Our latest free ebook details planning cremation and all things relating to cremation and the cremation process. Everything You Wanted to Know About Cremation (But Were Afraid to Ask) includes the topics:
- An explanation of cremation and cremation terms
- Facts about cremation
- The importance and benefits of cremation planning
- How a cremation society works
- Why families choose to witness the cremation of a loved one
- Cremated remains options
- Reducing cremation’s carbon footprint
An explanation of cremation and cremation terms
Cremation is the process of reducing the human body to bone fragments using high heat and flame. Cremation is the final disposition of remains. For an average-sized adult, cremation takes from two to three hours at normal operating temperature between 1,500 to 2,000 degrees Fahrenheit. Questions answered in this chapter include:
- What is direct cremation?
- What is cremation planning?
- What are cash advances?
Facts about cremation
When you choose cremation, you do not have to forgo many of the elements of a traditional funeral. For example, there can be a full service held at your church or place of worship. Other facts covered in this chapter include:
- Cremated remains are not ashes
- Most religions allow cremation
- You can only cremate one body at a time
- Neither a casket nor embalming is required for cremation
- Options are available for services beyond a direct cremation
The importance and benefits of planning cremation
We have been raised to think seriously about a variety of things that make up our future plans: saving money to sustain us through retirement, creating an estate plan, having a will drafted and assigning direction for power of attorney. These are all wise ways people plan for the future. However, there’s one important topic missing: What happens at the end of your life?
This may be addressed through an insurance policy, but true end-of-life planning is infrequent.
There are many benefits for not only you but your entire family for planning ahead. You can approach your end-of-life plan much the same way you would your estate plan – such as putting assets into trusts for your children or other loved ones to pay for your end-of-life wishes.
Having a plan for the inevitable helps ease the burden your family will feel once you are gone. Likewise, if you are overseeing end-of-life planning for someone else, you can help lighten your own burden.
How a cremation society works
As the largest family-owned cremation provider in New England, our cremation price is usually 40% to 80% less than what most funeral homes charge. We offer our services for one low price, with no hidden fees. So, it doesn’t matter where you live within our service area; we can carry out your wishes simply, affordably and with dignity.
We realize that there are times when families prefer to meet with us in person. That’s why we have options available for in-person meetings in one of our offices or at your home. We can even make arrangements for you over the phone for a coordination fee.
Why families choose to witness the cremation of a loved one
Watching a cremation is not for everyone, though families may choose this service for a number of reasons:
- Religious traditions
- Closure
- Confidence
Cremated remains options
As cremation becomes the choice of more Americans, we’re asked about ideas for cremated remains—besides a traditional urn or keepsake. There are many options. We’ve seen cremated remains placed into holiday ornaments, glass paperweights and golf balls, among other things. Here are some ideas:
- Scattering remains
- Biotree
- Memorial diamonds
- Parting Stone
- Life Forest
- Coral reef
- Andvinyly
Reducing cremation’s carbon footprint
Choosing cremation instead of a traditional burial is trending nationwide. The cremation process releases carbon dioxide (CO2) into the atmosphere, but CSNH offsets its carbon footprint.
With our long-term commitment to Native of Burlington, Vermont, CSNH makes a positive change via projects that reduce greenhouse gasses (GHG) in the United States and aid those who are without something many of us take for granted – clean drinking water.
The first project CSNH supported was a clean water effort in Ethiopia. Donations helped provide more than 6 million gallons of filtered water to the Sidama Zone.
“By providing upfront funding for the installation of water filters in Sidama, Ethiopia, CSNH worked with us to offset the GHG footprint of their three crematories,” said Titus Kabega of Native. “We are honored to work with CSNH as they embark on this journey toward reducing their GHG impact. Each month’s commitment helps avoid 33 tonnes of CO2 from being released into the atmosphere over the 10-year life of the project.”
