What is cremation? alternative container. Customers may make or What can we do with the ashes? It’s the process of reducing the body to furnish their own suitable container. They can be buried, placed in a niche in a ashes and bone fragments through the use of How much does cremation cost? columbarium, scattered, or kept by the family. intense heat. The process usually takes two to In the Finger Lakes region in 2014, prices for Cremated remains pose no health hazard. Their four hours. Depending on the size of the body, direct cremation, including the crematory charge, disposition in New York and most other states the cremated remains will weigh three to nine varied from $940 to approximately $3400. is not regulated by the state. pounds. The bone fragments are ground to a A funeral home’s General Price List usually Burial can be done in a cemetery or on texture similar to that of aquarium gravel. separates the crematory charge from the funeral private property. Most cemeteries will permit Depending on the fuel and temperature used, homes’s charge. These must be added to arrive at two or three containers in one adult-size plot. they are light gray to white in color. the true cost. If a visitation or a ceremony is held Some require (unnecessarily) that you purchase Cremation accounted for over 40% of all before cremation, then the total charges will be an urn vault. For home burial, keep in mind funerals in the USA in 2010, and its popularity higher. that eventually the land is likely to be sold and is rising. The cremation rate is over 50% in 13 Some funeral consumer alliances, but not the the burial site used for other purposes, unless it states. Primary reasons for choosing cremation FCA of the Finger Lakes, arrange with funeral is in a designated family cemetery. are because it is simpler, less emotional and homes to provide cremation services for members A columbarium is an assembly of niches more convenient, less expensive, and does not at discounted prices. Families who care for their designed to hold containers of cremated require a designated site for final disposition of own dead (possible only with collaboration of remains. It is most often located in a mausoleum the ashes. a funeral director in New York State) can use within a cemetery. Do I have to hire an undertaker? crematories at charges that range from near $250 Scattering cremains over an area that had Yes in New York State. This state to over $400. significance to the deceased is legal in most requires that a funeral director file the death Is a funeral service necessary? jurisdictions. Although there are commercial certificate, transport the body, obtain permits, Visitation and a funeral ceremony with a body firms that will handle the cremated remains for and be present at final disposition of a body. present may be held before cremation or you may a fee, most families prefer to do this themselves. Crematories in New York deal only with choose to have a memorial ceremony without the Remains that are being scattered should be funeral directors. body present. Cremation makes it possible to take processed by the crematory to reduce all Most other states permit private citizens to more time to plan a remembrance at a convenient fragments to fine particles. Scattering at sea is obtain and file the necessary death certificate time. available to all veterans and dependents and is and permits for transit and disposition. In those Can a casket be rented? provided by the Navy or Coast Guard. Because states, a crematory may accept a body directly Most funeral homes will rent a casket to a family sea burials are done at the convenience of the from a family. that wants to have the body present for visitation military, the family may not witness sea burial. Is a casket required for cremation? or for a funeral service preceding cremation. While federal regulations technically require No, a casket is never required for cremation. After the service, the body is transferred to an cremated remains to be scattered three miles However, most crematories do require that inexpensive cremation container. Rental caskets from shore, the Environmental Protection the body be enclosed in a rigid, combustible often cost around $700, however, so you might Agency says they are not concerned about container. Under federal regulations, all consider using the simple alternative container families scattering ashes at the beach and never mortuaries must make available an inexpensive and draping it with an attractive cloth, a quilt, or enforce this regulation with private families. cremation container often referred to as an a flag. Keep the cremains in a special container. You can buy an urn from a funeral home or any services such as a viewing or a ceremony on line, or you can use something else. When at the funeral home. You can plan a memorial cremains are being saved to provide memories, observance at a later time and place without the it’s nice to put them in a container related to the funeral director. Direct cremation gives you the deceased’s life, such as a favorite ceramic pot. option of hiring an out-of-town funeral home Some funeral homes will suggest that you that might be significantly less expensive than Cremation need to purchase a “temporary container”, but businesses nearby. It pays to shop around. All you have a legal right to refuse and use the con- funeral homes are required to give prices over Explained tainer that comes from the crematory. Cremains the telephone. First, ask for the price of "a direct can also be divided among family members to cremation with a minimum alternative container." keep or to be sprinkled or buried in several Then ask, "Does that include the crematory places. fee?" (In New York State this fee is usually not Are cremation societies the same as included.) Then ask if there are any additional memorial societies? charges (such as for permits). No. The most important difference is that Transporting Cremains memorial societies (most now called funeral Cremains may be mailed or carried by hand consumer alliances) are not-for-profit consumer to another destination. If you are taking them groups that are democratically controlled, on a plane, you are best off leaving them in the whereas direct cremation “societies” operate box just as it comes from the crematory with the for profit. Some funeral consumer alliances official documents attached. Security requires (but not the FCA of the Finger Lakes) have that they be able to be x-rayed so they need to be arrangements with funeral homes to provide in a non-metal container. members with a range of funeral options. If Additional Resources there is no funeral consumer alliance to provide Final Rights: Reclaiming the American Way information in your area, you may find some of Death, by Joshua Slocum and Lisa Carlson, Funeral Consumers Alliance ™ of the direct cremation firms considerably less Upper Access, 2011. 511 p. $22.00 expensive than full-service funeral businesses. Dealing Creatively with Death: a Manual of 33 Patchen Road Which religious groups oppose Death Education and Simple Burial, 14th ed., South Burlington, VT 05403 cremation? by Ernest Morgan, Upper Access, 2000. 160 p. 802-865-8300 The Greek Orthodox faith opposes $17.00. www.funerals.org cremation, as do orthodox Jews and Muslims. Order these books and see more at www.funerals.org or call 802-865-8300. Most religions, including the Roman Catholic 2009 faith, permit cremation. This publication modified for How to shop for a simple cremation New York State by All funeral homes are required to list a Funeral Consumers Alliance of the Finger Lakes price for a simple cremation package, called www.fingerlakesfunerals.org 607-273-8316 "direct cremation." This is cremation without 2013