Burlington Junction, MO Cremation Services Does Not Preclude the Need for a Funeral
The popularity of choosing cremation services in Burlington Junction, MO has risen in the past few years, although the process itself has not changed. Cremation is simply the method of reducing a body to ash and bone fragments through the use of extreme heat by flame. However, it is what you and your family choose for a deceased loved one before or after Burlington Junction, MO cremation services that constitutes a funeral. Contrary to what many believe, cremation is not limiting in terms of a funeral. Rather, it actually presents more opportunities to honor a deceased loved one.
Recognizing a Deceased Loved One - Your Choice in How It's Done
Cremation services in Burlington Junction, MO in no way prevents a funeral service from happening. You can definitely plan a modern or traditional funeral ceremony before cremation takes place. By the same token, you could choose to have a direct cremation first and then hold a memorial service after the fact.
A funeral followed by Burlington Junction, MO cremation services does not have to be different from other funeral services you may have attended before an earth-bound casket burial. From extravagant or modest to contemporary or traditional, funeral arrangements can be whatever you make of them. You can have a minister conduct the ceremony or simply have several guest speakers commemorating the deceased. The same principle applies to memorials held after the cremation process.
Planning the Ceremony Before or After Cremation Services in Burlington Junction, MO
What you feel may be appropriate for the deceased's funeral or memorial may be different from what others believe - and that is alright. The process is about what would be best not only for your existing family and friends but also for the deceased. There are some factors to consider when planning any funeral ceremonial rituals before Burlington Junction, MO cremation services commence.
Do you want to have a public wake or visitation before cremation and a funeral service? That is certainly possible but there are other factors to consider. Unless a body is buried or cremated within the first 24 hours after death, it must be embalmed or refrigerated to delay decomposition. In addition, some funeral establishments require embalming if a public viewing is wanted before cremation services in Burlington Junction, MO.
While a casket is not a state requirement for cremation, you still have the option of purchasing one, especially if you are requesting a public viewing. A casket would respectfully house the deceased and boost their appearance. However, if you want to avoid this extra expense, renting a casket before Burlington Junction, MO cremation services commence is an option, particularly if you need to watch your budget.
If your family and friends do not live in the vicinity, it might be difficult to hold a funeral before cremation services in Burlington Junction, MO. In this instance, consider the direct cremation route. Your deceased loved one is cremated first and then at a later time of your own choosing, a memorial can be held in honor of them. This gives you more time to plan to receive family and friends as well as line up speakers, music and other ceremonial recognition tasks.
Final Disposition after Burlington Junction, MO Cremation Services
Once your deceased loved one has been cremated, what do you do with the cremated remains? Do you want a permanent memorial akin to a gravestone that family and friends can visit in the future? If so, there are several options to consider once cremation services in Burlington Junction, MO are completed. For instance, if the family already has a pre-purchased cemetery plot or vault, an ash-filled urn could be placed there. Another final resting place for the urn could be a niche in a columbarium. There are also special gardens that some cemeteries offer in which to inter cremated remains.
Following Burlington Junction, MO cremation services, cremated remains of your loved one could also be scattered in a place loved by them. Perhaps they have a favorite fishing hole or a special place along a hiking trail. There are also cemetery gardens that have been dedicated to accepting scattered ashes. In this instance, an engraved marker or plaque could be created to commemorate the deceased's life.
More creative final dispositions of a deceased loved one's ashes exist as well. After cremation services in Burlington Junction, MO, the cremated remains could be housed within a memorial bench or other outdoor furniture which could be placed in a garden or dedicated in a ceremony. Some people choose to have lab created diamonds or jewelry made from the ashes. Cremated remains could also be scattered at sea or placed within concrete artificial reefs built to house marine life in the ocean.
While there are no official state laws governing the scattering of ashes after Burlington Junction, MO cremation services, it is important to use common sense when doing so. If you want to scatter the cremated remains on private property, obtain permission from the landowner. For public places like parks, avoid scattering the ashes in or around well-travelled paths. Because the ashes are distinctive in appearance - a coarse, whitish-gray - they would be quite noticeable.
Cremation services in Burlington Junction, MO follow a specific course of action in terms of the heat process itself. It is the funeral or memorial ceremonies and rituals that can differ greatly. Truly, it is up to you and your family in regards to recognizing the life of your deceased loved one. A funeral specialist can help you with the planning of any type of ceremony desired before or after Burlington Junction, MO cremation services.