Simplifying one’s life is a lifelong pursuit for some. Maybe that’s why many people nowadays go for a straight cremation instead of a more elaborate funeral service.
Direct cremation is having a person’s remains cremated immediately after death without any extra funeral procedures, such as a viewing, a wake, or a visitation.
Cremation occurs immediately following death, and the ashes are collected by or returned to the relatives.
But that’s not all that sets this procedure apart as a top choice for funerals. Here are ten frequently asked questions and answers about Direct Cremation Newrest funerals.
What Is Meant By Direct Cremation?
No memorial service or burial is held in the wake of a direct cremation. In the presence of close relatives, the deceased is cremated by having their body burned in a simple cardboard container known as a Cremation Container. Caskets are not required for direct cremation because there are no funeral services beforehand.
There is no need for a visitation, viewing, or funeral service with this cremation.
How Does It Work?
The deceased will be gathered, given proper care until the cremation date, and then cremated.
The family is typically not informed of the exact day until it is time for them to show up there. Ninety percent of people who choose to have a direct cremation do so in an unattended fashion.
After the service, the ashes will be distributed to loved ones or spread in a memorial garden.
1. Embalming isn’t required in direct cremation.
Embalming is a technique used to preserve a corpse temporarily. It’s accomplished by the application of a chemical that inhibits rotting. This is done to make the departed look their best for funeral services and viewings.
Having a body embalmed is optional. Since the body is usually cremated within a few days of the death, direct cremation puts an end to these sorts of worries. Embalming is unnecessary briefly, and refrigeration can be used instead.
2. Funerals and wakes are still possible.
When one opts for direct cremation, no memorial services are held. The family can hold any funeral or burial rites after receiving the ashes. There are no time constraints or other preservation considerations with direct cremation.
3. One’s cremation choices are not restricted when one chooses direct cremation.
There are typically two options for cremation: flame cremation and aquamation.
When a body is cremated, it is heated to high temperatures in a cremation chamber using flames. The intense heat in the chamber burns away all of the body’s organic matter, leaving just bone and inorganic substances. The remaining bone pieces are ground into powder by mechanical means and stored in an urn.
Alkaline hydrolysis, a chemical process, is used in aquamation. When water, alkali (potassium hydroxide), heat, and pressure are applied to a substance, a reaction that hastens the breakdown process occurs. After it’s done, it’ll leave behind shards of bone and a clear fluid. Municipal wastewater is used for the disposal of the latter.
Direct cremation allows for either of these procedures to take place. In addition to being a more eco-friendly option, this method also avoids the needless burning of embalming chemicals.
4. No need for a grand coffin.
As there is no viewing with direct cremation, no casket or coffin is required, which can be significant cost savings. There may be no need for a casket at all if cremation is chosen.
When conducting a direct cremation, even low-cost materials like plywood can be used for the container. There are similar coffin specifications for aquamation. Aquamation will not degrade casket materials or the majority of fabrics. Nevertheless, wool and other protein-based materials can deteriorate throughout the process.
5. It’s more sustainable.
Compared to funerals, it could be seen as “eco-friendly” by some. The primary reason for this is the time and money savings associated with direct cremation. In contrast to traditional flame cremation, which emits greenhouse gases and uses much energy, aquamation is considered more eco-friendly.
A direct cremation can have an even lower carbon footprint. For instance, avoiding embalming keeps you from dealing with the toxic chemicals used and burned during the practice.
6. It’s direct and malleable.
Direct cremation allows us a great deal of adaptability. All cremation options are available to families. They don’t need somebody to help them organize or fill out forms. They have the option of delaying or forgoing service. They get a say in where and when these ceremonies take place.
7. Loved ones can witness the cremation.
It is common practice for cremation services to enable mourners to attend the ceremony. Some crematoriums feature viewing areas where loved ones can gather to watch the cremation take place and even hold a little ceremony or memorial service. The cremation procedure can be witnessed from that point on as the casket is brought into the room and placed within. Family members may request cremation in certain circumstances.
Why More People Prefer Direct Cremation?
There are several different circumstances in which direct cremation might be chosen. Because of the reduced complexity, direct cremation can be significantly cheaper than a funeral service.
Since that funeral fees can be a burden for some, saving money on a costly service can be preferable. A cremation without a funeral service does not mean that the departed will be forgotten, but rather that you can choose a more personal way to honor their memory, such as by dispersing their ashes at a place of significance to them.
These services can be just as meaningful and emotional as a typical funeral, but at a fraction of the cost, making them a good option for those making their funeral arrangements and who want to spare loved ones financial hardship. They provide additional time for planning and can be tailored to be particularly meaningful to the deceased and their loved ones.
It’s also possible that the deceased wasn’t religious and hence didn’t want a formal ceremony. A direct cremation allows the family to honor their desires without unnecessary delays.
It’s also possible that the family isn’t emotionally prepared to arrange a funeral at this time, in which case direct cremation offers more options because there is no longer a body to deal with. Another possibility is that the deceased didn’t want a funeral because they felt it would be unfair to their loved ones.
