Cremation
When someone is cremated, instead of burying them in a cemetery, they cremate (burn) the remains at ultrahigh
temperatures. Through the cremation process the body is reduced to ash and small, pebble-like bone fragments.
When a person decides to go with a full service cremation instead of a traditional burial, the only difference between the two is what is done with the body once the cremation service is complete. Both dispositions can include a viewing of the body, funeral service, and graveside service if that is what you choose.
Cremation Facts
As mentioned earlier, cremations are progressively becoming more and more popular. Take a look at the statistics provided by the Cremation Association of North America, August 2009:
2009 U.S. Cremation Rate: 36.86%
1999 U.S. Rate: 25.04%
2009 Canadian Cremation Rate: 68.4%
2009 Top 10 U.S. States by Percentage of Deaths Cremated:
Traditional Burial Cremation
Plot $2,100
Headstone $1,000
Vault $600
Opening/closing $300
$4,000
As you can see, you will save money because you don’t have to buy as much. If you choose to have ashes scattered or preserved in an urn at home, you don’t have to buy a plot, headstone, or pay for opening and closing costs.
Scattering Cremated Remains
While it is permissible in all states to scatter cremated remains, there are legal requirements. Be sure you check with the local funeral home to see what rules and regulations your state/area has. Here are a few guidelines
you should know about:
Another added bonus to cremation is the discount on the cremation casket. Cremation caskets are usually cheaper than earth burial caskets, or you can select an alternative casket if you choose. An alternative casket is basically a thin plywood or cardboard box that the funeral home will use to perform the actual cremation in.
Typically you will not use an alternative casket for the viewing (if you select a viewing), but you can if you want to save money. Rental caskets are available, but it usually costs as much to rent as is does to buy. There is not much to an alternative casket so if you decide to use it for the viewing, make sure you personalize it as much as possible. For example, you may want to use your loved one’s favorite pillow to rest his or her head on. You may also want to use a favorite blanket as a liner. This style of viewing can make the lasting memory personal and touching, while at the same time fairly inexpensive.
If you don’t want to scatter the remains, or you don’t want to store them in the home, cemeteries have nooks and small burial plots that you can purchase to store the remains of your loved one. They are usually less expensive than a standard burial plot, but you still have to buy the marker, plot, and pay for opening and closing; thus, effectively defeating the purpose of choosing the cremation to save money.
Consider scattering the ashes or retaining them in an urn. Instead of purchasing a nook to store the cremated
remains of your loved one, have them scattered in their favorite outdoor site or keep in a beautiful urn at your home.
UrnsIf you decide to have the ashes scattered or stored at home, you will need an urn to store the ashes in. Urns
come in all shapes and sizes. They range anywhere from a kitchen Tupperware bowl to an intricately hand-carved
wooden box.
Urns are just like caskets in that there are a lot of options out there that will help save you hundreds of dollars. If you look online for discount urns you will find hundreds of sites that will take great care of you. Refer to the Resources section at the end of the book to help you find a discounted urn.
Purchase your urn from an outside source. Don’t be afraid to look outside the box too. Cigar humidors, cherished vases, and other personalized containers will also work as unconventional urns. For example, you can purchase a simple, beautiful vase or a wooden cigar humidor for $100–$300. It will work perfectly for the final resting place of your loved one, and it sure beats spending $1,000 for something that essentially has the same use.
Another idea to take care of your cremation storage needs is to try and make your own urn. You can find kits online that allow you to customize and build your own urn, and best of all, they are inexpensive.
Look outside the box for alternative “urn” containers. Purchase a vase or cigar humidor that doesn’t fall under the urn “title” to avoid paying for overpriced merchandise. These urn alternatives are just as beautiful and will work perfectly for the intended purpose.
Direct Cremation
There is a second type of cremation called a direct cremation. When somebody says, “I want to go the cheapest
way possible,” a direct cremation is the way to do it. If you decide to have a direct cremation, there are no services, viewings, or embalming. It is, quite literally, a “direct” cremation. Meaning, you call the mortuary, they pick up your loved one, bring them to the mortuary for the cremation, and mail the ashes back to the family.
That’s all there is to it!
Many people are fine with this type of disposition and it is a perfectly honorable way to handle the death of a loved one. Direct cremations may cost anywhere from $495–$3,000. That is a big price range for a commodity service so make sure you price them out. Most people find the cheapest direct cremations with local cremation societies. Look in the yellow pages or online to find one near you.
The absolute cheapest funeral possible is a direct cremation.
temperatures. Through the cremation process the body is reduced to ash and small, pebble-like bone fragments.
When a person decides to go with a full service cremation instead of a traditional burial, the only difference between the two is what is done with the body once the cremation service is complete. Both dispositions can include a viewing of the body, funeral service, and graveside service if that is what you choose.
Cremation Facts
As mentioned earlier, cremations are progressively becoming more and more popular. Take a look at the statistics provided by the Cremation Association of North America, August 2009:
2009 U.S. Cremation Rate: 36.86%
1999 U.S. Rate: 25.04%
2009 Canadian Cremation Rate: 68.4%
2009 Top 10 U.S. States by Percentage of Deaths Cremated:
- Nevada – 73.93%
- Washington – 69.62%
- Oregon – 69.24%
- Hawaii – 68.82%
- Vermont – 65.67%
- Arizona – 65.60%
- Montana – 64.81%
- Maine – 62.75%
- Colorado – 62.01%
- Wyoming – 61.76%
- Mississippi – 11.87%
- Georgia – 13.61%
- Kentucky – 14.82%
- Alabama – 15.42%
- Louisiana – 19.46%
- West Virginia – 20.76
- Tennessee – 22.85%
- South Dakota – 23.90%
- Indiana – 24.46%
- Arkansas – 25.49%
Traditional Burial Cremation
Plot $2,100
Headstone $1,000
Vault $600
Opening/closing $300
$4,000
As you can see, you will save money because you don’t have to buy as much. If you choose to have ashes scattered or preserved in an urn at home, you don’t have to buy a plot, headstone, or pay for opening and closing costs.
Scattering Cremated Remains
While it is permissible in all states to scatter cremated remains, there are legal requirements. Be sure you check with the local funeral home to see what rules and regulations your state/area has. Here are a few guidelines
you should know about:
- There isn’t a “scattering police” to make sure you follow the rules. Some people may follow the “don’t ask, don’t tell” rule when it comes to the location of the scattering, but please be courteous.
- If scattering in the ocean, you need to be at least 3 miles from shore.
- If scattering on private land, you should get permission.
- Scattered remains should be scattered in a manner that makes them unrecognizable as scattered remains.
Another added bonus to cremation is the discount on the cremation casket. Cremation caskets are usually cheaper than earth burial caskets, or you can select an alternative casket if you choose. An alternative casket is basically a thin plywood or cardboard box that the funeral home will use to perform the actual cremation in.
Typically you will not use an alternative casket for the viewing (if you select a viewing), but you can if you want to save money. Rental caskets are available, but it usually costs as much to rent as is does to buy. There is not much to an alternative casket so if you decide to use it for the viewing, make sure you personalize it as much as possible. For example, you may want to use your loved one’s favorite pillow to rest his or her head on. You may also want to use a favorite blanket as a liner. This style of viewing can make the lasting memory personal and touching, while at the same time fairly inexpensive.
If you don’t want to scatter the remains, or you don’t want to store them in the home, cemeteries have nooks and small burial plots that you can purchase to store the remains of your loved one. They are usually less expensive than a standard burial plot, but you still have to buy the marker, plot, and pay for opening and closing; thus, effectively defeating the purpose of choosing the cremation to save money.
Consider scattering the ashes or retaining them in an urn. Instead of purchasing a nook to store the cremated
remains of your loved one, have them scattered in their favorite outdoor site or keep in a beautiful urn at your home.
UrnsIf you decide to have the ashes scattered or stored at home, you will need an urn to store the ashes in. Urns
come in all shapes and sizes. They range anywhere from a kitchen Tupperware bowl to an intricately hand-carved
wooden box.
Urns are just like caskets in that there are a lot of options out there that will help save you hundreds of dollars. If you look online for discount urns you will find hundreds of sites that will take great care of you. Refer to the Resources section at the end of the book to help you find a discounted urn.
Purchase your urn from an outside source. Don’t be afraid to look outside the box too. Cigar humidors, cherished vases, and other personalized containers will also work as unconventional urns. For example, you can purchase a simple, beautiful vase or a wooden cigar humidor for $100–$300. It will work perfectly for the final resting place of your loved one, and it sure beats spending $1,000 for something that essentially has the same use.
Another idea to take care of your cremation storage needs is to try and make your own urn. You can find kits online that allow you to customize and build your own urn, and best of all, they are inexpensive.
Look outside the box for alternative “urn” containers. Purchase a vase or cigar humidor that doesn’t fall under the urn “title” to avoid paying for overpriced merchandise. These urn alternatives are just as beautiful and will work perfectly for the intended purpose.
Direct Cremation
There is a second type of cremation called a direct cremation. When somebody says, “I want to go the cheapest
way possible,” a direct cremation is the way to do it. If you decide to have a direct cremation, there are no services, viewings, or embalming. It is, quite literally, a “direct” cremation. Meaning, you call the mortuary, they pick up your loved one, bring them to the mortuary for the cremation, and mail the ashes back to the family.
That’s all there is to it!
Many people are fine with this type of disposition and it is a perfectly honorable way to handle the death of a loved one. Direct cremations may cost anywhere from $495–$3,000. That is a big price range for a commodity service so make sure you price them out. Most people find the cheapest direct cremations with local cremation societies. Look in the yellow pages or online to find one near you.
The absolute cheapest funeral possible is a direct cremation.