Planning a funeral or memorial service for a loved one is challenging for many reasons. Not only do you have to make plans when you are grieving a loss, but there are logistic and financial issues to deal with as well. Here’s some helpful advice for those planning a cremation service for a loved one.
Tips for Planning a Service When the Deceased is Cremated
Some of you may have planned a funeral service for a loved one who had chosen a traditional burial. However, personalizing cremation services for someone who had chosen cremation is slightly different. Here are a few things to consider for those who choose cremation.
You can have a religious or secular service following cremation.
Some faith groups still prefer burial. However, most faith groups in the U.S. allow for cremation services. If you want to hold your loved one’s funeral at a house of worship, talk with your religious leader before you make any arrangements.
It’s worth noting that a funeral service where the body is not present is sometimes referred to as a memorial service.
You can choose a traditional funeral with a viewing followed by cremation.
If having a viewing, visitation, or wake is important to you, you can still do so even if your loved one chose cremation. It’s worth noting that this option requires that you pay for embalming, a rental casket, and transportation of the casket to and from the funeral location – in addition to the cremation costs.
While this is not the most cost-effective option, your funeral director may offer this as an available cremation package.
You don’t have to buy an expensive casket if you choose cremation.
During the cremation process, the body is typically placed in a cremation container. These vary depending on the cremation facility, but most are metal-free receptacles explicitly made for the act. This is one reason that cremation is typically more affordable than burial.
Even if you choose to have a viewing before the body is cremated, most funeral directors allow you to purchase a temporary container that goes inside a rental casket. Since caskets can cost thousands of dollars, cremation is one way to reduce the financial burden that often comes with a funeral.
Direct cremation is the most affordable option.
A funeral home is required by law to offer transparent pricing. As you look at the full range of cremation packages, you might notice one called “traditional cremation.” This typically refers to the option outlined above – where the body is embalmed before being placed in a rental casket for viewing (followed by cremation.) The most affordable option will probably be direct cremation or simple cremation.
In direct cremation, the deceased’s family typically says their goodbyes at the time of death. Then, a direct cremation provider or funeral home removes the body from the place of death and transports the deceased to an on-site crematory. After the body is cremated, the deceased’s family members will receive their loved one’s ashes – or cremated remains.
Yes, your local funeral home will perform this service for you. However, for the most cost-effective direct cremation service, contact Smart Cremation. Smart Cremation serves portions of California, Oregon, Arizona, Texas, Washington, Nevada, and Florida. Give us a call – any time, day or night, for assistance. We also offer help if you prefer to plan in advance.
Key Takeaways About Planning a Cremation Service
- It’s common for families to have a difficult time planning the service for a loved one.
- Cremation services can be religious or secular.
- You can pay to have a viewing before the body is cremated, but it is not the most cost-effective option.
- You don’t have to buy an expensive casket when you choose cremation.
- Direct cremation is the most affordable end-of-life option.
