The Cremation Option: An Introduction
Losing a loved one is an extremely difficult time in anyone's life. Not only do you have to deal with the loss of an individual extremely close to you and your family, you must also make decisions about how to dispose of the remains. One option that has become more and more frequently seen is cremation. This article provides some of the basic facts about cremation and will help you decide if it's a good choice in your situation.
Wishes
Perhaps the overriding factor regarding the choice of disposal of the body are the wishes of the deceased. If your loved one specifically requested that their remains should be cremated then, of course, their wishes should be respected. Naturally, the same logic should apply if the deceased preferred to have a traditional burial in a casket.
If your loved one left no instructions concerning their burial or disposal preferences, then the decision will be up to you and your family. In this case, a very important factor are the spiritual beliefs of the deceased as well as those of your family. Generally, in this situation, most people will choose an option that fits closely with their spiritual or religious beliefs.
Option
Funeral homes typically offer a wide variety of cremation services. For example, one option is to have a viewing first and then have the cremation performed directly after the viewing. Another choice is to have a memorial service without a viewing and then have the cremation afterward. You can also arrange with the funeral home to have a memorial service at an outside venue with some special meaning to a deceased or your family.
You also have several options regarding the disposal of the remains once the cremation has occurred. Of course, you can have them placed in an urn and simply keep them in the home of a family member. Other options are burying the remains in a cemetery or having them kept in the cemetery in a structure above the ground.
You may also want to consider scattering the ashes of the deceased in a location that had a special meaning to them. Keep in mind, however, that federal, state and local laws govern the scattering of the ashes of human remains. So always check local and state laws before you attempt to dispose of any ashes in this manner.
For more information on this subject, contact a funeral home in your city or town.
Share
