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The funeral has many social, psychological and spiritual dimensions. Funerals provide a setting for bereaved to come together with friends and relatives to respond to the death of a loved one.

Within the structure of the funeral, the bereaved share in services and ceremonies that put life and loss in perspective. They acknowledge the death, tell the stories, regain a sense of community and offer support to each other. The funeral can be the first step to recovering from grief. There are many service options available to memorialize a loved one.

Choosing cremation does not prevent a family and friend from participating in the ceremonies of a traditional funeral. Cremation does not mean that a family will not be able to participate in rituals that are part of their family tradition or custom. Selecting cremation is merely selecting a method of disposition just like burial, entombment or making an anatomical gift.

There are several options for disposition of the cremated remains of a loved one. They include burial in a grave, inurnment in a columbarium, entombment, scattering (on land or at sea) or other respectful means of memorialization.
 

Service Options

The funeral ceremony or gathering is an important part of the grief process. When a family or individual selects cremation, they have many choices available to memorialize the deceased and begin their grief recovery process. Here are some suggestions you might want to consider when planning to memorialize a loved one.

You may have a ceremony or gathering in a funeral home or church with the loved one present in a casket. That casket may be open or closed. There may also be a ceremony without the body present, however, if the cremation has been completed, the cremated remains in an urn should be present.

Clergy, family or friends can conduct the ceremony or memorial. Fraternal organizations are often asked to participate. Most memorials are religious in nature. However, a gathering of family and friends can contain personal events such as a video presentation of the life of the deceased. Memory tables are set with items that were important to or symbolic of the person who died.

Places where services or gatherings take place are as varied as those who plan them. Churches and funeral homes are often used. Gatherings may take place at the site where the cremated remains will be taken for a final resting place; a cemetery, columbarium niche or a scattering garden. When remains are scattered at sea, the tribute is often moved to that location.

Regardless of where you plan to place the cremated remains of a loved one, a ceremony or gathering, a time to reflect and tell stories and receive the support of others is an important first step on the path to healing.

All circumstances are different. Local rules and regulations regarding both gatherings and the disposition of cremated remains should be obeyed. If you are in doubt, your local funeral director can be a valuable source of guidance and information. He has the professional experience and education to help you make these important decisions.



Cremation Disposition Options

BURIAL
Cremated remains may be placed in an urn. The urn is then buried. Regardless of where the burial takes place, the use of a cremation urn vault is usually recommended to prevent damage to the urn from the elements. Many people bury a cremation urn on standard size burial plots or within family plots. Some cemeteries have special plots set aside to accommodate cremated remains.
 

INURNMENT
Inurnment is the placement of cremated remains in an urn of the family's choice. That urn is then placed in a special shelter known as a columbarium. Columbaria are usually located in cemeteries or memorial parks. They may have covered fronts on cubicles that contain the urn. Others may have glass fronts that allow the urn and other memorabilia, such as a photograph, to be displayed.
 

RETENTION OF THE CREMATION URN AT HOME
Some families have special places that house the cremated remains of their loved one. Decorative urns of high quality metal, cultured marble, ceramic or natural materials are used for this purpose. In recent years, dividing the cremated remains among agreeing family members who retain them in individual miniature or token urns of their choice has become popular.
 

SCATTERING
The decision to scatter a loved ones cremated remains is selected by some. This scattering can be done in special cremation gardens, in private areas or at sea. We would advise you to check your local regulations before scattering. It is illegal to perform this scattering in most public areas.
 

CREMATION JEWELRY
Small amounts of cremated remains may be placed in specially designed jewelry to become keepsakes in honor of a loved one.