Is Direct Cremation Less Of A Hassle? Here Are Some Pros And Cons To Consider When Planning A Funeral!

When a loved one passes away, there are many options to consider when it comes to funeral services. Direct cremation in Westerville, OH, is one option, while there’s also traditional cremation with or without a viewing ceremony, as well as classic funeral services followed by a burial. There’s no right or wrong way to say goodbye to a loved one, but direct cremation has become a popular option in the last decade or so.

Direct cremation is cremation without viewing or ceremony. At least, not immediately. For some, it’s less of a hassle, and it’s become a popular option for people that preplan and prepay for their own funerary services and disposition methods.

Direct cremation follows a simple, efficient pattern where a funeral home or crematorium will transport the deceased from the place of death via a hearse or funeral home vehicle. From there, there’s no ceremony or preparation of the body other than being placed into a biodegradable, flammable container. The decedent is then placed into the retort, also known as the crematorium chamber, where they are incinerated for up to two hours to burn away organic matter and reduce bones to ash.

What Happens if Bones Don’t Burn All the Way Down?

Bones and teeth are challenging to burn because they are made up of tougher matter than hair, skin, and muscle. The composite material in bones burn down, mostly, within the 1,800 degrees Fahrenheit of the retort, but there can be fragments left in the bottom of the crematorium chamber.

For bone fragments that are left over, most crematoriums have a machine that grinds the fragments into a finer, sand-like powder for uniform consistency and appearance. Some people might be a little disconcerted if bone fragments of loved ones are left within the ashes. Plus, grinding the fragments into a finer powder allows for easier dispersal if loved ones choose to scatter the ashes.

How Long Do Loved Ones Have to Collect the Ashes After Direct Cremation?

The collection time for direct cremation is the same as a traditional cremation. Loved ones have six weeks to collect the ashes of a decedent. If they choose not to collect the ashes, the remains will be placed in a vault of unclaimed ashes for up to five years at either a Westerville funeral home or crematorium.

You can provide the crematorium or funeral home with an urn for storage of the ashes. Or the crematorium will place the remains in a plastic bag inside a sturdy, small cardboard box. The latter makes scattering ashes easier on loved ones. If you get a personalized urn, it enables you to keep a loved one’s remains as a keepsake in your home.

Direct cremation is a popular disposition method for obvious reasons. It’s quick, efficient, and allows you to plan a method for disposition, even if a funeral or celebration of life isn’t scheduled for weeks after someone’s death. It’s also a personal choice, and there’s no shame in not having a funeral ceremony or traditional service at all. You can learn more about direct cremation in Westerville, OH. Talk to us at Buckeye Cremation by Schoedinger to schedule a consultation and learn about cremation services. Visit our office in Ohio or call our location.