Cremation Services with Ferdinand

Cremation is significantly less expensive than the traditional ground burial. In fact, according to the Cremation Association of North America (CANA), the national average cost of cremation costs thousands of dollars less than burial (including plot purchase, headstone, casket, etc.). Contrarily, it is possible to spend more with cremation, should you or the family select a handcrafted, unique urn by an overseas artist. Note: cremation is not an alternative to, or a rejection of, a funeral or memorial service—it is just one form of final disposition of the body. You can still hold any ceremony you want.

Many opt for cremation for this very reason alone, as it enables survivors to focus on their grief without dealing with the innumerable details needed to swiftly arrange a funeral and committal service. You see, the human body begins a decomposition process immediately upon death unless it is embalmed to slow the degeneration. That said, a funeral or memorial service with the body present (open casket) and burial must occur fairly soon after death. In most circumstances, immediate family is responsible for arrangements: dates, times, timeline, committal services (for traditional burials), choosing pallbearers (for traditional burials), scriptures or various readings, providing out-of-town information to loved ones timely enough for their travel plans, etc. And, services generally occur within four to six days after the death. This is all very overwhelming--especially given the pressing timeframe of four to six days, max.

When a body is cremated, there is no need to adhere to an urgent timeframe. In fact, it is common for the immediate family to hold a private viewing and/or to witness the cremation process and take their time organizing a funeral or memorial service. Often, services are planned weeks, months, even years following the death; this leads to a more upbeat, “life celebration” ceremony due to the developed stage in the grieving process.

Cremation is considered significantly more Earth-friendly than a traditional funeral and casket-ground burial. Why? Traditional funerals typically include a viewing, which involves the use of a formaldehyde-based embalming fluid and strong chemicals. And, let us not forget the land use when for the burial plot—land being an evidently finite resource. With cremation, the remains (ashes) do not require any land use at all, since they are typically kept in an urn in one’s home or scattered in a meaningful location. Even for those who choose to bury the urn or place it in a columbarium (multi-urn “mausoleum-like” structure), less land is required than the plot needed to bury a casket.

There are basically two groups in which survivors who choose or honor cremation for their deceased loved one fall into: the side which wants to keep the urn at home and the side which wants to scatter the ashes as a symbolic gesture. Truth be told, both of these options are symbol-driven. One hinges on the symbolic freeing of one’s spirit and the other is about remaining connected to the person through remaining within close proximity to the remains. It’s important to remember: neither option is better than the other. Saving vs. scattering has to do with what works best for you and your family. Take time; do not feel rushed to make a decision about this. As we often remind our clients, you cannot go back and redo this.

Not sure if cremation is the right option for you or your deceased loved one? Give our team a call at 305-631-0001; we can help guide you through your decision without pressure or bias. Here at Ferdinand Funeral Homes & Crematory, we would be delighted to earn your business and trust and to assist you with your loved one’s cremation and final arrangements. Interested in pre-planning your own final cremation arrangements? What a wonderful gift that would be to invest in your family’s future—we can guide you through that process as well.

Our services extend to include grief counseling, online support throughout the year following your loss, and so much more. Please give us a call—day or night. We look forward to working with you.