Understanding Your Options For Funerals And Cremations

If you want your body to be cremated, then you should make your wishes clearly known to your family. You may not know this, but there are a few options that you need to think about when it comes to cremation and the different services that you want. These services may change the types of things that will occur to your body, so keep reading to learn about them.

Viewing and Cremation

Some people choose to have traditional aspects of a funeral along with cremation. This is entirely possible and can include a viewing in a casket and a ceremony. In this situation, the cremation can occur immediately after the viewing and funeral. Typically, there are two days of viewing and the funeral the day after. 

Since a more traditional viewing and funeral will require your body to be exposed to the elements and the open environment, your body will need to be embalmed. And, you will need a coffin for the viewing which will also serve as the final receptacle for the cremation. 

Keep in mind that the cremation, casket, and embalming can increase the costs of the funeral by quite a bit. If you do want to reduce costs, then you may be able to arrange for a coffin rental for the viewing. However, only some states allow this due to sanitation concerns. Liners will need to be purchased separately if this is something you want to do. 

If you feel strongly about the traditional ceremony, you can also rent a casket for the wake without actually having your body contained within it. This way, you do not have to buy the liner, and the funeral can be held like a closed casket ceremony.

Cremation and Later Ceremony

Some people choose to have their ashes presented at the funeral instead of their body. In this situation, your body will be cremated quickly after death. A cremation within about 48 hours means that no embalming is necessary. However, even though your body will not be viewed, you do need some sort of casket. This will hold your body so it can be placed within the cremation chamber. 

And once the cremation is completed, your ashes can be placed in an urn for a funeral whenever your family desires. The urn is often displayed during the ceremony, much like a casket. If you want the ashes buried, then they can be transported to a burial plot at the end of the funeral, just like a traditional ceremony.

If you want to know more about cremation services and the types of options that are available to you, speak with a funeral home.