What Are the Types of Cremation?

What Are the Types of Cremation?

There is not just one type of cremation available. Learn more about the different types of cremation services to choose from.

Did you know that many families are turning towards cremation these days?

Even with more people choosing this beneficial process, it’s easy to overlook the fact that there are several types of cremation available. These differences can make a family feel more at ease so it’s good to know what makes them each unique.

We’ve put together a small guide to help you understand these differences before making your choice.

Funeral Service

Holding a funeral service alongside a burial is a tradition that we’ve all come to expect. However, it’s important to know that you can have this same kind of service before cremation as well.

Many families find a funeral service helpful in beginning the acceptance stage of their grief. It also gives family members who live far away a final chance to see the departed. A funeral is the type of service that many people expect when there’s a loss in the family.

Since a funeral service includes a viewing of the body, it’s often held shortly after death. This doesn’t give faraway family members much time to arrive and can add extra stress to the entire situation.

Memorial Service

A memorial service is much the same as a funeral service, except that the body of the departed is not involved. Instead, friends and family come together to grieve without viewing the body.

This means that the body is often cremated before the memorial service, but it’s up to the family as to when they’d like the cremation process to happen.

Memorial services give the same cathartic experience as a funeral service. It also allows more leeway for when the service takes place. This gives everyone in the family a chance to come to a consensus as to when the service happens, which allows those with busy schedules to attend as well.

Direct Cremation

For families who don’t enjoy the idea of holding a funeral, there’s the option of cremation without any kind of memorial at all.

This gives families a chance to distance themselves from the death of their loved one, leaving everything in the hands of the professionals. It relieves a lot of excess stress since you’ll no longer need to worry about putting together anything elaborate.

One of the biggest benefits of choosing direct cremation is the cost. Without a memorial gathering, you’ll only pay for the cremation services. It’s a good choice for families who want to have the process done without any fuss.

How to Honor Cremation Ashes

Regardless of which type of cremation style you choose, there’s always the question of what to do with the ashes afterward. This all comes down to a personal choice between you and your family. There is no right or wrong answer as long as it brings you some kind of peace.

However, there are several favored options that many families select when it comes to honoring the cremated ashes of a loved one.

Scattering

One of the most frequent choices is to scatter the ashes somewhere meaningful. This could be a place of your loved one’s childhood or a place filled with fond memories.

You could choose to spread the ashes across your own property or even in a lake or the ocean. The possibilities are endless and it’s all up to you and your family as to which you choose.

By picking a place that has some sort of meaning to it, you’ll feel more at ease knowing that your loved one is resting in a place they enjoyed. However, not every family wants this kind of connection and they pick a place that’s simply beautiful or remote instead.

If you’d like to pick a private place in which to scatter the ashes, make sure to send an inquiry to the owner beforehand. Some people may not wish their property to be the host of scattered remains.

Burial

Burying ashes is another frequent choice for many families. This allows them to place a loved one in a lot alongside other departed family members without extra costs of the embalming process.

It gives family members a specific spot in which to visit the loved one, instead of having an entire area dedicated to that person’s memory.

Most cremation companies return the ashes to the family in a biodegradable urn. This means you’ll have the chance to bury your loved one without harming the environment.

Entombment

Does your family have a dedicated mausoleum or crypt in which you wish to place your loved one? Urns work well for this because they’re small and compact, allowing you to make space for future generations.

Mix Into Soil

Some families prefer to bring their loved one back to the soil, giving them a new purpose in aiding plants to prosper. All that’s necessary is adding the ashes to a garden or around a new sapling, and you’ll have a plant that symbolizes the beauty of your loved one’s life.

Keep at Home

There’s always the option to keep the ashes in a secure location inside your home. Some families want to know that their loved one is nearby and that they can visit whenever they want.

This presents a few extra problems. You’ll need to keep the urn away from children and pets and keep it in a dry place. However, having the urn nearby does provide a certain sense of comfort.

When you keep the urn at home, you have a chance to grieve in your own time. Plus, you’ll still retain the option for any of the other things listed above whenever you desire.

Take Your Time When Choosing Between the Different Types of Cremation

It’s never a simple decision to pick one of these types of cremation for a loved one. By knowing the differences, it’s easier to select something that best suits you and your family.

Make sure to take your time weighing the pros and cons so that you don’t put unnecessary stress upon yourself in this difficult situation.

Don’t hesitate to contact us at any time with questions about the cremation process. We’ll help you every step of the way.