Category: Cremation

Cremation and Hospice

Having a loved one in hospice care during the end of their life is an extremely stressful time for families. On top of trying to spend as much time with their loved ones, family members need to start planning on what will happen once their loved one passes. Cremation has become to most common way families proceed one their loved one has passed. We will now describe what families should do once their loved one passes and they have decided on cremation.

1. Call the hospice office: When your loved one passes, call the hospice office. You may turn off machines, such as oxygen machines or monitors. Some family members prefer to sit with the loved one, while others find this too difficult and will want to leave the room. Do whatever is right for you. When your hospice nurse arrives, he or she will help with the immediate process of pronouncing death and beginning the end-of-life logistics.
2. Call friends and family: Notify friends and family of the passing. Make sure to prioritize who is told first.
3. Find a cremation provider: When looking for a cremation facility, make sure to check google ratings, also see if your hospice facility recommends any facilities. At Going Home Cremations, we have over 25 five-star reviews and are recommended by hospice facilities throughout all of Florida. Make sure to ask for pricing, and cremation options. For example, ask about scattering ashes, or make a eco friendly urn. Also make sure to ask for their urn catalog to see if there are any urns your family prefers.
4. Contact the cremation facility you pick: Make sure to let the cremation facility aware of the death and that you have chosen them for the cremation. Most good facilities will be able to pick up your loved one in a few hours. At Going Home Cremation, we have multiple cremation facilities and are able to do very quick professional pick ups.
5. Collect any jewelry or belongings from your loved one before they are picked up for a cremation.
6. Consider having a thumb print taken or any other memorial items decided on within a day of pickup.
7. Fill out the cremation authorization form: Make sure to fill out these forms quickly as nothing will begin until these forms are filled out.
8. Have hospice pick up any medical equipment: Make sure to follow up with Hospice if you had any medical equipment.
9. Consider asking hospice about any grief counseling if needed.

A celebration of life is an event focused on sharing stories of the deceased and commemorating the joys he or she brought into the lives of others. As the name implies, it’s meant to celebrate the life of your loved one, opposed to grieving the loss. While there are often tears, these events tend to be creative, and focus on happiness and laughter. A celebration of life can take place immediately, or weeks or months after death and the body is typically not present.

The tone is peaceful rather than mournful, celebratory instead of sombre. Wearing black is commonly discouraged. You’re more likely to hear Monty Python’s Always Look On The Bright Side of Life – according to a 2014 survey,

A survey of 2,000 people suggested that 54% wanted their funeral to be a “celebration of life”. Some 48% said they wanted it to incorporate their favourite “hobby, colour, football team or music”..

By looking back rather than forward, and focusing on happy memories rather than the immediate sense of loss,

Celebration of Life Service Planning & Outline

The most memorable events are highly meaningful, and capture the unique life and personality of the deceased. The following questions can help define the essence of your loved one.

What were the individual’s religious or spiritual beliefs?
What were their distinctive qualities?
What were they passionate about?
What do people think of when they think of the individual?

1. Timing
A memorial service or celebration of life can be held any time after death. You may choose to make arrangements immediately, though it is also acceptable to wait several weeks or even months.

It can be difficult to make decisions immediately after a major loss; planning the event several months into the future allows you to enlist help from others, or even hire a professional planner. Waiting also allows people to make travel arrangements, making it easier for friends and family to attend. You also will find more options available (location, venue, other services) if you’re not dependent on having the event in the next 7 days.

2. Type of Service
Decide the type of service and where you would like to hold it.

On the Beach , On a Boat to Scatter, VFW hall, Church Hall, In Your Home, At a Local Park, There are many places you can be creative with.

Cremation and memorial service.

3. People to Invite
After you’ve determined the type of service and timing of the event, it’s a good idea to make a list of everyone you’d like to invite. Immediate family is a good place to start, then consider more distant relatives. Next make a list of friends, and not just current friends—include friends from different chapters of the person’s life: friends from childhood, school, different jobs, and different locations. Don’t forget to include your support network as well.

If people will be traveling in for the service, consider the accommodations they’ll need. Will they be able to stay with you or other family? Are local hotels or accommodations by owners available? This may impact the timing you choose.

4. Location
Things to consider when choosing a location are:

Will any portion be held at a religious location?
How large of a venue is needed, based on the number of people expected.
Does it have adequate parking?
Is it handicap accessible?
Can it accommodate all parts of the event—service, socializing, etc.
When is it available?

5. Celebrant or Host
Who will lead the service/event? If the individual was religious or spiritual, the officiant or celebrant likely has a standard service that can be personalized. If a host will be leading the event, you can still choose meaningful customized elements, such as readings and music.

6. Readings / Readers
You may want to choose religious prayers, readings, poems, quotes, personal writings, or song lyrics that were significant to your loved one. Next, choose the reader or readers who will present them.

Also, it can be touching to have people share personal anecdotes or memories about the individual.

7. Eulogist / Speakers
If you choose to have a eulogy, choose who will write and deliver it. Rarely are eulogists experienced, so you may share these guidelines for preparing and delivering a eulogy:

Be Brief. Be sure to check with the clergy or service director about timing. If none is provided five to ten minutes is a good guideline.
Be Focused. You can’t distill a lifetime into five to ten minutes, so don’t try. Start with a brief history of the deceased’s life, including significant relationships and professional history; interests; and achievements.
Be Personal. Focus on one or two notable qualities, passions, or characteristics of the person, and share a personal story or favorite memory related to it. A saying, quote, song, or religious text that was significant to the individual is a good way to close.
Be Positive. Now is the time to affirm the positive aspects of the individual’s life.
Write it Down. A written eulogy is another way for family and friends to hold the memory of a loved one. While practice is recommended, committing the eulogy to memory is not required. During this highly emotionally time, it may be nice to have a written copy to reference in the event thoughts become scattered.
For additional details on how to write a eulogy, see the Hazeltine blog post, Writing a Eulogy for a Celebration of Life of Memorial Service.

8. Music
Select songs, hymns, and other pieces of music that were enjoyed by the deceased, or that hold special significance. Determine who will provide the music? Professional musicians, DJs, family/friends, or a playlist on an audio system are all options. You may choose a combination of live music for parts of the program, followed by a playlist of significant songs as background music as guests socialize.

9. Food & Beverage
Options for food and beverage include DIY (with help from friends and family), hiring a caterer, or full-service food and beverage provided by the venue you select.

You may choose to provide foods that were particularly liked by the deceased. Another option is a particular ethnic cuisine. Depending on the time of day, you may choose to provide light snacks, like appetizers and desserts, or a full meal. Be advised that many guests may have dietary restrictions, so inquire with your caterer/venue about options.

Many events, especially a celebration of life, choose to include a bar, which adds to the celebratory feel of the service.

10. Photographer / Videographer
You may choose to capture the event with photos or video, to keep the memories for years to come. This job can be undertaken by a family member or friend, or you can hire a professional.

In some cases, some families choose to webcast the event, which allows people who wouldn’t otherwise be able to attend to participate in the service.

11. Flowers & Memorials
Traditionally, people send sympathy flowers to express their condolences. However, it is commonplace for families to request memorial donation instead of flowers. In the obituary, social media and event invitations, you can indicate whether flowers or memorials are preferred, or whether both are acceptable.

The typical way to indicate memorials are preferred over flowers is “in lieu of flowers…” but there are other ways to suggest survivors show their support. For example, “those wishing to make a memorial donation, may contribute to [specific charity name] or the charity of their choosing.”

12. Personalizing the Event
Personalizing the event can range from simple to elaborate, and can be done by a few people or by everyone attending.

Some traditional ways to remember a loved one are with a memory board of photos, a display of photo albums, a video or slide show, or through displaying personal memorabilia.

To involve guests, you may ask that people bring a few words about the departed to share or post for others to see. It could be a favorite memory, a sentence or two on how they knew each other; or ask them to send a photo or song to be included in the slideshow or playlist.

Scattering Ashes at Sea Guide: 5 Important Things You Need To Know

Scattering ashes at sea is a fitting tribute and farewell to a loved one.

Most of us have seen heard of pouring ashes into the water from a boat.

But you might be unsure about how to organise something like this, or whether you need permission.

Our experts have put together this guide to help you through the process. We will explain some of the different ceremonies and services you might consider.

After we’ll cover rules and regulations, prayers, poems, and various methods and ideas for scattering the ashes.

Scattering Ashes at Sea Ceremony
There are other factors to consider in addition to the actual scattering. For instance, will you have a memorial ceremony?

In most cases, there is no particular rules for the ceremony. It is arranged and performed to the wishes of the deceased or their family members.

Ashes Ceremony on a Boat

You may prefer a cremation ceremony to be performed according to the religious beliefs of the deceased.

For instance, Christian scatterings are often similar to a traditional one on land. They sometimes include a minister who oversees the event with eulogies, prayers, or a scripture.

Other Ceremony Alternatives

Then again, you could have the ceremony with only family and friends.

Otherwise, you might consider a ceremony that is planned around the heritage of the deceased.

Or if they were fun loving, it could be a celebration of their love for life with music and even dancing.

We will look at some of the possibilities in more detail later.

Choosing the right urn

Floating biodegradable urn

Many people simply pour the ashes from an urn into the water. There is no specific type of urn required for that.

Some simply use the temporary container, which the funeral home or crematorium provided.

However when scattering at sea, it’s wise to ensure that you determine the direction of the wind, otherwise the consequences can be messy.

Biodegradable Urns for Water
If you wish to release the whole urn into the water, a biodegradable urn is your best choice.

These are created to break down quickly in water are now available in all shapes and designs.

These beautiful urns come in quite a few designs including flowers, seashells, turtles, and more.

Water Urns Guide
If you’re interested in scattering, we recommend you read our biodegradable urns for water guide which provides some valuable tips before buying.

Types of Services Available
The options are endless. Below we will look at a few ideas and suggestions. Hopefully, one will be right for you or possibly trigger an idea of your own.

Unattended Services

Captain Spreading Ashes

In many situations, although scattering at sea is desired, the family is unable to attend. This may be due to illness or perhaps the place where the deceased desired is a great distance away.

For those circumstances, after the cremation has taken place, you would send the ashes to the company that will be performing the service.

The captain of the ship will take your loved one’s ashes along on the voyage and perform a distinguished scattering for you.

In most cases, they welcome any requests you may have such as a particular prayer to say, a poem to recite, or music to play.

Attended Services
Scattering Ashes at Sea
Scattering Ceremony At Night

You have the choice to arrange the service yourself or hire a sea burial company to do it for you.

Some companies offer specific services such as a mariner’s farewell ceremony. As the ashes are scattered, the mariner’s farewell verse is read as the ship’s bell tolls eight times.

The mourners may each toss a flower into the water as a final farewell.

Arrangements

We walk you through our Online arrangements. You can review all of the available options from the comfort and privacy of your own home and call us to make payment. Everything can be easily completed in fifteen minutes or less. We will walk you through it step by step over the phone.

Documentation

We’ll email you the required paperwork to easily authorize cremation online. Upon filing the death certificate we’ll secure a state cremation permit and schedule the cremation as soon as possible.

Transfer

At the time of need, our professional staff will respond as soon as possible to the place of passing to bring your loved one into our care. We are usually able to arrive to the location within one or two hours inside our local service area.

Return

When the cremation is complete we’ll arrange for the return or disposition of the cremated remains. We offer shipping via USPS Priority Mail Express, hand delivery within our local service area, or disposition by common scattering at sea.

Scattering Ashes

Cremations have become increasingly popular in the United States, with more and more families choosing to scatter the ashes of their loved ones. However, choosing the right location is important as a lasting memory in the future. Very often people choose to scatter ashes in a location that was special to their loved one, but over time such places may change or even be built upon, changing the location and with it the memory.

Will the Place You Choose Always Be There?

Parks and Empty Lands

Today’s parks and lands, however special to your loved one, may not be around in the long term. That beautiful quiet location could be redeveloped into housing in a few years, or turned into a sports field. This means that you may not always have access to the location or the location no longer holds the same meaning.

Your Backyard

Remember you may not always be living in the same home, and when you move you loose access to any memorial you may have created in your own garden.

Why not keep the ashes and not scatter them?

Keeping the ashes in an urn at home can be a good idea in some cases, however, if you keep ashes at home other family members may feel excluded or regret not having a special place to visit. There are also issues of safety and security to consider.

Do You Need a Permit to Scatter Ashes in Florida.

In Florida, it is recommended that you obtain approval from the relevant controlling authority before scattering ashes in a public or private space. If you are thinking about scattering ashes, it is always safest to research the area first, and speak to your associate at Going Home Cremations..

A Permanent Memorial in a Memorial Park

A cremation memorial in a memorial park is an alternative to scattering ashes well worth considering. You also have the option to scatter ashes at many memorial parks, offering the best of both worlds. You can even choose to divide the ashes up and scatter some at your place of choosing as well as placing some in a more permanent memorial at a cemetery or memorial park.

Creating a memorial in a special place helps keep the memory alive beyond the funeral service. Memorials give families and friends a tangible source of comfort, and are an everlasting place to come and remember your loved one. In a memorial park, ashes can be placed without fear of the location changing.

Scattering in the Gulf Of Mexico.https://goinghomecremations.com/affordable-scattering-ashes-at-sea/

Going Home Cremations can help you arrange scattering in the Beautiful Gulf of Mexico. We can take your loved one three miles out and scatter the ashes or you and your family and friends can use one of our Boats to have a private Scattering Service. Prices range from $395.00 to $1995 for scattering of ashes.

The Cremation Process

During the Cremation Process, the casket or container is placed in the cremation chamber, where the temperature is raised to approximately 1400 degrees to 1800 degrees Fahrenheit. After approximately 2 to 2 1/2 hours, all organic matter is consumed by heat or evaporation. The remaining bone fragments are known as cremated remains. The cremated remains are then carefully removed from the cremation chamber. Any metal is removed with a magnet and later disposed of in an approved manner. The cremated remains are then processed into fine particles and are placed in a temporary container provided by the crematory or placed in an urn purchased by the family. The entire process takes approximately three hours. Throughout the cremation process, a carefully controlled labeling system ensures correct identification. State law provides that only one body may be cremated at a time.

A complete cremation is a two-step process. Firstly, the actual exposure of the deceased to several hours of intense heat and flame; after which the remains are mostly ash except for certain bone fragments, then the entire remaining ash and fragment volume is gathered and run through a processor, creating a uniform powder-like texture.

The Cremains are then placed in a temporary container or Urn and given to the family.

Cremains weigh about 5-7 lbs. If you want a good idea and generalization as to the size and weight of the cremains, you can compare them to a 5lb. bag of sugar. When placed in the Urn the ashes are surprisingly heavy.