Cremation has become the top choice as the funeral alternative in Florida and in the U.S. If you are considering cremation as the funeral option for your loved one, depending on the type of cremation chosen, here is what you should expect at a cremation service.
Types of Cremation
The two most popular types of cremation are traditional cremation and direct cremation. Traditional cremation is cremation with ceremony, where you can have different types of memorial services prior to or after cremation.
On the other hand, direct cremation, which is known as simple cremation, does not include any memorial ceremony service. After death, the body is picked up and transported to the crematory for cremation. After the process, the ashes are returned to the family.
Read More: What Are The Different Types Of Cremation?
What Happens At A Cremation Service
Documentation Process
The documentation regulations, or the law for cremations in general, may vary from state to state. In the state of Florida, the first thing needed is identification, which involves a family member confirming the identity of the deceased.
Next, the family needs to register the death and obtain the death certificate. This must be done regardless of any funeral arrangements within 5 days of the passing at the state or vital local offices. Usually, the certificate is issued in 3-5 days from the date of registration at no charge.
Other paperwork includes cremation authorization, which gives permission to the service provider to perform their duty, an obituary notice, a will, or any other documentation depending on individual cases.
The paperwork process might be challenging and overwhelming. However, in most cases, the funeral director will assist the family in this process.
Body Preparation
After death, the body is transported to the facility and prepared for cremation there. The preparation involves cleaning and dressing.
If there is a public viewing before the cremation, the body is embalmed. In addition, all the devices attached to the body including any type of metal implanted in the body, pacemakers, spinal cord stimulators, or any medical equipment, or jewelry, are removed. Otherwise, the cremation chamber could explode.
Then the body is placed into a casket or a container. A casket is not required. Many people decide to go for a specialized container for cremation that costs less.
Ceremonies and Cremation
If it is traditional cremation, there is plenty of memorialization and ceremony options you can consider:
- A viewing or a celebration of life before cremation
- Last farewell to the deceased at a funeral home (after cremation)
- A memorial service at a funeral home before the interment of the ashes.
- A scattering ceremony after receiving the ashes.
With direct cremation, there will be no ceremony. At the planned date and time, cremation is performed at a licensed crematory. After 1-4 hours, the heat turns the body into cremation ashes, which look like light or dark grey coarse sand.
Read More: How Does Cremation Take Place? What Happens Inside The Chamber?
Cremation Ashes Return and Delivery
After the main process is done, the ashes are put into an urn and then handed over to the family. At this point, there are endless possibilities and creative options for the family to decide what to do with the ashes, which is also a huge advantage of cremation.
Some suggestions are:
- Keep The Ashes At Home
- Bury Or Put Them In A Columbarium
- Scatter The Ashes
- Turn The Ashes Into Diamonds Or Make Jewelry
Read More: What You Can Do With Cremation Ashes
Direct Cremation: The Top Funeral Service Chosen in Florida
Due to a simpler process, direct cremation offers a much lower price than traditional cremation and other funeral alternatives do. This makes direct cremation the most popular option in Florida and in the U.S.
Read More: How Much Does Cremation Cost in Florida?
If you wish to know more about cremation and compare different funeral options, please contact Going Home Cremation. As a professional cremation service provider in South West Florida, we deliver the best service for the deceased. We will pick up your loved one and transport them into our care. We also help you and your family with the documents needed.
Going Home Cremations are a trusted affordable service provider that offers a price of dignified and high-quality cremation, with a premium urn included, for as low as starting at $795 in Florida. Our price is so competitive that we have been in business for more than 20 years and we know what we are doing, and how we could do best and save the most money for our clients. We are confident in our professionalism as we have received lots of 5-star reviews from families in Florida.
We also serve St. Petersburg, Port Charlotte, Fort Myers & SW Florida. For further information, please visit Our Affordable Cremation Page, Cremation & Scattering Ashes or Call Us For All Other Requests.