Essential Tips for First-Timers to Know About Cremation
After a loved one passes on, family and friends have to grapple with funeral arrangements, which include memorials and burial. One way of interring your loved one is through cremation. The procedure is cost-effective compared to other burial alternatives and might help a family to realise some savings. After death, a funeral home arranges to pick up the body of a deceased person. You can decide whether to have a funeral service in memory of the deceased. If not, the corpse is cremated, and the ashes returned to the family for final disposal. Here are essential facts to know about cremation.
Cremation Services Options
One common misunderstanding about cremation is that it eliminates the need for a traditional funeral. However, this is not entirely true because you can arrange for several memorial services before and after cremation. For instance, you can have a funeral where people view the body of the deceased before cremation takes place. Alternatively, you can opt to conduct a funeral without the possibility of viewing a body, with a cremation following after that. Another alternative is to hold a memorial service either at a funeral home or outside, which is followed by interment of the ashes. With all these options at your disposal, you need to plan regarding the ideal cremation service for the deceased.
Cost
The cost of cremation is determined by many factors, key among them being the type of cremation service you choose. Therefore, discuss with a funeral director about the different cremation services offered and their cost. Cremation costs include the cost of hiring crematorium facilities, the urn, labour costs and transportation. If you are conducting a memorial, then the cost can be high since you need to cater for all guests and family. Furthermore, cremation costs can rise significantly if you plan to have a corpse viewed before cremation because you need to purchase a coffin and include embalming services. Other costs include a hearse, death certificate, cremation certificate, newspaper notices and flowers.
Burying Cremated Remains
A family doesn't need to bury cremated remains in a cemetery. You can have a funeral director keep the ashes in an urn of your choice. Whatever you do with the ashes will depend on the wishes of a deceased person or immediate family members. However, if you choose to bury the cremated remains, you have to consider cemetery costs, even for a small plot size. You might also require a memorial such as a headstone or plaque to remember the deceased.
Contact a local cremation funeral director for more information.