Are you planning a personalized funeral service for a loved one? One of the most unique and affordable types of funeral service is cremation. However, cremation does not prevent you from having all the benefits of a traditional funeral. This post focuses on the different types of services used by crematories. 

What is Cremation? 

Cremation is an alternative method for body disposal other than burial. In cremation, the body gets subjected to very high temperatures until only brittle bones remain. Then the brittle bones get pulverized into ashes. Typically, the body is prepared, placed into a box, and then put into the cremation chamber. Then remains are ground, placed into a container or an urn, and transferred to the family. 

The cremation duration depends on the size of the body the performance of the crematorium. The decision for cremation may be personal or from the family based on religious and cultural influences. However, most religions accept the cremation process as a dignified method of resting a deceased person. 

Benefits of Cremation 

• Cremation services are cheaper than burial services 
• Cremation has positive impacts on environmental conservation
• The ashes are portable, which increases flexibility 
• Cremation creates more room for creative funerals
• Cremation services are simple and widely accessible  

Cremation Services 

There are three significant types of cremation services available at crematories: 

Cremation with a Traditional Funeral

Typically, a cremation with a traditional funeral usually features a visitation and a funeral service. The process begins with a visitation for public body viewing. Thus, the body will be available for viewing in a cremation casket or a rented casket. In the case of an open-casket viewing, then the body undergoes an embalming process. Then a funeral service occurs within days of the death. This service can happen at the funeral home chapel, church, or hall. Ultimately, cremation occurs after the funeral service. Then the cremated remains get disposed of by scattering, burial, or are kept by the family.

Cremation with a Memorial Service

A memorial service aims at honoring the deceased person's memory through tributes and eulogies. The distinguishing factor in a memorial service is the absence of the body. Therefore, the cremation process usually precedes the memorial service. In this case, cremation can happen days, weeks, or months before the memorial service. Then, the urn holding the ashes may be present at the service. After that, the family may dispose of or keep the remains.

Direct Cremation

A direct cremation is the most basic type of service offered by crematories. In an immediate cremation, the body gets cremated immediately after death. Then the family receives the cremated remains without having to organize a funeral or memorial service. 

Contrary to public opinion, cremation services provide a wide range of options to personalize a funeral service. Engage a funeral home and explore the varying types of cremation services and their benefits.