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.”
