The death of a loved one brings with it a plethora of issues including the emotional turmoil of grief and pain. There are also many difficult decisions to make and most of them often involve finance. Traditional funerals cost a lot of money with expenses often running into multiple thousands of dollars.
Traditional burial rites differ from religion to religion and culture to culture but these days people are opting more and more for ease in every sense of the word which means choosing the simplest rites for their loved ones. One tradition that has been from time immemorial is cremation. You can visit this site: https://www.cremationassociation.org/ for information on the history and evolution of cremation.
Cremation can be infused into different burial rites and traditions but one that is quite cost effective is direct cremation. This is a situation where the deceased is cremated immediately after death without any ceremony or rites. This option is quite affordable for the family of the deceased but yet simple and respectful.
In this article, we will explore this option and how families can find the cheapest service without compromising the dignity of the deceased and legality. We will also look at the benefits and share tips on what affects pricing, so stay with us…
What is Direct Cremation?
This is the most basic type of service available for the incineration of deceased persons and as we mentioned already, it involves cremating a body immediately after death without any formal ceremony. This simple process enables families to hold private or customized service or ceremony whenever and however they want.
The process oftentimes includes the following: -
- Transporting the deceased to a crematory
- Filing the necessary paperwork such as death certificates.
- Preparing the body for incineration process
- The cremation proper
- Returning the remains to the family
The focus of this whole process is to keep everything uncomplicated and pocket-friendly. It provides the necessary services for respectfully disposing the remains of a deceased person without the extra costs that come with traditional burial ceremonies.
Why Choose Direct Cremation?
There are many reasons why a family will go for this option and they are as follows: -
- Affordability- This option is by far cheaper than regular funerals because it eliminates the need for embalmment, transportation to and from cemetery, viewing rooms and other expenses.
- Simplicity – The processes in this option are pretty straightforward and it reduces the stress of organizing a complex ceremony at such an emotionally tasking period. You can click here for tips on how to deal with grief and loss
- Flexibility- One serious benefit of this option is that it allows the family to plan whatever ceremony they want for the celebration of life later and anywhere they want. This flexibility is not available with traditional options because of the need to schedule a funeral immediately.
- Environmentally Friendly – Direct cremation is considered a more environmentally friendly option because it eliminates the need for embalming which uses chemicals and the use of caskets.
What to Expect from the Cheapest Direct Cremation?
The following are what you should expect from a pocket-friendly process: -
- The basic services of a crematory or funeral director
- Transportation of body from place of death to crematory
- Filing of death certificate and cremation permit
- The cremation proper
- A simple container or urn for the ashes
The following are not included: -
- Visitation or viewing
- Cosmetic preparation or embalming
- A service at the chapel or crematory
- Obituaries, tributes or flowers
All these are extras can be handled separately or added at extra cost
How to Find the Cheapest Direct Cremation Provider 
You can find the cheapest service provider for this option by bearing the following tips in mind as you search: -
- Compare Local Providers – You can find the cheapest provider by searching online. Type in keywords like ‘cheapest direct cremation’ or affordable direct cremation’ plus your city. This search will bring up the names of service providers in the city or neighboring regions. Compare them to find the one that best suits your needs.
- Ask About Packages – Ask about their packages and what they entail. Make sure that the quote includes paperwork, transportation and return of the cremated remains.
- Look out for Hidden Fees – Oftentimes, unscrupulous service providers advertise low prices but there are hidden fees such as: - fees for expedited death certificate, charge per mileage for transportation, fees for container upgrade, priority scheduling costs or witness cremation. Reputable service providers such as Aura Funerals know that transparency is very important and speaks great volumes about their integrity so they will not hesitate to give you full disclosure of costs.
Tips for Planning a Meaningful Memorial After Cremation
Even if you do not have a traditional funeral for a loved one, you can always honor and celebrate their life. The following are some tips to help you: -
- A small ceremony for scattering the ashes in a location that means so much to the deceased and their family.
- An indoor gathering with favorite music, photos and shared memories.
- Plant a garden or tree as a memorial.
- Create a keepsake for memorial from the cremated remains (a biodegradable urn, jewelry or artwork)
- Hold a virtual ceremony of your family members are in different locations.
Can You Prepay for Direct Cremation?
Yes, you can prepay for this option and get the following benefits: -
- Lower rates are locked in
- Control over your final wishes
- Reduction of burden on your loved ones
Make sure you sign this agreement with a trustworthy service provider so that they will not renege on the agreement upon your demise. Also make sure that this agreement is written in unambiguous language.
Legal Considerations and Paperwork
The following are documents that you must have to proceed with direct cremation: -
- Death certificate
- Signed form authorizing the process
- Permit from local health department
- ID of the deceased
The service provider typically helps with this process more especially, if the person died in a hospice or hospital.
Conclusion
Losing a loved one is not an easy thing to experience and funeral expenses do not make it any easier. That however, does not mean that you cannot plan a respectful and meaning funeral on a budget. That is why the option of a direct cremation is worth considering. You can also visit this site: https://www.gofundme.com/ for tips on how to raise money for a funeral.
We have shared sufficient information about direct cremation to help you see whether it is a good option for you or not. If you decide to go this route, ensure that you ask the right questions and compare at least 3 service providers before making a choice.