Everything You Should Know About Choosing Direct Cremation
Direct cremation is an excellent option for people who want a simple and straightforward final disposition for their loved ones at an affordable price. Although many people are unfamiliar with the term, direct cremations are becoming increasingly popular.
Learning about this type of cremation can provide flexibility in memorializing your loved ones and saving thousands of dollars.
What is Direct Cremation?
Direct cremation is a type of cremation that offers you all the essential services but none of the bells and whistles of a fancy funeral home. With direct cremation, the family of the deceased will only be paying for the removal of the loved one, caring for the body for the mandatory two days at a care center, a cremation container or vessel, and the actual cremation process.
The body of the loved one will not be embalmed and does not require a casket from the family of the deceased. Instead, it will be cremated in a basic cremation container.
Some direct cremation service providers will also provide you with an urn, and the cremation cost will reflect it. However, in most cases, the family will need to provide the urn to the crematorium; otherwise, the service provider will deliver the cremated remains in any basic container they have, like a cardboard box.
The benefit of a direct cremation is that it allows you more flexibility and provides you with more time to make memorial arrangements.
Benefits of Direct Cremation
Direct cremation is becoming an increasingly popular option since it provides many benefits.
Eliminates Embalming
Embalming can help preserve the human body for a short time. In Maine, embalming is almost never required except if the body has to be kept for a long time. A direct cremation can eliminate this concern since the body will be cremated within a few days after death. For this short period of time, cremation care centers can take care of the body by refrigerating it.
No Viewing or Wake
A direct cremation also eliminates the added expense of viewing or since the body will be cremated after being cared for by a cremation care center for two days.
No Casket Required
Direct cremation does not require the body to be placed in a casket provided by the deceased’s family. A single casket can cost over $2000. Direct cremation is performed in containers provided by the cremation provider, which are basic and affordable. The price of the containers is included in the total cost of the cremation service.
No Extra Service Fees
You can avoid additional service fees if you decide to work with a reputable direct cremation company. These companies do not provide additional features, such as grief support counseling, or will not arrange memorial services, leading to higher costs.
You Can Still Hold Memorial Services
Direct cremation does not offer memorial services for the deceased. However, this does not mean you can’t hold the service for your loved one.
Once the cremated ashes are returned to the deceased’s family, they can choose to have a burial service or any other ceremonies they choose. With direct cremation, you will have as much time as you need to memorialize your loved ones without using preservation options.
An Easy and Simple Process
Direct cremation means minimal planning, which means reduced stress for the deceased’s family, who is already grieving. All the family needs to do is to complete the required paperwork, after which the cremation provider will transfer the body to its center and start the cremation process.
Direct cremation arrangements can be done via a single phone call that takes no more than 15 minutes.
Low Cremation Cost
Direct cremation is the most affordable cremation option since many of the expensive services like purchasing a casket, embalming the body, extensive transportation, and even funeral services, in some cases, are eliminated. Most direct cremation providers offer a package of services that comes at around $1000, which is much more cost-effective than a protracted funeral affair.
At Maine Cremation Care, we offer a cremation package that starts at just $975.
Important Things to Consider When Booking a Direct Cremation
Before you decide on a certain direct cremation service, there are a few things you need to consider.
Affordability
Direct cremation is the most affordable way to perform a funeral. This means you will not be required to pay for celebrants, limousines, hearse, flowers, and other extra features. However, the service will include the crematorium fees and the casket and a small fee for the funeral director.
Transparency
All cremation service providers should display their pricing on their website to avoid any surprises for the grieving family. At Maine Cremation Care, our website features the price of our cremation package and all the services that will be offered to you in that package. We also provide you the option of ticking on additional services, such as shipping cremated remains, writing an obituary, etc. You can see the full list on our website.
Reputation
It is important that you understand the kind of company you are dealing with. Find out who owns the business, when it was established, and the number of direct cremations they have performed. You can also take the help of online reviews to determine what kind of opinions people have about the service and whether using it will be in your best interest.
Arrange a Direct Cremation with Maine Cremation Care
Deciding whether or not a direct cremation is the best way to memorialize your loved one can be difficult. At Maine Cremation Care, we are here to answer all your concerns and queries about the direct cremation process so that you can have peace of mind. Contact us today for any personal assistance, including information about our cremation arrangements and the details of our pricing. We are eager to hear from you.
