Let Your Cremation Options Be Known

By Thelma Kent


Do not leave the details of how you wish to be interred fall to a grieving loved one. Make sure there is some type of document letting everyone know how you want to be taken care of after your death. While more people are leaving instructions to be cremated when they pass, they are not taking into account the different cremation options available.

If you do not specify any special desires, a direct cremation will be performed. Your body will be taken to the crematorium as soon as it is released by the authorizing agent. Once the process is complete, your ashes will be sent back to the agent in a simple box or can.

It is important to give you family and friends a chance to say goodbye. If you would like them to have one last chance to see you, a viewing before the cremation must be planned for. Decide where you would like this to occur and make any special arrangements yourself.

A memorial service is a good idea if there will be people traveling from out of state to pay their last respects. The ashes will be placed in an urn the family chooses and the service can be arranged for any time after that. Some people have the gathering at a house and some prefer it to be done in a funeral parlor.

If your remains are going to be buried, you may wish to have a graveside service. This can also be done if your ashes are going into a memorial garden or mausoleum. This can be performed alone or with a memorial service elsewhere.

You may have special music you would like to be played or have a special place you want your ashes scattered. The only way anyone is going to know what you want is if you tell them. Be sure to consider any special requests they may have as well; let them have a chance to grieve and say goodbye.




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