The cremation of a dead body is nowadays an option completely organized and institutionalized. Cremation, as a ceremony and as a process, is chosen either as a living statement by the deceased or by those close to him after his death. The reasons for such a choice might include political ideology, beliefs about spirituality, religious beliefs, the acceleration of the emotional separation from the physical body of the deceased, the avoidance of a tomb’s construction and maintenance cost, or just a last personal desire.
In any case, it is a practice with a long presence in the etiquette of different peoples and cultures all over the world, and one of the most common end ecological practices nowadays. If the relatives of the deceased want to proceed with the assignment of the cremation process, they must first contact a funeral home, which shall take over the communication with the crematorium. In the following lines, you can get basic information about the whole procedure.
How much is a cremation funeral?
As the financial crisis has been generalized, the posthumous burial seems like a luxury to many people who can not support financially such a choice. So, many people choose instead of being in an ossuary, to be cremated and give their ashes to relatives. Of course, the choice of cremation with purely economic criteria is possibly very superficial, as in some states it can cost as much as a burial if all the service fees are taken into account.
In general, the average cost of cremation ranges from $ 4,000 to $ 7,000, depending on many factors. For those who wish to reduce the costs, they can provide their own urn. We look at everyday times that can be used as an urn in this post. According to the NFDA Incineration and Burial Report, the cremation rate is expected to reach 70% by 2030, which will lead to a spike in prices. We compare the cost of a burial vs. cremation in this article.
What increases the cost of incineration?
Cremation’s cost ratings depend on the area of the country where the process takes place, on the decoration, the flowers, the ashtray, and the type of shrine chosen.
If you have no money at all but want to be cremated the solution is to donate your body or organs for the sake of science and then be cremated completely free of charge. After the procedure, your remains will be returned to your family. Excluded from this possibility are humans with infectious diseases, such as AIDS, hepatitis, tuberculosis, as well as bodies in advanced decomposition or severely injured and dismembered ones.
What are cremations placed within a cemetery called?
After the cremation, the ashes of the deceased are placed in a special above-ground structure inside or outside a cemetery, designed to keep cremated remains in special cases called niches. These tombstones are called “columbarium” from the Latin word “Columba” (dove), as their construction resembles a dovecote. The special receptacles resemble pigeon nests. Learn more in our What is a Columbarium post.
What is cremation jewelry? – What are some types of cremation jewelry?
When we lose a loved one, the shock we experience is usually intense. We feel that the only thing left for us is the memories. Ash jewelry can not replace the physical presence of our loved ones, but it can offer a tangible way to feel that he/she is still with us. The ash jewelry has a special container where the ashes of the deceased are placed.
Then they can be worn as a necklace, a pendant, a ring, a keychain, a bracelet, available in various shapes and sizes. There are also options for the construction materials, such as glass, stainless steel, sterling silver, wood, solid 14K yellow gold, and solid 14 K white gold.
Is there a possibility to open the jewelry and lose the ashes?
The jewelry is intended to keep the ashes of the cremated. They are specially designed, from highly durable materials, so that accidents are eliminated. Their metal elements are produced from specially processed aluminum alloy, a material used in aeronautics and the construction of satellites. If you wish, there is the possibility of sealing the jewelry for even greater security.
How is ash imported?
The package you will receive contains a special accessory that helps in this process. First, unscrew the top of the pendant so that the hole appears, and then with the special funnel, you will transfer a small amount of ash into the jewelry. Finally, screw the jewelry together again.
What do you engrave on cremation jewelry?
After the cremation of your loved one, you can, as mentioned above, choose the appropriate jewelry to keep his/her ashes. At the same time, it is possible to engrave on it a commemorative excerpt dedicated to the deceased. So instead of a body tattoo, you can engrave on cremation jewelry a phrase that reminds you of this person; like a kind of tribute.
Among the many options that are usually chosen as engraved tributes, you can mention the names, surnames, and nicknames of your loved ones who have died. Dates are also great: birth or death, anniversary date, or any date that has a special meaning. Other messages you can write are a favorite phrase, confessional words, lyrics from a loved song. Some typical examples of written messages are presented in the following list:
- Holding My Hand
- Love You More
- Paw Prints on my Heart
- Always & Forever
- Love You Always
- Forever In My Thoughts
- Look For Me in Rainbows
- The Love of My Life
- My One True Love
- Close to my Heart
- My One & Only
- Forever With Me
- Forever in my heart
- Always With Me
- Always & Forever
However, if you wish to wear the jewelry simply by keeping it as a kind of amulet, you can skip engraving any message. For some people, it is enough knowing that they can carry on them something from the aura of their dead loved one, as an eternal amulet. Besides, whatever connects us with our loved ones, either alive or deceased, is indelibly engraved in our souls.
If you’d like to learn more about scattering a loved one’s ashes, check out our post here.
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