What Is Direct Cremation?

There are many different types of cremation services in Trenton, NJ, and one such type is direct cremation. Direct cremation is a disposition method in which the deceased’s body is cremated almost immediately following death without a funeral or memorial beforehand. Direct cremation is gaining popularity, as it is generally less expensive than other options. Read on to learn more about direct cremation.

Direct cremation means the body is cremated right after death without any preceding ceremony. Some funeral homes offer direct cremation, as do many crematory services. Direct cremations can be cost a lot less than funerals or other cremations as they skip potentially expensive add-ons like caskets and embalming.

There is no visitation, wake or viewing with a direct cremation, so the body doesn’t need to be embalmed. Family, loved ones, or executors can also choose to have the body cremated in a simple container, rather than a traditional and more expensive casket, as there is no need for ornamentation for a viewing or service.

Direct cremation does allow for the bereaved to plan a memorial service at a later date after the cremation, allowing for scheduling flexibility so more people can attend. The longer timeline also allows the family extra time to make the service more creative and personal.

The Federal Trade Commission’s Funeral Rule has laws that protect your direct cremation rights such as:

• You are not required to purchase or use a casket
• The crematory or funeral home must furnish a wood box or alternate container for the direct cremation
• The funeral home or crematory must return the remains to you in an urn provided by yourself. If you do not provide and urn, they will return the remains to you in a basic container.

Most direct cremation packages include services other than the cremation itself, from transporting the body to the crematory to completing a death certificate form. You are free to choose a traditional funeral home or a crematory service for direct cremations. Funeral homes will fill out the death certificate and bring the body to the crematory, which is oftentimes onsite at the funeral home.

Don’t forget to make plans for the cremated remains. There are many options such as burying them in a crematory plot, columbarium, or pre-determined cemetery, or scattering them in a meaningful place. Do keep in mind, though, that there are added costs for internment like headstones, cemetery fees, grave markers, endowment or perpetual care, and columbarium or plot fees.

Direct cremation is a great option if you are looking to avoid costs such as preparing the body, casket, extensive transportation, or funeral services. If you want to learn more about direct cremation, or other kinds of Trenton, NJ cremation services, please contact J. Allen Hooper Funeral Chapel. We have years of experience we would love to put to use helping you and your loved ones in your time of loss. Please visit us at 41 W Trenton Ave Morrisville, PA 19067, or give us a call at (215) 295-7725.