As you plan the funeral service for a loved one, you might notice that your funeral home or cremation provider offers basic cremation services. This option is typically more affordable than other types of cremation.
If you are like most Americans, you may assume that any basic services are lesser than more expensive packages. However, it’s important to understand that the physical act of cremation is the same – regardless of how much you spend on a cremation package.
Here’s what you need to know about basic cremation (sometimes called direct cremation).
The body is not embalmed with basic cremation.
One main difference between basic cremation packages and other cremation options is that the body is not embalmed with direct cremation.
You probably have been to a funeral service where the deceased was laid to rest in a casket. Most of the time, the bodies in caskets at funerals undergo an embalming process. This means that chemicals are used to slow down the decomposition process so that the body can be viewed days after death.
The deceased’s body will not be embalmed if you choose basic cremation.
Formal visitations or wakes are not an option when choosing basic cremation.
Because the body isn’t embalmed with basic cremation, this is typically not an option for those who want a traditional service – or a service with a viewing followed by a funeral.
Please understand that you can still have a religious, traditional service without the embalmed body being present. Some families place a large photo of the deceased at the front of the service as a focal point – or the cremation container.
You can still have a viewing with cremation, but not with a basic cremation package.
Even if you choose cremation, you can still have a viewing, wake, or visitation. However, you will have to pay more for these types of services.
For example, you have the option of having the body embalmed, dressed, and prepared to be placed in a rental casket. After the open-casket service, the embalmed body can be transported to the crematory. Later, the family will receive the cremated remains, which can be scattered, buried, or entombed.
A direct cremation package is lower priced than this type of package because you don’t have to pay for a traditional casket or the embalming process.
Cremation is the same, regardless of the cost of the package.
You may be surprised by the number of cremation packages available when planning a loved one’s cremation. However, the actual cremation process is always the same – regardless of the package. Only one body is ever cremated at the time. The remains are processed the same, and the specific remains are returned to the families.
Make Arrangements At a Funeral Home With a Lot of Options
Alabama Funeral Home and Cremation Centers have a lot of cremation options available. You can choose between a basic low-cost cremation or another package that includes embalming and casket rental.
Regardless of your package, rest easy knowing that you and your loved one will be treated with care and respect. We will also help you plan a memorial service, order the death certificate, and select memorial products to help you remember the deceased. Contact Alabama Funeral Homes and Cremation Centers today to start the planning process.
Key Takeaways About Planning a Cremation Funeral Service
- Basic cremations (or direct cremations) occur when the body is transported from the place of death to the crematory. The body is then cremated as soon as legally possible.
- Directly cremated bodies are not typically embalmed.
- Cremation packages are available that include viewings or visitations – common in traditional funerals.
- The cremation process is the same – regardless of how much you spend on the cremation.
