The loss of a loved one is never easy. Aside from dealing with the grief and sense of loss, family members have to put these feelings on hold to deal with more practical needs like setting up a funeral service, choosing between a traditional burial or cremation, and all the costs that come with a funeral.
If you are planning on having a loved one cremated you may be wondering about what the process is all about and how you can find the right service provider.
Read on to learn more.
Cremation: How is it done?
Cremation is the process of exposing the body of the deceased to intense open heat and evaporation. The process is done in a specialized chamber called a retort. Cremation reduces the body to bone fragments which are then ground and placed in cremation urns that are presented to family members or loved ones to take home. Cremation can be done after a traditional funeral or it can be done as a standalone process, especially in cases when immediate cremation is required for health and safety reasons.
Facilities that Provide Cremation Services
Traditional Funeral Homes
Your local funeral home may offer cremation as one of their services along with traditional memorial and burial services. This is a good option if you want one facility to handle everything for you, from viewing and memorial services to cremation. Facilities like cortnerchapel.com offer both services for burials and cremations as well as related services from viewing services to memorial ceremonies.
Cemeteries
Cemeteries may have their own crematoriums on-site or they could be affiliated with local crematoriums. Inquire whether or not your cemetery has this service or if they can recommend a crematorium in your area.
Crematoriums
You can also inquire with stand-alone cremation service providers. They specialize in cremation services but may not offer full funeral services that include memorials and viewings, unlike traditional funeral homes. If you are looking at time constraints such as when the body of your loved one needs to be cremated right away, a standalone cremation service provider can be a good choice.
Cremation Societies
Cremation societies may not be available in every city but they can be helpful in getting you a more affordable option for cremation for a loved one. These are membership-based groups that offer special pricing for members who choose to be cremated when they die.
Know more about cremation and the kind of services you can expect as you prepare to lay your loved one to rest.
