Death is a natural part of life that also comes with emotional stress for the people left behind. When a person thinks about an end-of-life option, the first things that come to mind are cremation or traditional burial. These are two well-known options, but the lower cremation costs in Florida and elsewhere make the former preferable for many. In this post, we will focus on this cost-friendly and popular end-of-life option.
Funeral expenses are rising every year. This financial and emotional burden can be too much for the families of the deceased. The current cremation costs in Florida are high but much lower than traditional burials. Moreover, one can always opt for direct cremation to further lower costs. It typically includes a simple container and no viewing or material services.
The high costs include typical viewing services, which include the fees for cremation caskets, funeral home services, urns and other small fees like obituary notices. However, this is a significantly smaller cost compared to the traditional burials. Hence, it is an affordable end-of-life option.
What is Cremation?
It refers to the thermal and mechanical process that reduces the deceased body to basic compounds. It is a great alternative to traditional burials, and there is a steady rise in its popularity due to reasons like simpler arrangements, flexibility, environmentally friendly, fear of natural decomposition, less stress for family members and most importantly, the significantly lower cremation costs in Florida compared to other end-of-life options.
Flame-based cremation is the most common method of cremation. It uses flames to reduce the remains into bone fragments. The other method is alkaline hydrolysis, which is not very common. It is a water-based digestion method that uses alkaline chemicals, agitation, heat, and pressure to accelerate the natural decomposition of the body. Both of these methods of cremation are legal and can give the desired created results.
Cremation usually leaves behind around five pounds of remains, but this largely depends on the individual’s weight. This is usually taken into consideration during the cremation process and to decide on the type of urns.
Types of Urns
- Biodegradable Urns: these are made from non-toxic and eco-friendly materials that eventually break down naturally in nature. The materials used for this range from bamboo, wood, mulberry bark, plant materials, paper, organic compost, cornstarch, and natural clay.
- Keepsake urns: These are smaller in size and are usually used for families who want to share cremated remains between multiple people. They are commonly used after an initial spread of ashes, in case the family decides to keep a portion.
- Veteran urns: These urns pay tribute to members of the Armed Forces and are specifically designed with patriotic and military themes. They are specific to the branch of service the deceased repented.
- Companion urns: This is a great way to store cremated remains of two people. They come in single and double compartments and are usually used to memorialize couples who wish to remain together after death.
- Art urns: This is a way to mix fine art with cremated remains of a family member. They can be made of materials like bronze, glass, or ceramics and may also be created to fit desired taste.
Cremation Terminology
When it comes to cremation, there is a lot of new terminology introduced to the family of the deceased. It is important that you know about these.
- Authorizing agent: It is the person who is legally entitled to control the disposition of the cremated remains.
- Urn: This is a structure designed to encase the cremated remains permanently.
- Direct cremation: This happens without any formal viewing.
- Cremated remains: These are the remains of the cremated body after the cremation process is completed.
- Cremation chamber: It is the enclosed space where cremation takes place.
- Cremation Interment container: It is a container made of concrete, fiberglass, steel, plastic and similar material. The urn is placed into it before being interred in the ground. The container is designed to withstand prolonged exposure to the elements and support the earth above the urn.
- Crematorium: It is the building that houses the cremation chambers, mortuary, and prep rooms.
- Disposition: This refers to the burial, cremation, shipment, or anatomical donation of the human body.
- General price list or GPL. It contains identifying information, itemized prices for various goods and services, and other important disclosures.
- Final disposition: It refers to the burial or other disposition of a dead human body or cremated remains.
- Processing: It’s the process of removing any foreign materials from the cremated remains in order to prepare for pulverization.
- Inurnment: It is the ceremony of burying an urn containing the cremated remains.
- Pulverization: It is the process of reduction of identifiable bone fragments after completing the cremation.
Summing Up
End-of-life discussions are never easy. If you are interested in direct cremation, make sure you cover areas with your authorizing agent. This should include methods of cremation, urn styles , any wishes you have for your cremated remains, and whether you want to go through a body donation program. It is a no-cost option in which you can donate your body to science to benefit the future of medicine by educating doctors and medical research.
