Planning a Cremation Service
Understanding your options and planning with confidence.
Your Choices
Cremation Service Options
Direct Cremation: The most economical option. Your loved one is cremated without a prior funeral or viewing service. You can hold a memorial service later if desired.
Cremation with Service: Combine cremation with a meaningful tribute. Many families choose to hold a funeral service or memorial gathering before or after cremation, allowing family and friends to gather and share memories.
Formats & Styles
Cremation Service Formats
Direct Cremation
No service. Cremation happens promptly. Simple, economical option. Families can plan a memorial later.
Cremation with Memorial
Memorial service without the body present. Held days or weeks after cremation. Cost-effective with full service experience.
Cremation Before Full Funeral
Traditional funeral service before cremation. The deceased is present during viewing and service. Cremation follows.
Graveside Cremation
Cremation at the cemetery followed by immediate interment of ashes. A brief, personalized ceremony at graveside.
The Process
What Happens During Cremation: Step by Step
Preparation
Authorization
Cremation
Processing
Return of Ashes
After Cremation
Ash Disposition Options
- Keep in an Urn: Display in your home or keep privately. Many beautiful urn options available.
- Scatter the Ashes: Release ashes in a meaningful location—garden, park, ocean, mountains. Some locations require permits.
- Bury the Ashes: Traditional burial in a cemetery. Urn is placed in a grave or in a columbarium (above-ground niche).
- Memorial Jewelry: Ashes placed in a pendant, bracelet, or ring to keep your loved one close.
- Reef Burial: Eco-friendly option where ashes are mixed with reef material and placed in the ocean to create an artificial reef.
- Tree Planting: Ashes mixed with soil and used to plant a memorial tree in your home or in a memorial garden.
- Combination Approach: Divide ashes among family members, allowing each to choose their own disposition method.
Get Started
Pre-Plan Your Cremation Service
Ready to explore cremation options? Let's discuss what's right for your family. Fill out the form below and we'll guide you through the process.