Cremations have become increasingly popular in the last decade. According to the Cremation Association of North America (CANA), the number of people who were cremated in the United States in 2015 was 48.6 percent; by 2020, that index is expected to rise to 54.3 percent
Forbes attributes the increase in cremation procedures to several factors, including:
- Reduced affiliation with religious organizations; CANA statistics show that the 5 states with the highest cremation rates have the lowest level of religious affiliation.
- It is less expensive than burials and still allows families to have a traditional service if they wish.
- More personalization – many people view the ceremony as more meaningful because it gives them more options for storing or scattering the remains.
- If you are wondering about the cremation process, the following information can help you decide if it is right for you and your family.
How does direct cremation work?
Direct cremation is a process where your remains are transferred directly to a cremation facility without a prior funeral service. The direct cremation approach eliminates the purchase of a casket and other needs for a funeral service, So, it is considered to be often the most economical type of cremation.
Direct cremations generally do not allow vigils or visits beforehand. Most families will schedule a memorial service at a later date for friends and family to present their condolences.
Depending on your location, cremation services can range from $ 1,000 to $ 3,000 at the lower end of the range but can cost up to $ 6,000 and $ 8,000 depending on the services provided.
For example, traditional service before cremation like if there is a wake or a casket is needed can significantly increase your costs.
What is the cremation process like?
Before cremation, jewelry and other materials are removed and given to the family. All medical devices, like a pacemaker, are also removed.
All cremations are done individually. During the cremation process, the body is placed in a chamber and exposed to extreme temperatures (up to 1,800 degrees Fahrenheit), leaving only ash behind. The process generally takes between 1 and 3 hours depending on the size of the body.
After this procedure, a cool-down period is required before the remains can be handled. Then remains are placed in an urn (or another container) and then returned to the family.
What are the benefits of a cremation process?
There are many benefits apart from the lower costs, such as:
- The process is considered more efficient than traditional burials and can be completed in a shorter period of time after the death
- Cremated remains can be moved easily so that if the family of the dead person is relocated, the deceased can be relocated easily as well.
- The process demands more personalized storage than a traditional burial. Some options include:
- Add some of the scraps to a special locket or piece of jewelry
- Place the remains on a memorial bench, next to a tree or sculpture
- Turn the remains into a gem, similar to a diamond
- Spread the ashes in a natural area that had meaning to the deceased
Next steps
Although cremations are less expensive than traditional burials, there are still significant expenses. If you are considering cremation for yourself or a loved one, it is important to think about how you will pay for the procedure. The best solution is final expense life insurance, also called funeral insurance or burial insurance. It is specifically designed to help cover end-of-life expenses, such as funeral and cremation costs.
1. Do you know how much it costs?
The average cost of a cremation is generally a small part of the total costs incurred in a traditional burial or funeral.
Of course, there can be many elements of variation in the cost of this process, from the choice of the funeral home and cemetery to the services to be hired to complement (only cremation, cremation with commemorative ceremony, quality and quantity of amphoras, reliquaries, etc.).
As a result, cremations can start at 800,000 pesos, with a basic plan that would only include the cremation itself. However, this could increase if additional services are hired, such as ceremonies, music, flowers, among others.
2. Before the cremation is prepared
In general, psychologists agree that at this moment it is crucial to generate some ritual. Although the usual ceremonies cannot be carried out -or with some normality-, it is possible to do things that help us in the grieving process.
“At this time it will be important to generate rituals and ceremonies that make me connect with the memories of the deceased because they mark a before and after in life,” says Magdalena López, a psychologist with the Contigo en el Recuerdo program.
Although it depends on the company performing the service and the context of the death, there may be a waiting period of up to 48 hours, between the time of death and cremation, due to the margin that exists when completing and collecting all legal permits.
Before it begins, family members have a chance to say goodbye. You can do anything from a simple transition commemoration to a full funeral service. Remember also that you can pick up any personal object or valuable belongings after the service.
3. Now, what is the cremation process like?
All cremations are done individually. The process begins by placing the casket/container in the cremation chamber.
This chamber can reach temperatures of between 760 and 980 degrees Celsius – to ensure that all the remains are fully processed – and the entire process generally takes 1 to 3 hours, depending on the size and weight of the body.
After serving, a cool-down period is required before the remains can be handled, which may weigh between 1.5 and 4 kg. and they are generally white in color.
4. And what happens after cremation?
Unless otherwise specified, the urn or container chosen for the remains will be returned to the designated family, cemetery, or funeral home. But already at this point, there are several options for deciding the final resting place of the loved one:
– Place the urn in an indoor or outdoor mausoleum
– Bury the urn in a family cemetery lot or in a cemetery garden for urns
– Disperse the remains according to the wishes of the deceased
– Keep the urn in the home of a loved one
– Divide the ashes for those who wish to take more than one option
5. In the case of Covid-19, how is it done?
In the midst of the current contingency, the entire funeral process (wake, ceremony) must last a maximum of 90 minutes. A maximum of TEN people attending the ceremony and only TWO people at the wake is recommended, both inside and outside.
– All this, except for those determined as direct contacts, who must remain in quarantine.
During the funeral, the coffin must always be sealed, and after the ceremony
the place will be disinfected.
