Funeral planning is understandably something that most people wish to avoid doing. But death is a part of life and it’s something everyone has to face at some point. And Reading, PA cremations can allow you to make the best of a bad situation. A cremation service provides families with the financial and emotional flexibility to plan for the best funeral.
There are two major types of cremation service available. The first is a direct cremation. Here, the body is cremated shortly after a death takes place, and before any funeral or memorial service occurs. This is the least expensive way to treat a body after its death, but still allows you the flexibility of holding any type of memorial service you want. The services can be formal and feel much like a funeral. They can be informal and more of a celebration of life. Or they can be small and intimate, just among family and close friends in the park as they scatter the ashes.
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The other type of cremation service is one which follows a traditional funeral. Here, the ceremony that you usually think about when you hear the word “funeral” is followed. Family and friends gather to pay their respects to the deceased and a eulogy is held. However, there will be no burial after this service. A cremation will take place instead. This kind of cremation affords families flexibility, allowing them the emotional or religious comforts of a traditional funeral service while still permitting them to save thousands of dollars that would otherwise have been spent on a burial.
A cremation that follows a traditional funeral ceremony would require the family to pay visitation and embalming fees, as well as amenities for guests at the venue. However, some costs can be avoided, as no casket, grave liner, burial plot, or gravestone would need to be purchased, since there would be no subsequent burial. A casket can be rented for the funeral ceremony instead of purchased, which on its own can save thousands.
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What’s the right answer in your situation? Only you can decide that. The good part about working with a funeral home is that either of the basic options they offer–traditional burials or cremations—can honor a loved one with respect. There’s no need for concern there. You simply have to decide what’s best for your family and move forward with that route.
Before making a final decision, consult with your family and see what others want and how they feel about various methods. And, contact a reputable funeral home to ask your questions about Reading, PA cremations. Whelan Schwartz Funeral Home, Inc. is here to help you go through the options so you know just what they include and just which one suits your family the best. Give us a call at (610) 374-0962 and we can talk over the phone or set up a time for you to visit us at 444 N 9th St. Reading, PA 19601. Our compassionate representatives are here to help.