You may not have considered the types of cremation services available if you have never had to plan a funeral service before now. In fact, you may not have any experience with this method of disposition if all of your previous family members chose burial.
Please allow us to give you the basics of typical end-of-life service package options so that you can make an informed decision when planning your own or your loved one’s cremation.
Before we speak about the differences between basic and full service cremation, please understand that the cremation process is the same for both. In both instances, the body will be placed independently in the crematory. Also, in both cases, the cremated remains can be returned to the family.
Full Service Cremation Services
In most instances, a full-service cremation refers to the act of delaying the cremation until the funeral service is completed.
For example, some individuals prefer to have an open-casket visitation during the funeral process. They may wish to allow others to view the embalmed body and have the casket present during the traditional service. However, instead of proceeding to the cemetery for a graveside service, the deceased is transported to the cremation provider.
Some families refer to this as a traditional service because the deceased’s body is present.
Basic or Direct Cremation
During direct cremation, the family says their goodbyes to their loved one at the place of death. Then the body is transported to the cremation center and undergoes direct cremation.
The family can plan a funeral or memorial service for their loved one to be held at a funeral home, a church, or other religious building, park, or event venue. Since the body is not present at a direct cremation service, families have flexibility when making final arrangements. They don’t have to schedule the services within days of the death. Instead, they can choose a more convenient time.
Other Benefits of Direct Cremation
While we are not trying to persuade you to go against your loved one’s final wishes of having a traditional cremation service, we would like to share other benefits of direct cremations.
While some people feel uncomfortable talking about funeral costs, it is crucial that you realize that traditional funerals can cost tens of thousands of dollars. In addition to the price of the simple cremation, families have to pay for casket rental, transportation of the body to funeral location, embalming, preparing the body for viewing, and the basic services of the funeral director and other employees.
This option may be a financial burden to families who may already have medical bills and other funeral expenses, such as the additional costs of travel and clothing.
Smart Cremation Offers Low-Cost Cremation
Smart Cremation is one of the most highly respected cremation service providers in the country. Unlike working with a traditional funeral home, when you choose cremation with Smart Cremation, the median cost for the final arrangement will be up to 44% less than the price of a traditional burial.
Are you ready to learn more about how you can lower the price of your loved one’s funeral? Get a free quote from Smart Cremation by filling out the contact form on our website.
