An affordable and flexible option for respectfully putting a loved one to rest, cremation has been growing in popularity over the past decade. Although more people are choosing cremation, there are still some misconceptions about the process. If you’re looking for cremation services in Clearwater, these useful facts can help you make an informed decision.
What Is Cremation?
An alternative to traditional embalming and burial in a coffin or casket, cremation is a method of body disposal that utilizes an industrial furnace called a cremation chamber to incinerate a deceased person’s body. Any medical devices such as pacemakers are removed before cremation. The process takes about three hours to complete.
The remains, sometimes called cremains, are reduced to basic chemical compounds such as gases, ashes and mineral fragments. Any remaining bone fragments are carefully removed and processed into a fine ash. Remains are then placed in an urn or another vessel for the family to do with them as they wish. Families may choose to keep their loved one’s ashes at home with them, inter them at a cemetery or memorial site or spread them at a special location (or locations) to celebrate the person’s life.
What is Direct Cremation?
Direct cremation involved cremating the body soon after death with no embalming, viewing or visitation. With the cost of traditional funerals and burials on the rise, families often choose this option because it is affordable and allows them to take time making arrangements for a memorial or dispersal service at a later date.
What is Cremation Pre Planning?
Cremation pre planning is a valuable tool that allows you and your family to make arrangements before your passing. It enables you to make your wishes known and eases the emotional and financial stress some families face when tasked with making arrangements for a loved one who has recently passed. Crematories that provide cremation services for veterans often recommend pre planning, as it offers an international travel protection plan that takes care of transportation and arrangements if a loved one unexpectedly passes away far from home. Pre planning also allows you to ‘lock in’ the current price of services.
What Should You Look for In A Cremation Facility?
It’s important to choose a clean, professional facility that is properly licensed and permitted for cremation services. Look for knowledgeable professionals who will treat your loved one like a member of the family and provide compassionate grief support for your family.
A good crematory will transport your loved one to their facility and make sure you know where they are at all times. Reputable crematories will contact the Social Security Administration for your family and give you a copy of the death certificate. You should be able to purchase more copies for a minimal fee. They will provide a basic urn for your loved one’s remains. You can choose from a variety of urns and keepsakes that can be personalized later.
Contact Florida Family Cremations To Learn More About Cremation
Still, have questions about what cremation is? At Florida Family Cremations, our skilled, compassionate team is here to help you deal with the loss of your loved one. For more information, call us today at 727-223-5911. We serve Pinellas, Hillsborough, Pasco and Manatee Counties, 24 hours a day, seven days a week.