Funeral Cremation Services

When you are making funeral arrangements for your loved one, you must choose between burial or cremation. This decision may involve considerations of spiritual or religious beliefs, your budget, environmental concerns, the fear of interment and other factors. Here we provide an overview of cremation. If any of what you read raises further questions or issues, please feel free to call us at 708-532-5400 for clarification and assistance.

Cremation Defined

According to the Cremation Association of North America, cremation is “the mechanical and/or thermal or other dissolution process that reduces human remains to bone fragments.” If you look at our webpage The Cremation Process, you can read about the most frequently used cremation process, which occurs at extremely high temperatures.

How to Arrange for a Cremation

After deciding to cremate your loved one as opposed to burying him or her, the legally recognized next-of-kin must sign all authorization paperwork. Once this documentation has been signed, the deceased can be cremated in the private crematory located on our grounds. Additional considerations include:

1.      Is there special clothing such as an Armed Forces uniform or favorite outfit that the departed would have wanted to be cremated in? This will be fully discussed at the arrangement conference with your funeral director, who will counsel you on the best choices in terms of jewelry and other valuable objects.
2.      Are there any special mementos that you want placed in the cremation casket or alternative container? Perhaps you would like to include a valued picture or letter. There are situations where we encourage family members to compose letters, notes or cards to their loved one and put them in the casket before the cremation process takes place.
3.      Would you welcome the opportunity to be present at the cremation, or even to participate in it to a limited degree? This can assist healing because you can symbolically “let go.” We would be honored by the presence of you, your family and friends at the crematorium. If you have an interest in attending or taking part in the cremation, please inform your funeral director.
4.      After the cremation, what will you keep the cremains in? We have an impressive selection of urns available to contain your loved one’s ashes for retaining in the home.

Are You Ready to Discuss Options with One of Our Cremation Specialists?

We welcome the chance to speak with you about all the issues related to final arrangements, such as burial or cremation. Please call us today at 708-532-5400 to further investigate the options that lay before you. We are always available to answer your questions and to set up a meeting, be it at your home or at our facilities.  

Source:

What is Cremation, Cremation Association of North America.