The practice of cremation dates back to ancient times. Today it is more common in Western Europe and Japan than in the United States and Canada. However, the number of people in the U.S. and Canada selecting cremation as the form of final disposition has risen significantly during the past few years.

Since you're thinking about cremation, you may want to know more about the process and the many services available to you. It is simply the process of reducing the body to bone fragments through the application of intense heat. Over a period of two to three hours the body is transformed to a state of small skeletal fragments, not fine ash as some people believe. The cremated remains of an average adult weigh from three to seven pounds. They are generally placed in a small cardboard box or other temporary container by the crematory until the decision as to final disposition of the cremated remains is decided.

Certainly. Cremation does not limit your choices, but increases the options available to you. It in no way eliminates a funeral.

Optional services or ceremonies may precede or follow the actual cremation. Prior to the cremation there may be a visitation and/or funeral ceremony with the casketed body present. If a ceremony or service is conducted following cremation, the receptacle containing the cremated remains may take a place of prominence. This receptacle is most commonly an urn, which is taken to its final resting place following this ceremony.

Regardless of the order of events, it is for the benefit of the living that the arrangements for a ceremony are made. Viewing the body of the deceased can help bereaved persons begin to overcome grief by more readily accepting the fact that a death has occurred. Funeral ceremonies also have value in offering family and friends an opportunity to honor their loved one.

The decision regarding final disposition of cremated remains is usually influenced by the type of memorialization desired. Just as ceremonies offer value to the living, so does establishing a permanent memorial. It serves as a focal point for the remembrance of a loved one and can help in overcoming grief.

Usually cremated remains are placed in some type of permanent receptacle or memorial urn before being committed to a final resting place. The urn can be buried in a family plot or urn garden, where a marker or headstone may be used to mark the site. Sometimes the urn is kept in the home. The urn can also be placed in a memorial niche at a cemetery, where it may be viewed through a protective glass or sealed behind a memorial plaque.

Some cemeteries have special gardens where cremated remains may be scattered. In areas where it is permitted by law, cremated remains may be scattered over land or water. However, this decision should be carefully considered. Although the act of scattering over land or water may have some romantic appeal, it is an irreversible decision. If no permanent memorial site is established, survivors may later experience regret, feeling that the bond is forever broken. The emotional value of establishing a permanent memorial site is worthy of consideration. It might also be possible to plant a tree or flowers in a significant place to serve as a memorial to the loved one who died.

Funeral services are like anything else; the more elaborate the arrangement, the more it will cost. They can range from several hundred to several thousand dollars. Local customs which affect demand for the availability of facilities and services have an influence on cost.

The factors affecting cost include the type of service or ceremony conducted, the choice of casket or cremation container, etc. All aspects of funeral arrangements are a combination of personal preference and financial circumstances. Our funeral service professional can provide detailed information on all of the available options along with specific costs for each. He or she can also explain legal requirements and be sure all proper forms are completed.