Cremation funeral plans are a relatively new option when planning your final arrangements. In most cases, cremation allows for a more personalized final farewell with less emphasis on traditional church services and embalming or burial. In other words, your cremation funeral plans in the way you want to say goodbye should be made strategically in a way that suits you best.
What is cremation?
Cremation is the destruction of a dead body by heat, alone or in combination with water. Cremation can be used when no relatives take the body home or the family wishes to avoid a traditional funeral at all costs. In some cultures, cremation is seen as a reward for service and sacrifice; in others, it’s considered barbaric.
Laws concerning cremation
- There are very few federal laws concerning cremation. The main ones are:
- Alternative containers must be used for the transport of human remains.
- There are no weight or size restrictions on the containers.
- All funeral homes must keep records of cremated remains for at least 20 years or legal risk action.
So how does it work? And how does it differ from burial?
A “traditional” funeral usually involves several ceremonies where family members may be present and say their final goodbyes to the deceased. In a cremation plan, the “traditional” funeral is unnecessary, and there are no services. A funeral director will take care of the basic arrangements and help pack the body. The body is taken to a crematory in a closed casket, vaporizing at 1,500 degrees Fahrenheit, leaving behind only the skeleton.
Types and ways of doing cremation
Traditional Cremation: The body remains physically intact but is placed in a casket and interred in a place of its choosing (the final resting place). Alternatively, the body is cremated in a container made of combustible material such as concrete or refractory cement without a casket. This is usually used for an urn that will be buried later.
Urn Cremation: These are the most common types of cremation today. The body is cremated by itself in an urn – made of non-combustible material – and then that urn is buried later. Urn-type funeral plans are called direct burial ceremonies or memorial service plans. They do not require embalming, and the body can be interred in the ground.
Sterile: This type of cremation is not as common as general cremation. The body is placed in a sealable container that can be manufactured of any material, such as plastic, glass or metal. This container is placed in the cremation chamber, where it is exposed to the heat of combustion.
Conclusion
Your cremation funeral plans are some of the most important decisions you will make. A death in the family is a very sensitive and personal event. It would help if you considered our opinions, but ultimately, you have to live with the outcome of your choice.