Planning a Cremation Service

How to Plan a Cremation Service

When families begin cremation planning, many think that begins with the ceremony after the cremation has already happened. Although that is an important part of the process there are a number of steps that need to taken before beforehand. Before the decision to cremate even happens, a person must consider their cremation options, talk with their family members and funeral professionals, write their intentions (if they are pre-planning), and arrange for the transportation of remains. After that is done, the family can then focus on making funeral arrangements and picking components of the funeral service they would like to have. Deciding to have a cremation does not mean that someone must have a memorial service or celebration of life after the cremation happens. Although they are the more popular choice, a family can still have a traditional funeral service for their loved one. It is all up to the family, or the person themselves if they are pre-planning, to decide the arrangements that fit them best. We organized the 10 main steps of planning a cremation and separated them into before and after making the decision to cremate sections. We hope this page will provide you the information you need to make a decision about cremation and begin your cremation planning process. 

Before the Decision to Cremate is Made

 

  1. Learn about your cremation options. Review the cremation information found on our website. Consider the following questions


  • How do you feel about the idea of cremation? What about burial? Purely based on emotions, which one make you feel better?
  • Is cost a big concern for you? When it comes to end-of-life planning, are you most interested in saving you and your family money?
  • What does your religion say about cremation? Will your religious or spiritual beliefs have a great impact on the decision to cremate?
  • Do you have concerns about reducing pollution and being as environmentally friendly as possible?
  • How do you think your friends and family will react? What are their end-of-life plans?
  1. Engage your family in a discussion. We urge you to bring your family into the conversation to get a better idea about how they feel about cremation and what they would prefer. Use the questions below to prompt a discussion with them if you are unsure of how to start a conversation about end-of-life arrangements with them,
  2. Speak with a funeral professional. If there are any questions or concerns, please turn to us for the insights you may need at this point.
  3. Document your cremation intentions in writing. There are a number of forms we can provide to take this step. Call us to learn more.
  4. Arrange for the transportation of your loved one's physical remains. We can escort them to our facility or directly to the crematory.

 

After Deciding on Cremation

  1. Consider what kind of ceremony you would like to have. You can plan for a traditional funeral followed by the cremation or delay the ceremony until you have the time to plan a memorial service, celebration-of-life, or scattering ceremony.
  2. Ask for assistance from your family and friends. When making plans for a meaningful event, encourage everyone to get involved. Ask them to gather family photos, write down the stories they'd like to share, and talk to them about the best location for the event. If you would like a eulogy, this is the time to ask someone special to take on that task.
  3. Select the music, prayers, or other readings. You don't have to have any of these things but you should decide exactly what you and your guests will do at this event. There are endless possibilities.
  4. Contact guests well ahead of time. This is especially important if they will need to travel or request time off from work.
  5. Decide what will be done with the cremated remains. Commonly the urn is a visual focal point of a celebration-of-life. Will you then take it home? Will the scattering of ashes be a part of the event? You may want to purchase keepsake urns for family members.

Call On Us

We've had years of experience helping other families make cremation service arrangements. Never hesitate to pick up the phone to call us. We would be privileged to serve you and your family. Simply call to speak with one of our funeral professionals.
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