Traditional burials were the most popular options for putting people to rest until recently. Cremation rates in the U.S. are hitting an all-time high with more than 50 percent of burials using the cremation process.
Are you wondering about the cremation process? Do you have questions or considering choosing this for your burial pre-planning? Keep reading to learn the answers to your questions about cremation.
1. Can You Still Have a Service With Cremation?
You can certainly still have a service with cremation—it’s very common! People that are cremated can still have a viewing of the body before cremation, or you can have a service after the cremation with the ashes.
If you want to have a viewing of the body, you will still need to embalm the body. If you don’t view the body, you can have a service just about anywhere like outdoors, restaurant, home, church, funeral home, or anywhere else you would like.
2. How Does the Cremation Process Work?
When someone dies, their body is picked up. It is then transported to a cremation location.
There will be paperwork to complete, and after some initial preparation, the body is placed in the cremation chamber with intense temperatures.
After cooling, the ashes are placed in a container and given to the immediate family.
The entire process takes anywhere from one hour or up to four depending on factors like the height and weight of the person.
3. How Much Does Cremation Cost?
Cremation costs average around $1,100, depending on where you live. Direct cremation is the most affordable. Direct cremation is when the body is cremated soon after death without waiting for a body viewing at a funeral or service.
You can also add other costs with a casket, funeral service, and other add-ons. Cremation services are typically much cheaper than a traditional burial.
You may want to ask the funeral home if they complete the cremation or if they source to a third party.
4. What Can I Do With the Remains?
There are plenty of choices for you to do with the remains. You can place them in a columbarium, scatter them, bury, or keep them in a special urn or case. You can also divide the cremated remains between family members or put them in different places.
Bury in a Cemetery
You can still bury a person in a regular cemetery. Some cemeteries allow two or three containers per adult-size grave, and some only allow one container per gravesite. Most cemeteries have a columbarium niche, typically in the mausoleum.
Scatter
You can also scatter the ashes on land and sea. You can put your loved one’s remains in an area that was special to them or has some meaning.
Keep at Home
You can also get a special container such as an urn, hand-carved box, or other display to keep your loved one near. You can then choose where to display the remains like on a fireplace mantel, on your dresser, or any special cabinet.
Other Choices
There are several options for cremated remains, and this is why people love the flexibility of preserving their loved one’s memory. Other newer options include incorporating ashes in bullets, jewelry rockets, fireworks, or coral reefs to name a few.
Getting Peace of Mind
Thinking about a funeral is never easy. Hopefully, this article answered some of your questions about the cremation process. This option has gained popularity because of the cost savings compared to a typical funeral and also because of the flexibility to hold a service at any time.
Are you looking for other advice about family either your kids or your parents? If so, keep checking out our site for more informative articles.
