In the last few years, the number of cremations has risen sharply. But even with its growing popularity, cremation is surrounded by misunderstandings, like it can’t be paired with a funeral service or be preplanned. The best way to dispel these misconceptions is to walk through what cremation is, memorial options, and how you can preplan your cremation services.
Cremation is a form of disposition, which is the manner that human remains are handled. Instead of a standard burial, where the deceased is placed in a casket and buried in the ground, cremation reduces remains to ashes that are then buried, stored, or scattered.
“If someone is preplanning and is considering cremation, I recommend that they visit a crematory and see how the process takes place, so that there is a better understanding of how it works,” said Christopher Robinson, president of the National Funeral Directors Association.
Before starting the preplanning process, you’ll need to decide which method of cremation you prefer.
This cremation process is the most commonly known and occurs after a funeral service is held. It involves placing the deceased inside a casket before incinerating both in an industrial furnace at a crematorium. The remains, also called cremains, are then collected and passed onto loved ones.
A direct cremation is similar to a traditional cremation, except no funeral service is held beforehand and a shroud may be used in place of a casket. It’s the least expensive cremation option.
Water cremation, or bio-cremation, occurs through a process known formally as alkaline hydrolysis. The deceased is placed into a container with a mixture of 95% water and 5% alkali and heated to a temperature that causes it to break down over time. The remains are returned to the loved ones for handling and memorializing on their own.
“When families choose alkaline hydrolysis, they can still plan a gathering of friends, as well as a meaningful funeral service,” Robinson said.
Water cremation, also known as green cremation, is considered a more environmentally friendly option because it requires less energy and cuts down on fossil fuels emitted through the process.
Robinson says it’s important to research whether water cremation is accessible in your region because “this technology is newer and is not approved by some states.”
It’s a common misconception that if you choose cremation, you can’t have a funeral service, but the truth is, you have a few cremation services options that can be preplanned.
The deceased is placed in a casket so a standard visitation for public viewing and a traditional funeral service may be held with the body present. Following the service, the cremation occurs and loved ones are given the ashes.
A memorial service is held without the body present and typically occurs after the cremation.
A celebration of life is a less-structured version of a traditional funeral service and focuses on honoring the person’s life vs. mourning his or her death. It can occur before or after the cremation. If it occurs beforehand, it follows the same process as a traditional funeral service, and if it occurs afterward, the ashes are present inside an urn.
After choosing a type of service, you’ll need to preplan where you want the ashes to be placed. Options range from inside a traditional urn to trends that may surprise you.
An urn is a large vase used to hold the ashes. It can be kept on a mantle, buried in a cemetery like a casket, or stored in a niche space, which is a recessed compartment in a wall above ground.
“If someone does choose scattering their loved one, I highly recommend they keep a portion of their cremated loved one and place that portion in a niche,” Robinson advised. “Some place where future generations can visit and see the name of their ancestor.”
Keep in mind, a niche can be a more expensive option than the average cost of cremation. While costs vary by location and cemetery, the average cost for a 9-inch cube cremation niche is between $750 and $2,800.
Casting involves throwing the ashes into the wind and can be done in nearly any location. Scattering can mean a variety of locations and methods, including trenching and raking. Trenching ashes involves digging a hole and placing the ashes inside, either directly or via a biodegradable urn. Raking ashes involves scattering ashes on the ground and raking them into the soil.
“An individual should make sure that wherever they are considering scattering their loved one, that they make sure it’s permitted and lawful,” Robinson says.
For example, permits are required to toss ashes in a national park, and some states forbid scattering ashes in freshwater, while doing so in the ocean is legal as long as specific regulations are followed in the process.
Creativity and technology have spurred new ways to honor the deceased with their cremains. Some include:
Even though the average cost of cremation can be more cost effective than burial, its expenses still add up when it’s paired with a funeral service. To avoid passing the financial burden to your family, you’ll need to choose a payment option while you’re preplanning.
Preneed Funeral insurance is used to fund a funeral service agreement between you and a funeral home. If you choose Preneed insurance, your funeral home partner will price all the elements you’ve selected for your personalized funeral. The total cost is the basis for your Preneed insurance plan. You can either pay the amount in one installment or through monthly premiums. Upon your death, the funds are used to pay the funeral home for your funeral.
Wellabe provides Preneed Funeral insurance not only to help you make your final wishes clear, but also to leave no expenses behind for your loved ones. Call 800-995-9010 or visit our regional managers page to connect with a funeral home partner near you.
Photo credit: iStock
Wellabe offers life and supplemental health insurance plans to help you prepare for good days and bad. We’ll always be here to empower you to be well — well prepared, well protected, and well loved.
Kelly Rayburn, AVP national sales and distribution at Wellabe, and Olga Villaverde, from Lifetime TV’s The Balancing Act, explain the importance of preplanning your funeral. While a difficult subject, advance planning can alleviate financial and emotional burdens for your family members.
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