What To Expect When You Opt For Cremation Services

If this is your first time being in charge of the planning of a funeral, you may not know what to expect with the cremation services. To help you become better prepared for what is about to happen, you will want to check out the following points.

You Can Still Have A Viewing

Do not make the mistake of assuming that you have to pick a standard burial service in order for friends and family to pay their final respects at a viewing of your loved one. Those who are scheduled to be cremated can still be prepared for a viewing. You should not have to purchase a casket for this, as it will not be used in the actual cremation process. However, one is needed for the viewing so you can ask the funeral director about renting one from them.

You Will Be Given Back Personal Items

Many funeral homes will not cremate someone with jewelry or other things on them because they want the ashes to be completely organic. Therefore, make sure to ask that all personal affects that were on or left with your loved one for the viewing are returned to you. You can distribute them out to close family members. You can even make or purchase a shadow box in order to showcase those items, if they are of extreme importance to you.

The Ashes Do Not Come In An Urn

Generally, it is up to you to purchase an urn that you feel is suitable to hold the cremation ashes of your deceased loved on. The funeral home usually will not place the ashes directly in the urn, even if you purchase it ahead of time. This is because they have a set procedure that they follow. This way, should the ashes have to be stored for a little while before family retrieves them, they will not have to worry about caring for an expensive urn. The ashes will come to you in a plastic bag that is placed inside of a small secure box. Once you are home, you can transfer the ashes. You can open the bag and pour them directly into the urn or simply transfer the entire bag from the box to the new urn.

With those things in mind, you should be much more prepared for the cremation option since you will know a little more about what to expect. For more information, contact a funeral home.