Some people turn to cremation over burial or entombment because of the convenience, finding it more practical or cheaper to handle ashes instead of a body. Others might be squeamish about the idea of decay and are attracted to the "sanitizing" effect of flames, while some people find it fitting with their spiritual beliefs. Whatever the reason, more and more people are choosing cremation.
Debra and the team at the Oviedo, Florida location were the best group of people I have ever had the opportunity to meet. My father preplanned his cremation with The National Cremation Society Oviedo office and when it came time to use the services they were great. I could not have had better service provided with compassion and kindness. All my questions were answered and each time I had to reach out to them I was provided with the utmost professionalism and immediate response. I could not be more pleased with the service and care provided during my family’s great… Read More
The cost of pet cremation depends on location, where the cremation is done, and time of cremation. The American Humane Society's cost for cremation of 22.5 kg (50 lb). or less pet is $110 while 23 kg (51 lb). or more is $145. The cremated remains are available for the owner to pick up in seven to ten business days. Urns for the companion animal range from $50 to $150.[126]
Debra received her degree in Mortuary Science from American Academy McAllister Institute in New York then worked as a Licensed Funeral Director/Embalmer for many years before relocating to Florida in 2004. After working a few years as a Licensed Embalmer in Orlando, she took some time off to be the primary caregiver for her elderly father. Debra joined the Oviedo team in 2019. She is very happy to be back and proud to be serving our families as they are going through their most difficult times. In her free time she and her longtime partner love traveling and spending time with their family and friends – especially their fur baby, Kyson!
Biodegradable Urns – this includes urns that are made from bamboo, paper, cardboard, wood and other materials. The biodegradable urns for ashes come in all different shapes and sizes and can be urns that grow trees, urns for scattering ashes, or designed to be used as burial urns and as water urns. As more people are eco-conscious, these environmentally friendly urns are becoming extremely popular and are considered by many to be affordable urns. The cost of a biodegradable urn ranges from $60 to $400. Below we higlight a few of the more popular biodegradable urns.
The average cost of a direct cremation is $1,100. In certain places, such as New York City, the cost of a direct cremation can be thousands of dollars. On the other hand, there are smaller towns that have direct cremations being offered for under five hundred dollars. With this wide range in cost, it is important to do your research and get a few quotes before making a decision. It is generally a good idea to ask friends and family for a referral, if possible. Be sure to understand exactly what is being provided with each quote. For example, is it just a cremation? Does it include a cremation casket that;s used during the actual cremation? Will there be a viewing? What about a memorial service? Does the cost include transporting your loved one? The key is to ask questions, and many of them. Make sure you fully understand the cost and what is being offered for the cost you are quoted. Far too often a family, in their time of grief, won’t fully understand what is being offered by the provider for the price they’re quoted and end up paying much more than expected for last minute add-on services.
However, Protestant churches welcomed the use of cremation at a much earlier date than the Catholic Church; pro-cremation sentiment was not unanimous among Protestants, however.[96] The first crematoria in the Protestant countries were built in the 1870s, and in 1908, the Dean and Chapter of Westminster Abbey—one of the most famous Anglican churches—required that remains be cremated for burial in the abbey’s precincts.[97] Today, “scattering”, or “strewing,” is an acceptable practice in many Protestant denominations, and some churches have their own “garden of remembrance” on their grounds in which remains can be scattered. Other groups also support cremation. Some denominations, like Lutheran churches in Scandinavia, favour the urns being buried in family graves. A family grave can contain urns of many generations and also the urns of spouses and loved ones.
Contrary to popular belief, the cremated remains are not ashes in the usual sense. After the incineration is completed, the dry bone fragments are swept out of the retort and pulverised by a machine called a Cremulator—essentially a high-capacity, high-speed blender—to process them into “ashes” or “cremated remains”,[56][57] although pulverisation may also be performed by hand. This leaves the bone with a fine sand like texture and color, able to be scattered without need for mixing with any foreign matter,[58] though the size of the grain varies depending on the Cremulator used. The mean weight of an adult’s remains is 2.4 kg; the mean weight for adult males is about 1 kg higher than that for adult females.[59] There are various types of Cremulators, including rotating devices, grinders, and older models using heavy metal balls.[60] The grinding process typically takes about 20 seconds.
Though many people want their cremated remains (or “ashes”) to be scattered in a personally meaningful place, and some families keep ashes at home, more and more people are finding that a designated place in a cemetery is a lasting alternative to help bring healing and lasting remembrance. Cremation cemetery options include in-ground urn burial, mausoleum entombment, cremation niches, cremation benches and pedestals, columbaria and scattering gardens.
Shipping: Depending on the situation and what a loved one’s wishes are for a final resting place or memorial, shipping might be required. The United States Postal Service allows shipping of cremated remains via Priority Mail or Priority Mail Express services. The cost of shipping depends on how large or heavy the package is, how far it must travel, and how fast it needs to arrive.
Eco-friendly funerals are on the rise and may save families hundreds – even thousands – of dollars on funeral costs depending on the style chosen. Biodegradable caskets are often much cheaper than traditional caskets. The Green Burial Council offers a list of vendors who have green burial-certified products that can be used for your final arrangements.
Most final expense insurance companies will give you a free final expense life insurance quote to help you determine what insurance options are available to you. Because these policies offer smaller death benefits, final expense insurance usually doesn’t require a medical exam or physical. Coverage can often be issued based on answers to health questions on the application. Burial insurance for seniors is a great fit because of its affordability and easy application process.
To help protect you from overspending on funeral costs – or if you want to make sure your loved ones are not burdened with your funeral debt – write down your preferences ahead of time, starting with whether you prefer to be buried or cremated. It’s also a good idea to list the type of service you prefer (a traditional viewing, a graveside service, or cremation), as well as the place of service (at a church, funeral home, or cemetery).
You may be able to avoid all cremation costs if you decide to donate the body to medical science or research. Medical schools will cremate your remains for free, and either bury or scatter your ashes in a local cemetery or return them to your family, although it may take a while for them to do so. You can call the National Family Service Desk, which operates a free referral service at 800-727-0700.