CREMATION OPTIONS

One of the first decisions to be made is whether your loved one wanted to be buried or use cremation services. This decision is much easier on the family if the deceased had expressed their desire for one of the other while still living. Many individuals have very strong beliefs with regards to burial versus cremation and respecting the wishes of the deceased often weighs heavily on the hearts and minds of the family members. There may be circumstances surrounding the death of the loved one that prevent family from following through on their wishes and having an alternative plan is important.

Additional Memorial and Cremation Service Add-ons

In addition to choosing a casket or memorial cremation urn, a memorial service, wake, burial and reception may also need to be planned for. Funeral homes are a great resource and you should check with a variety of funeral homes in your area to get quotes. Flowers and limousine services are other typical choices that need to be accounted for when planning a memorial service and your funeral director will typically have a list of vendors you can call on. Churches are another alternative for getting information as are hospitals and the local yellow pages.

Additional services chosen for a typical memorial service may be:
· Flowers
· Limousine service
· Reception

Funeral Costs

Cost and the financial constraints of the family members is generally a major concern when planning for the burial or inurnment of the deceased. The high cost of funerals is not typically planned for and can cause financial hardship on the family. Advance planning in the form of a life insurance policy or even a small savings set aside can help ease the financial burden and make planning services a little less stressful. It is important to know the budget you are working with when planning the memorial service so that the appropriate and cost effective choices can be made.

Knowing your rights as a consumer may also make planning a memorial easier on the mind and pocketbook. Funeral directors are required by law to give you prices and quotes over the phone without gathering any personal information. Online shopping is another terrific way to shop for your funeral needs such as an individual cremation urn or a cremation casket or grave marker. The online prices are typically much cheaper than what you find in the funeral home as there is no overhead charge added to the price of the urn. Most online companies can overnight or two day air a cremation urn directly to your home or the funeral home.

There are a number of choices that need to be made when planning a funeral service in memory of a loved one that has died. Having an idea of the wishes of the deceased as well as any special requests of family members can help make a service that is special and memorable for all that attend and that is a touching tribute to the deceased. Budgets typically play an important role in the planning of a funeral service and knowing the financial limitations up front can save you in the end. Shopping for your crematory urn or other funeral goods online can save you hundreds of dollars. Patience and research will help families create a special and affordable service in memory of the deceased.

Get free articles in various topic for your website or blog content as much as you want at Article Directory: http://www.articlecompilation.com

Remember, Cremation Options is here to help you all day, every day with your funeral and cremation needs. We’re open 24 hours a day, 7 days a week. To contact us, simply call 1-877-989-9090. At any time of day or night, you will be able to speak with one of our trained, sympathetic and understanding representatives.

Burial Services, Cremation, Cremation Options, Cremation Urns, cremation casket, funeral

After a loved one passes on, it is natural to want to create a memorial in their honor. When the deceased has opted to be buried in a cemetery, the memorial used is normally the traditional headstone or marker form. The memorial may not be as straight forward, though, when cremation is the deceaseds selection.

Cremation services are becoming increasingly popular. In fact, in the United States it has increased dramatically over the last twenty five years. Currently, over 28% of final arrangements are now cremations. The Cremation Association of North America projects this number to increase to 46% by the year 2025.

The grieving process is the same regardless of the deceaseds final arrangements. The survivors will want to create a memorial to honor the deceased. The bereaved of those who have opted to be cremated have several options available for memorials. This need is satisfied through cremation memorials. The available cremation memorial options are varied, and also include those that are either indoor or outdoor memorials.

One of the most popular cremation memorial is the cremation urn. This urn securely holds the ashes of the deceased loved one. Cremation urns are available in a broad range of designs and materials. Traditionally, loved ones that want the urn for a permanent memorial will opt for the strength and durability that bronze has to offer. For others that want a less permanent memorial, there are other available options. Biodegradable paper urns will dissolve in water after two or three days. This type of urn is a very popular choice for burial at sea.

Sometimes those who are cremated also wish to be interred. In this case, multiple memorials may be required. The cremated deceased will be buried in a memorial urn. The burial spot may also be marked with a headstone, statue or plaque.

While memorial urns are both the more traditional and popular option, it is not the only choice available. Today, cremation jewelry is offering a way to keep the deceased close to your heart. This very personalized form of memorial is normally in pendant form. Inside the piece of jewelry, a small amount of the deceaseds cremated remains is held securely.

These pieces of memorial jewelry can be even further personalized. If the piece has a surface that can be inscribed, a laser may be used to etch in an image of the deceased loved one. There is also the option of engraving a name or date as well. Memorial jewelry allows the bereaved the opportunity to create a last memorial in tribute to their loved one in a form of their choosing.

Cremation memorial rocks are also an option for the bereaved. These memorials are manmade boulders that have been created to look like real stone. The cremated remains are securely held inside the memorial rock. This memorial may be placed in any setting. Some opt for memorial gardens, while others choose the back yard for the rocks final resting place. These durable memorials are built to last.

Get free articles in various topic for your website or blog content as much as you want at Article Directory: http://www.articlecompilation.com

Remember, Cremation Options is here to help you all day, every day with your funeral and cremation needs. We’re open 24 hours a day, 7 days a week. To contact us, simply call 1-877-989-9090. At any time of day or night, you will be able to speak with one of our trained, sympathetic and understanding representatives.

Cremation, Cremation Options, Cremation Urns, cremation casket, cremation jewelry caskets, cremation jewelry, Cremation Options, Cremation Services, memorials, urns

When an individual passes on, there are many decisions that must be made. One important decision concerns the remains. There are many different options for families of individuals who have died. The two most common ways to handle the remains of a loved one is to purchase a casket and bury them or have their remains cremated.

Generally the most traditional choice is a standard burial in a casket. Many families choose this option because they are able to visit a gravestone and know that their loved one is there. A standard burial is often preferred because the individual is being left alone and is at peace.

Cremation is another choice that many families make. Cremation is when the remains of a deceased individual is converted into ashes. This is a fairly common practice on individuals who may have been severely injured or disfigured in an accident or do not have any family members around to make decisions.

The decision to cremate a loved one is often difficult, but there is also an option that is a combination of the two. Once remains are cremated, there are placed in a urn. A urn is a container that stores the remains. Urns can come in various different styles, decorations, and sizes. There is a urn that is known as a burial urn. A burial urn is a specific urn meant for being buried underground, like traditional caskets. A burial urn is generally made out of specific material that will hold well underground.

Generally when compared to a casket, a cremation urn is considerably cheaper. If a burial urn is used and the individual is buried, you can still have a traditional headstone. There are no set limitations or rules on cremating and burying an individual.

In addition to a burial urn there are other burial options or accessories for a cremation burial. Many funeral homes or casket companies sell a special burial urn vault. The materials used, sizes, and styles will depend on where you plan on purchasing a burial urn vault. These vaults come in different sizes, but they are typically just big enough to hold a standard urn. These burial urn vaults are a protective way for urns to be buried underground. Just like caskets, burial urn vaults are typically decorated with various religious designs or they can even be customized for a family.

The decision to bury a family member is a touch decision to make. There are many tips and resources available for assistance with making this difficult decision. Cremation is a common practice used all around the world. The majority of religions accept and believe in cremation; therefore, it will generally not upset an individualís belief system. Handing the remains of a deceased family member is often a family decision. If the family cannot agree on a specific procedure, a burial urn may be a great idea. A burial urn allows remains to be cremated and buried all at the same time, generally pleasing all remaining family members.

Get free articles in various topic for your website or blog content as much as you want at Article Directory: http://www.articlecompilation.com

Remember, Cremation Options is here to help you all day, every day with your funeral and cremation needs. We’re open 24 hours a day, 7 days a week. To contact us, simply call 1-877-989-9090. At any time of day or night, you will be able to speak with one of our trained, sympathetic and understanding representatives.

Burial Services, Cremation Urns, cremation casket, funeral burial, caskets, Cremation Options, Cremation Urns, death, decisions, funeral

In this second installment, we will look at further steps that funeral home professionals can become more responsive when clients ask about cremation services as part of their funeral plan. As provided by Frances at Cremation Options.

OFFER CHOICES AND LET THE CLIENT FAMILY BE THE ONE TO SAY “NO” TO THEM

It is no secret that today’s consumers are demanding, and they demand choice in all of their purchases, including funeral, cremation, cemetery goods and services.  A minimal selection of merchandise and optional services and ceremonies means you are short changing yourself.  In my opinion it is a disservice to the client family.  What I learned many years ago on my practice has become one of my axioms: What you do for the burial family you must also do for the cremation family. 

Burial families are presented with an almost unlimited selection of caskets.  Yet at some funeral homes, cremation families are presented with an almost unlimited selection of caskets.  Yet at some funeral homes, cremation families are given a meager selection of two or three containers.  Urn selection can be downright embarrassing, with as few as three urns hidden inside a closet. Offering a wide selection of merchandise is an investment, not must an expense.  While almost every burial family is provided with information to make an informed decision, many cremation families receive no explanation and are left to fend for themselves. 

Without crucial information this usually results in the least expensive item or service selected.  Do some arrangers or funeral directors see their time as being too important to spend with a cremation consumer?  Do some owners berate arrangers who spend time with a family choosing cremation?  Rarely if ever will an arranger make a casket decision for a burial family but for many consumers who choose cremation, their loved ones are placed in a cardboard box, often without their knowledge.  When cremation families are presented with a choice of cremation containers (that are fairly priced, in logical order and well displayed in a room or presented in a book) and they are allowed to make their own decisions, it is surprising how often something other than a cardboard box is selected.  Smart, respectful arrangers have learned to not make decisions for the client and to allow the client to say “no” to everything (except the minimum requirement).  This increases revenues and enhances customer satisfaction.

FOCUS ON SURVIVORS

As a young arranger, focusing on the survivors was hard for me to understand.  Asking how they wanted the hair done, what shade of lipstick they wanted, what clothing to use and if they wanted a minister was not focusing on the needs of the survivors.”  For the most part, our training has focused on rendering care to the dead body and making as good a presentation as possible.  With traditional families, those who desire visitation or are concerned with the looks of the decedent, it is easy to talk about these matters. 

Except for minimum verification of identity viewing, many  families who choose cremation services do not equate viewing the body with cremation.  Your skills as an embalmer or restorative arts technician can be superfluous to them.  On the other hand, employing more of the “human touch” in your arrangements as a way to show the family that you are there to help them, not sell them. 

It is alright to assert your wisdom while educating people about the importance of saying goodbye and the need to recognize the death.  Asking who is who in the family, who are key friends and who should be included in planning are important questions.  Ask them to tell you about previous experiences they have had in attending funerals or farewells.  What is one thing they recall from other celebrations that they would like implemented at this time?  Remember many of your client families have watched TV programs such as “Six Feet Under” and “Family Plots.”  They have watched the funeral of Pope John Paul II, Gandhi’s body being carried to the funeral pyre, President Reagan’s funeral and more.  You might be surprised by what you hear.  You may learn how to be of further service, above and beyond just disposing or cremation the body.

SHARE AN AGENDA WITH THE CLIENT FAMILY AT THE BEGINNING OF THE ARRANGEMENT CONFERENCE

This is a critical step often overlooked or ignored.  Even if the family is adamant about wanting “only simple cremation services” or is experienced in funeral planning, one fact remains: everyone feels better when they know what will take place.  All professionals, especially those in personal service businesses, share an agenda with the client.  It is a mark of the professional.  Sharing an agenda helps the arranger maintain control, it demonstrates organization.  Without acting over-bearing an agenda lets the client family know what is expected of them as well. 

The best agenda is short and succinct, not a rambling dissertation.  For example, the arranger might say, “In the next hour and a half, we will take care of the legal documents and information for the death certificate along with completing authorization and consent forms.  I will review with you the services of our funeral home and ask you to make four decisions: what ceremonies you want and how you would like to say goodbye, what container you want for the deceased, a container for the cremated body and the final disposition of the cremated body.”

Cremation, Cremation Options, Cremation Urns, Funeral Planner, cremation casket, funeral cremation containers, Cremation Options, Cremation Services, Cremation Urns, funeral services

Cremation services-A federal appeals court upheld an Oklahoma law that allows only licensed funeral directors to sell caskets. The decision b the Denver based court upholds the December 2002 ruling of a federal judge in Oklahoma and sets the stage for a Supreme Court to decide whether states can regulate casket stores, internet sellers and other third-party retailers from selling caskets. In the August 23rd ruling the 10th U.S. Circuit Court of Appeals denied arguments from opponents that the law is too stringent and creates a casket monopoly that forces higher prices. The decision conflicts with the 6th U.S. Circuit Court’s ruling handed down in December 2002 which sided with casket dealers who had challenged a decades-old Tennessee law that said only licensed funeral directors can sell caskets. The 3-0 decision by the 6th Circuit Court said there was “no evidence in the record that licensed funeral directors were selling caskets that were systematically more protective then those sold by independent casket retailers.” “In fact, restricting sales of caskets to licensed funeral directors would seem to have an adverse effect on the quality of caskets,” the judges said. “The licensing requirement does not require consumers to choose more protective caskets or funeral directors to recommend them.” The judges added that the only difference between the caskets sold by the licensed funeral directors and those sold by casket retailers was that those sold by casket retailers was that those sold by the funeral directors were systematically more expensive.” In December 2002, United States District Judge Stephen P. Friot for the Western District of Oklahoma upheld the Oklahoma law restricting casket sales to licensed funeral establishments and funeral directors. Ironically, the plaintiffs in both cases were represented by the Institute for Justice, a Washington, D.C. based self proclaimed “merry band of litigators.” Friot ruled against claims that the law creates a casket cartel, driving up costs and taking away a consumer’s right to search for the best deal. Kim Powers, a Ponca City resident who sells funeral supplies via the internet, sued the state Board of Embalmers and Funeral Directors saying the law unconstitutionally limits her rights to do business. She and her partner, Dennis Bridges of Knoxville, TN, operate Memorial Concepts Online, selling caskets in states where it is legal. They say their caskets are hundreds of dollars cheaper than ones sold in funeral homes. Powers does not have a funeral director’s license but sells funeral supplies through the internet. Obtaining a funeral license in Oklahoma requires two years of college, a one year apprenticeship and the embalming of 25 bodies. State officials have said the law protects grieving families from fraud. Terry McEnany , director of the Oklahoma State Board of Embalmers and Funeral Directors, agreed with the decision. “I think this was a victory for Oklahoma’s state rights and also a variety for Oklahoma funeral purchasers,” McEnany said. McEnany said the Oklahoma Legislature decided that the best way to regulate funeral sales was to require they be sold through licensed, regulated funeral homes. Similar laws have been struck down in Mississippi and Georgia, but exist in many other states.

If you or a family member have any further questions or concerns with respect to cremation, cremation services, cremation costs or a direct cremation please feel free to contact Cremation Options toll free 24 hours daily at 1-877-989-9090.

Cremation, Laws, News, cremation casket Cremains, Cremation, cremation jewelry, Cremation Options, Cremation Remains, Cremation Services, cremation urn, funeral, funeral plans, funeral service