Cremation Services

A viewing prior to cremation?

Because the memory picture from the minutes immediately after death are seldom ones we would want to hang onto, but are hard to not visualize unless you have a more pleasant scene at the funeral home.  In addition, there is the important opportunity for family and friends to say goodbye. Most people are visual, and need the opportunity for a proper farewell, for closure.  We don’t just go “poof” when we die, so we should be careful not to deny survivors and friends this closure.

Can we scatter the cremated remains? 

While done for sentimental reasons, the physical scattering has been known to be a very traumatic, soul shaking experience for the one charged with such a responsibility. We never know what future development could occur on land where loved one's cremains have been scattered.

Is scattering legal?

In most cases it is not legal to scatter cremated remains. And with the advanced technology, cremains are identifiable. Some cemeteries have areas set aside where scattering is permitted, with the supervision of the cemetery. Also, scattering on private property with the consent of the property owner is currently legal. Such action though is subject to future interpretation of the law. Most real estate contracts contain a little known clause whereby the seller signs off that there are not human remains, to their knowledge, on the property. given the prevailing climate of litigation, this could very well be a new arena for lawsuits after future real estate transactions. 50 years from now who knows how the law could be interpreted, and who would want to leave future generation with a chance of such liability. 

Why is timeliness important?

As humans, our grieving process takes place in stages.  It is for this reason that funerals and the placement of the remains, whether a full body or cremated remains, should take place during that first step of the grieving process, normally within 7-10 days.  Our experience has shown that a delay for convenience sake has had adverse affects on the survivors, disrupting the grieving process.  Delay of the final committal of the cremated remains for 6 months just reopens the fresh wounds of grief. Closure needs to take place before healing can begin.  Death is never convenient, but it must be dealt with in a timely manner.

Is it less expensive? 

Sometimes, perhaps.  Most families choose to have some type of viewing, whether private or public, prior to cremation.  The only difference with cremation is at the conclusion of services, there is not a procession on to the cemetery that day.  Usually, the cremated remains are ready for proper interment within a few days, allowing burial or entombment to proceed in a timely manner.  

Only the most basic, direct  cremation, is truly less expensive than a funeral.  But this form of disposition is the one that triggers the most problems for the family long term, so one would need to weigh the cost savings now verses the possible emotional and counseling costs later. 

Red tape - and is a Funeral Director needed? 

Since cremation is an irreversible process, more paperwork, permits, and legal requirements must be met by the funeral director handling a cremation than is required for a funeral with traditional burial. Beware of cremation societies, alliances, associations, and cut rate operators advertising low cost cremation. One should question the legitimacy of any operator who is charging less than $2000 for the most basic of cremations. One of our seminar attendees stated it best when he said "that company, wherever they are and whoever they are, appeared overnight, and they could disappear overnight. It's not just about cost - I know my plans are secure and I have someone local who I see out in the community, who has a reputable track record."

Pre-plan Cremation or Not? 

In regard to such a statement of wishes, whether verbal or actually pre-arranged, we urge you to consider your survivors at the time of your death.  Since we don’t know how we are going to die, when, or where, the family may very well need some type of participation in the final decision before a body is just removed from the place of death and cremated without ceremony.  If you only retain one truth from this writing, may it be to leave some flexibility for your family at the time of death. 

What you think might be the easy way now could be a bitter legacy for the family to live with at the time.  After all, they likely will not alter your wishes, whether they are comfortable with them or not. 

From At Home to At Rest, we offer a path for permanent cemetery care of cremated remains.

Because the time will come when you know it's time for a permanent solution. Whether we are moving or downsizing, or dealing with the uncertainty of what will happen to the cremains in the future, many affordable options are available.

Niches 

The day will come when you know it's time for your loved one's cremated remains to have a final resting place on this earth.

Many families choose to keep their loved ones urns at home to close to them for a period of time following the passing. Circumstances change, we move, we get older, and there is a dilemma of who to pass the cremains on to after our own passing.

Crains have developed a fresh approach to solve the dilemma. Unlike traditional earth burial, our niches offer a less costly alternative for a dignified final resting place.

Whether in an outdoor or chapel setting, this permanent alternative honors your loved one for future generations to come. The niches are permanent and records are kept for posterity.

Our niches are economically priced less than ground burial.