Deciding upon a permanent place of remembrance for a loved one is not only an important part of honoring their memory but provides a place for family and friends to pay tribute for generations to come. While many people still make the choice to have a traditional ground or above-ground burial, cremation has been increasing in popularity over the years. Many find this option appealing for the convenience, lower cost versus a traditional burial, and flexibility to keep or scatter ashes during a memorial service.

Unlike a traditional burial, cremation offers flexibility for the funeral service to be planned weeks or even months after a loved one has passed. This provides much needed time for organizing the service, selecting thoughtful passages, photos, and music. The rush and stress of planning a funeral in a short amount of time to accommodate a swift burial is removed when choosing cremation. Friends and family who are under geographical or financial constraints may not be able to attend a quickly planned funeral. Cremation offers time for individuals facing these circumstances to have the necessary time to attend a service planned well in advance.

Some individuals prefer cremation so that they can bring cremains home with them and display a custom urn on a mantel or other special place in their home. Many times, this option helps living friends and family members feel connected to the loved one who has passed and brings a daily sense of remembrance. Alternatively, and sometimes after many years, some people make the choice to transfer cremains to sacred spaces.

Scattering ceremonies are popular with people who have a strong connection to specific places, like the ocean, a special lake, landmark, or even outer space! Dignity Memorial can help plan special scattering ceremonies that best pay tribute to each unique individual – and that includes the option to have cremains launched into space. These special ceremonies offer a chance for loved ones to be together, share memories, and peacefully reflect. During these ceremonies all or some of the ashes can be scattered. Some also choose to complement a scattering ceremony by retaining some of the cremains. Dignity Memorial offers a wide variety of options for this, such as a small urn or keepsake jewelry that house a tiny amount of cremains. The selections are endless making each individual memorialization unique.

For some, reflecting in a tranquil setting where the cremains of a loved one have their own space may be more fitting. While burying cremains is an option, a cremation niche is an above ground burial space. A cremation niche can be small, large, public, or private. The space consists of a wall of small cutouts that house the cremains in their custom urns. The front of the cremation niche can be enclosed bronze or granite, but individuals can also choose glass fronts which allow the urn to be viewed alongside small mementos, if desired.

Planning how best to memorialize a loved one comes with many decisions. The team at Dignity Memorial is here to help guide you through the process and educate clients about the vast array of options available to them. Whether for an immediate need or pre-planning, Dignity Memorial is ready to answer any questions you may have.
 

Michael Higgins is Sales Manager for Dignity Memorial®, which cares for more than 300,000 families each year through its network of more than 2,000 providers throughout North America. Learn more at www.dignitymemorial.com or call Greenlawn Memorial Park, Oleander Memorial Gardens and Coble Funeral and Cremation Services at Greenlawn Memorial Park, (910) 799-1686.