
What is included:
All Components of Direct Water Cremation
Includes secure local transfer, professional oversight by our licensed staff, complete regulatory documentation, and the eco-friendly water cremation process.
Parting Stone® Coordination
Comprehensive management and secure tracked shipping through USPS of the mineral remains to the specialized Parting Stone® laboratory.
The Return of the Stones
Receive 100% of the remains returned as a beautifully curated, clean collection of solid stones resembling natural river rocks.
An Extended Legacy
Because the water cremation process preserves more mineral material than traditional flame cremation (typically yielding 20 to 30% more volume), this results in an exceptionally complete collection of stones that can be seamlessly shared across multiple households and generations.
Pristine Quality and Texture
Because fire is completely excluded from the process, the resulting stones retain a pure, natural hue and texture, entirely free of carbon soot or discoloration.
Putting your wishes in writing
It would be our honor to walk alongside you through the pre-planning process. We will guide you through the paperwork it requires and help you put down a plan that works for you and for your family. What you arrange now is held at today's pricing, and your wishes are carried out exactly as you set them.
Gather,
by Laurel
Intrigued by the science or sustainability of water cremation? You don’t have to navigate it alone online.
Experience Gather, by Laurel, our dedicated educational space built to foster open community conversation and teach the public about eco-friendly end-of-life options. Check our calendar or drop by to learn more in a warm, welcoming environment.
Contact us
Reach out and we will be happy to chat with you no matter where you are in your journey. If you prefer to write to us, please use the "Start a Conversation" button and we will get back to you as soon as possible.
Our facility
Shawnee, Kansas
Send us a message
Tell us as much or as little as you like. We will reply as soon as possible.
