Things to Consider When Arranging a Cremation

Arranging a deceased loved one’s final service is never easy. But it can be less stressful if they had preplanned their final service before their passing. But sometimes people die without having made such arrangements. If this happens in your family, you and yours will have to figure out whether to plan a funeral service or a cremation service in Lyons, IL.

While neither body disposition option is better than the other, there’s no denying that a lot of families plan cremation services rather than funeral services for their loved ones. If you and yours opt to go this route, there are some things to consider.

Consider Permanent Placement Options

You and your family need to consider options pertaining to the permanent placement or final disposition of your loved one’s cremated remains. Since this will be the final resting place of your loved one’s ashes, you and yours will want to carefully consider your options. Do you want to bring the ashes home in an urn? Do you want to bury the urn in a cemetery’s urn garden? Do you want to scatter the ashes in a location that has sentimental value?

Where do you place ashes?

There are many places where you can put your loved one’s ashes. With a scattering garden, the cemetery often provides a means of adding a permanent physical memorial like a plaque or grave marker.

Consider Whether to Keep Ashes at Home or at Another Site

Ashes can readily get misplaced through the years. It’s also possible that they could be disposed of by future generations since they may not wish to hold onto the cremated remains. So it’s a good idea to weigh whether to keep the urn at home or to keep in someplace else. You can, for instance, keep the urn in an urn garden or a columbarium. This will give you, your family, and friends a spot for visit the cremated remains of your loved one. And future generations will know where to go should they wish to research their family heritage. You can talk to a funeral director to get more ideas on various final disposition options to explore.

Is it okay to keep an urn at home?

For Catholics, it is not okay to keep urns with ashes at home. In 2016, the Vatican affirmed that Catholics may be cremated but should not have their ashes scattered or kept in urns at home. However, other religions do allow this type of practice.

Consider Service Options

Another thing to consider is whether or not to have a service or ceremony with the cremation. Some families prefer to hold a simple cremation without a formal service. In lieu of such a service, they might just gather in a private setting such as at a private home. But other families like to pair the cremation with a memorial or celebration of life service. This can be a great option if you want to have family and friends gather to honor the memory of a loved one.

How to plan a cremation service?

First, you need to learn about your cremation options and engage your family in a discussion. Second, ask a funeral professional and document your cremation intentions in writing. Lastly, consider what kind of ceremony you would like to have.

How long after the service does the actual cremation take place?

The cremation takes place within 24 hours after the service. A close member of the family may witness the cremation, as some religions require. If you would like to arrange this, you can coordinate with the funeral director when you make the funeral arrangements.

If you have any questions about cremation services in Lyons, IL, get in touch to learn how we can be of assistance. We’ll help you arrange a meaningful final service for your deceased loved one. For the assistance you need, give us a call to talk to one of our staff members, pay us a visit to talk with someone in person, or check us out online at https://www.johnsonnosek.com/.