Three Things To Know About Choosing Cremation

When pre-planning your funeral, you have a lot of choices to make. One of those choices is whether to be buried or cremated. Cremation is an option that works for some people, but not all, so you'll want to know more about this option before you make a decision. Here are just some things to keep in mind to help guide you in the decision-making process.

You Can Still Have An Open-Casket Viewing

Some people may be hesitant to choose cremation because they want the traditional viewing and funeral service. You can still have the viewing and funeral with a casket and still opt for cremation. For this option, your funeral director can help you to select either a rental casket that can be used for the wake and funeral or a cremation casket that can be transferred to the crematorium after the funeral. You may feel more comfortable purchasing a cremation casket instead of renting a temporary casket from the funeral home, but remember that the rental caskets do have removable liners. The liners are changed after every use so the caskets are essentially new when they are used for your service.

You Can Have A Witness For The Cremation

While cremation services go to great lengths to ensure the identity of each person before the cremation process begins, you may feel more comfortable having a loved one witness the services. Your chosen witness can be present to verify your identity before cremation process begins, but he or she does not have to remain to see the actual process. If you choose to have a witness, be sure to discuss this with that person in advance to confirm he or she is comfortable doing so.

You Can Choose What Happens To The Cremains

You can specify in your will and in your funeral plans what you want to happen to the cremains. You may choose to have them given to a close relative, or you can opt for them to be scattered. If you choose a specific place for your ashes to be scattered, work with your funeral home director to ensure they can be scattered at your chosen location. Some places may have rules against the scattering of ashes, while others may require a permit. Your funeral director can help you to choose an appropriate place. You can also select any urns you want used as part of your funeral planning.

Your decision to choose cremation is yours to make. You may want to consult with your family or religious leader before making a decision, and a funeral director from a funeral home like Danks-Hinski Funeral Home can help you to determine which options are right for you.