There are many different kinds of cremation services in Orange Park, FL, all varying in cost and included services. One type of cremation that’s becoming very popular is direct cremation. But what is direct cremation? Why would it be a good choice for you and your loved ones?
Direct cremation means the body is cremated right after death without any preceding ceremony. Some funeral homes offer direct cremation, as do many crematory services. Direct cremations can be cost a lot less than funerals or other cremations as they skip potentially expensive add-ons like caskets and embalming. There is no visitation, wake, or viewing with a direct cremation, so the body doesn’t need to be embalmed. Family, loved ones, or executors can also choose to have the body cremated in a simple container, rather than a traditional and more expensive casket, as there is no need for ornamentation for a viewing or service. Direct cremation does allow for the bereaved to plan a memorial service at a later date after the cremation, allowing for scheduling flexibility so more people can attend. The longer timeline also allows the family extra time to make the service more creative and personal.
Most direct cremation packages include services other than the cremation itself, from transporting the body to the crematory to completing a death certificate form.
You are free to choose a traditional funeral home or a crematory service for direct cremations. Funeral homes will fill out the death certificate and bring the body to the crematory, which is oftentimes onsite at the funeral home. The Federal Trade Commission’s Funeral Rule has laws that protect your direct cremation rights such as:
- You are not required to purchase or use a casket
- The crematory or funeral home must furnish a wood box or alternate container for the direct cremation
- The funeral home or crematory must return the remains to you in an urn provided by yourself. If you do not provide an urn, they will return the remains to you in a basic container.
Don’t forget to make plans for the cremated remains. There are many options such as burying them in a crematory plot, columbarium, or pre-determined cemetery, or scattering them in a meaningful place. Do keep in mind, though, that there are added costs for internment like headstones, cemetery fees, grave markers, endowment or perpetual care, and columbarium or plot fees.
Direct cremation is a desirable option if you are looking to avoid costs such as preparing the body, casket, extensive transportation, or funeral services, or if you are looking for a simple way to honor the deceased. Schnauss North East Florida Funeral Home and Cremation Services offers a range of Orange Park, FL cremation services, including direct cremation. We would be happy to tell you more about our services and answer any questions you may have about direct cremation. Please give us a call today or pay us a visit to learn more about what we can do for you in your time of loss or of preplanning.
