Cremation is an increasingly popular choice for people planning their own afterlife services. The cremation procedure is simple, straightforward, and cost-effective. Memorial services after cremation are comparable to other memorial services, but in lieu of a coffin, there is an urn that holds the cremated remains of the deceased. Here are a few options and considerations to think about if you are contemplating a cremation procedure for yourself or a loved one: 

• Cremation Procedure - Deceased bodies are cremated individually in a process that takes approximately two to two and a half hours. A small metal tag with an identifying number stamped into the surface is placed in the crematorium along with the deceased body to confirm the identity of the remains after cremation. If desired, the entire procedure may be witnessed by the family and friends of the deceased. 

• Cremation Urns - Cremation urns can be simple or highly decorative and are available in a variety of materials: gold, silver, brass, bronze, cloisonné enamel, stone, marble, ceramic, wood, and/or glass. Other materials are available from urn manufacturers upon request. Inscriptions and/or engraved identification texts are permanently affixed to these cremation urns.

• Disposition of Cremated Remains - After the cremation procedure, the remains are placed into a sealed cremation urn and handled in one of the following ways:
  • Burial - The memorial urn holding the cremated remains can be interred in a gravesite or mausoleum in a public or private memorial park. Cremated remains can also be buried on private property if desired. 
  • Scattered - The cremated remains of a deceased individual can be scattered at sea or in another natural location as chosen by the deceased and/or family. If scattered at sea, the deceased remains can be placed in a memorial reef that has been created for this purpose and encourages the growth of marine coral and other marine organisms. If another natural location is chosen, the cremated remains can be tossed into the air and carried by the wind to be scattered on a mountain top or other wilderness area. 
  • Given To The Family - The family of the deceased can also take possession of the cremation urn and keep it at home or in another location as desired. 

• Arrangements and Prepayment - Instructions and arrangements for the deposition of cremated remains may be made years ahead of the time of need. These arrangements and prepayments guarantee the procedure and cost for the services to be rendered. It is customary for funeral homes, burial grounds, and mausoleums to hold these prepaid funds in a deceased's personal account and conservatively invest them in long-term money market accounts. Any dividends or profits made by these funds are dispersed into the deceased's prepaid account and financially settled when used. 

Cremation, from a place like American Cremation Society, is a dignified way to deal with one's own body or the body of a loved one after death. Cremation procedures do not impose any undue burdens or hardships on the family and, coupled with a personalized memorial service, are a respectful and beautiful way to say farewell to a beloved family member.