Cremation

During cremation, a body is turned into ash by being burned at a very high temperature. As of 2015, it had passed burial as the most popular way of dealing with the body of a loved one.

In deciding on a cremation, you have two choices: direct cremation, or cremation with a viewing.

About direct cremation:

• It does not include a formal funeral or pre-funeral events. You can hold a memorial service that you can plan separately.

• It is the cheapest of all of the options at around $650.

• The crematory will pick up the body, cremate it, and return the ashes to you in an urn.

• You can provide them your own urn, or they will give you the remains in a container (which may be a cardboard box).

• You do not have to purchase a casket.

For cremation with a viewing:

• You can have a traditional viewing with an open casket before the body is cremated

• It is more expensive

You also have many options for what to do with the ashes. Here are a few suggestions:

• Keep them in the home in an urn. You can find urns for purchase here:

  • One World Memorial

  • Amazon

• Bury them

• Put them in a crypt or niche in a cemetery

• Bury or scatter them in a favorite spot such as a forest or at sea (check local laws to make sure you are doing this safely)

• Less common ideas:

  • Turn them into a coral reef

  • Turn them into a tree

  • Turn them into a diamond

You can find providers by going to the Cremation Association of North America. Select your location, then select “Crematory” under “Business Classification.”

---