Category Archives: cremations

Honoring a Loved One with a Scattering Ceremony

It is very common for a person to want their ashes scattered in a special place. After cremation services near College Park, MD, have taken place, their immediate family will receive their ashes back in a temporary urn. From there, they can make plans to memorialize them. Scattering ashes can be very meaningful for both the person who has passed away, as well as for their family and friends. It usually takes place in a location that holds many fond and special memories. It might be somewhere that an important event took place, or it may be somewhere that held many childhood memories. Wherever the ashes are to be scattered, it’s important to consider what will happen on the day of the scattering.

The first thing you will need to do is research the place where you plan to scatter your loved one’s ashes. If they wanted their remains to be spread in a public place, like a park or a beach, then you’ll have to find out what kind of regulations there are when it comes to scattering ashes there. If they wanted to be laid to rest at sea, then you’ll have to procure a way to travel at least three nautical miles away from shore. By ensuring that you have the right permissions to scatter your loved one’s ashes, you will give yourself peace of mind that the eventual day will go without a hitch.

Something else to consider is who you want to attend. Some people will keep it very intimate, with only themselves and one or two other immediate family members. Others will extend the invite out to a slightly larger group, while still others will make it a family and friend affair. Make sure the place you’re planning to go to can accommodate the people you think will attend. Next, consider how you want to spread your loved one’s ashes. You may be the sole person to do the job, or you might invite all of those attending to spread a small number of ashes. This can be a meaningful way for family and friends to say goodbye and connect with their loved ones for a final time.

Another thing to consider is how you want the small service to proceed. Do you want to keep it informal and casual, where everyone is free to chat and reminisce as they please? Would you rather hold a small religious service prior to the scattering? Maybe you want to play a special song or hold a meaningful toast in your loved one’s memory. Perhaps you want to invite those in attendance to step forward and share a special memory. You have the freedom to make it as unique and special as you want.

Having a scattering ceremony is an excellent way to lay your loved one to rest while paying tribute to their memory. Your provider of cremation services near College Park, MD, can help connect you to any resources you might need to make your loved one’s scattering ceremony special and meaningful. Then, you and your family and friends can take a day to celebrate your loved one while returning them to a place that held many fond memories.

Unique Alternative Options for Memorialization

When a person you love passes away, it’s important to keep your memories of them preserved. It’s likely you have some keepsakes, photos, and other items that remind you of them. It’s very common to want to memorialize a loved one using their ashes, as well. If your loved one chose cremation services near Adelphi, MD, for themselves, there are many ways that this is possible. While the traditional methods of memorialization include scattering their ashes, having them interred in a columbarium niche, or keeping their ashes in an urn inside your home, there are also many other alternative ways to preserve and honor their memory. If your loved one had a unique personality, you may want to explore some of the other options that are mentioned here.

To begin with, let’s talk about solidified remains. Essentially, you take your loved one’s ashes and send them to a certain company that provides this service. They process their cremated remains into solid objects, which resemble smooth river rocks. They’re typically white in color, although there are sometimes variations. You get a number of “rocks” of varying sizes, which can be made into a beautiful display in your home. You can choose to share some of these with other households within your family, as well. They’re easy to transport, and allow you to keep your loved one close.

Another thing you can do with your loved one’s ashes is to have them made into a diamond. There are services where you can send their cremated remains, and they will be processed into a beautiful gem. You can have this set in a ring or other piece of jewelry, which can be worn and passed down as a family heirloom. Additionally, there are many pieces of keepsake jewelry that you can find, which have a small vessel to hold ashes. These can allow you (and other family members and friends) to carry a small part of your loved one with you at all times.

Some people choose to have some of their loved one’s ashes turned into tattoo ink. Then, you can have an indelible tribute to them placed on your skin. You can also have some of their ashes incorporated into a fireworks display. This could be shown at their memorial service or celebration of life. There are even services that will shoot their remains into space so that they can float among the stars.

These are just a few examples of the ways you can memorialize your loved one with their ashes. Not everyone wants to take the traditional route, and there are more and more alternative options becoming available. Every person’s personality is unique, and if your loved one was particularly different or special, one of these alternative methods of memorialization might be appealing to you. Your provider of cremation services near Adelphi, MD, can help you when it comes to finding resources for different ways to memorialize your loved one. Then, you and your family can take comfort in the fact that you’re doing everything you can to honor your loved one’s memory in the most fitting way possible.

Planning a Personal and Unique Memorial Service

When someone you love passes away, you want to honor their life and do their memory justice. This can be accomplished in many ways, depending on who the person was and what your family’s traditions are. While a traditional funeral is a meaningful and beautiful way to say goodbye, many families choose to have a memorial service for their loved one, which takes often takes place after cremation services near College Park, MD. There are many benefits to planning a memorial service, as well as lots of ways to make it more personal and unique to that person’s memory.

One of the benefits of having a memorial service (as opposed to a traditional funeral) is that there is a lot of flexibility when it comes to planning. Funerals must generally be held within a week or so of the person’s passing, which doesn’t leave much time to make arrangements. With a memorial service, you can take more time to allow the far-away families to make travel arrangements, or you can wait for a warmer season to hold an outdoor service. This can help reduce some of the stress that comes with planning a funeral, and you can take the time you need to make sure that everything will go according to plan.

While some memorial services may resemble a traditional funeral, many of them do not. You might choose to hold their memorial service outside, or in a more unusual location (somewhere other than a funeral home or a church). You can bring photos, memorabilia, food and drinks, and whatever else you wish to include. Some families choose to hold a celebration of life in honor of their loved one, where family and friends can gather and remember the person who has passed. These often have a more upbeat and celebratory feel, and can even have a party-like atmosphere in some cases. You might incorporate a fireworks display, or hire a band to play. You could encourage those in attendance to come up and share a special memory of the person who has passed. If your loved one had a special interest in gardening and the outdoors, you could have a plant or seeds for everyone to take home and plant near their home, as a tribute to that person. You may want to set up a toast for everyone to participate in, or include some cultural customs that are meaningful in your family. These are just examples, and every person and family will be different.

As you can see, there is a multitude of ways to create a meaningful and personal memorial service in honor of your loved one. Whether they were buried or underwent cremation services near College Park, MD, the freedom is yours to make any arrangements you wish. Your funeral home can be of assistance when it comes to planning and arranging a memorial service, and can even provide a venue for the event. Then, you can focus on making sure that your loved one’s wishes are carried out, and that their memory is honored in the best way possible.

What is a Celebration of Life?

It has become more and more common for people to choose non-traditional services for their own final arrangements. The traditional funeral and burial are still often done, but many people want something a little different after they pass. Whether they have chosen to be buried or have cremation services near Adelphi, MD, there is plenty of freedom to plan their services in any way that they wanted. Many people are choosing to have a celebration of life in honor of their loved one, rather than a traditional memorial service or burial.

You may be wondering: what is a celebration of life? A celebration of life is a kind of memorial service that is primarily focused on remembering and honoring the life and memory of the person who has passed. It’s a way of paying tribute to their legacy, and everyone attending can share special memories and stories about them. Many times these events have a celebratory atmosphere, rather than the more somber or sad mood that a funeral might be associated with. There are often plenty of photos, mementos, and videos shown representing the person who has passed. Although it’s not always the case, a celebration of life is often held in honor of someone who has lived a long and full life, with lots to show for it.

Sometimes people will hold a celebration of life at a place of worship, but many times they are held at some alternative location. You might choose to rent out an area at a local park where people can easily gather. If you or a family member has property or land where it can be held or a large enough home where everyone can attend, you can save money by holding it there. You might rent out a gathering hall or something similar. You’ll have to consider how many people you expect to attend when choosing a location. You might also want to consider holding it somewhere that was meaningful to the person who passed.

Many families choose to supply food and drinks for guests attending a celebration of life. You can have it catered, have different households bring a passing dish, or simply supply munchies and snacks. You might fill up coolers with various beverages, or depending on where you have it, you could even host a bar. You will likely want to have tables and chairs, as well as a tent or pavilion of some kind for everyone to sit and eat.

If your loved one expressed their wish for a celebration of life, you’ll likely find yourself looking at planning a service that looks a bit different from a typical funeral. However, they can be wonderful and special tributes to the person’s memory and can provide a perfect opportunity for family and friends to share funny, touching, and special stories about the deceased. Your funeral home or provider of cremation services near Adelphi, MD, can help you put together this gathering, and at the very least they can give you valuable advice on how to arrange it. Then, you can take comfort in knowing that your loved one’s wishes and memory will be thoughtfully honored.

Learn More About Direct Cremation Services

When you’re faced with making final arrangements for a loved one, the options can seem intimidating and overwhelming. This is especially true if they have not made pre-arrangements, because you will then need to make all the decisions. If you have decided to go with cremation services near College Park, MD, for their disposition, your funeral home can walk you through all your options. Some people choose to have a full viewing and funeral prior to cremation, while others choose the simpler route of direct cremation.

Direct cremation is essentially what it sounds like: a person’s bodily remains are sent directly to the crematory, without any types of services taking place beforehand. Some families may choose to have an intimate final goodbye prior to cremation, while others will not. Until the time that the cremation takes place, their bodily remains will be kept safe on the crematory premises. After the process is finished, the family will receive their loved one back in the form of bone ashes, held within a temporary urn. They will have the option to purchase a permanent urn, and from there may choose to do with them what they wish. Some people scatter their loved one’s ashes in a special place, some keep them in an urn within their home, and still, others have them interred at a cemetery or columbarium. There are also many more unique ways to memorialize a loved one using their ashes, including creating diamonds and even shooting them into space.

There are several different reasons why a family might choose direct cremation for their loved one. One of the biggest advantages to direct cremation is the low cost, especially when compared to paying for a full traditional funeral and burial. It is really the most affordable option for disposition. A family might also choose direct cremation because they wish to hold their loved one’s services at a later time. This might be so that family and friends can plan to attend from far away, or they may wish to plan the memorial service during the warmer months. It’s also possible that their loved one expressed the wish for simple and minimal services, and the family is simply upholding their wishes. Additionally, they may have wanted their ashes to be spread in a special location, which sometimes requires significant preparation and planning ahead, especially if others are invited to attend.

While direct cremation is relatively straightforward, it leaves the family with a lot of freedom when it comes to planning a memorial service. This, and the lower cost associated with it, is the reason that many families might choose direct cremation for their loved ones. If you’re interested in learning more about your options when it comes to cremation services near College Park, MD, then simply contact your local funeral home or crematory. They will help you choose the right type of service for your loved one and your family’s needs and budget. Then, you can take comfort in knowing that your loved one will be remembered in the best way possible.

Are There Rules About Scattering Ashes?

Many times, when a person chooses cremation as their form of disposition, they want their ashes to be scattered in a particular place. This could be anywhere from a favorite vacation spot to a special place on the property where they grew up. If you are planning to scatter your loved one’s ashes after they have undergone cremation services near Adelphi, MD, there is a bit of research you should do first. That way, you can be sure that the event will go smoothly. Here are some tips to get you started on choosing a place to scatter.

To begin with, if they wanted their ashes scattered on someone’s private property, then you simply need to get permission from the owner before scattering them there. If it’s something larger, like a stadium or an amusement park, then you’d need to speak with the management to find out what their rules and regulations are when it comes to scattering there. You might have to go on a certain day of the week, or at a particular time of day when there are likely to be fewer people around.

If your intended scattering location is in a public area, such as a beach, park, forest, or golf course, you will need to speak with local authorities. There are often regulations about where you can scatter ashes in these types of places, and it is sometimes prohibited in some areas. Rather than find out the day of that you’re not permitted to scatter there, it’s better to ask ahead of time.

Most bodies of water like lakes, rivers, and ponds, must be treated the same way as public land. It’s not always allowed to scatter ashes in these places, and you’d be wise to ask someone like the DNR to find out where you can go. If your loved one wanted their ashes to be spread in the ocean, this is always legal. The only stipulation is that you must travel at least three nautical miles away from shore.

Some families choose to scatter their loved one’s ashes inside a memory garden at a cemetery. These are peaceful, natural places where a person’s ashes can be laid to rest. All you need to do is speak with the cemetery beforehand to make arrangements for scattering. At many places, you can get a plaque placed there that honors their memory, as well.

As you can see, the basic idea is that you will likely need to get permission before scattering ashes in most places. To give yourself peace of mind, it’s best to do some due diligence before making your plans. Then you won’t have to worry about something going wrong on the day you choose to scatter. You can also ask your local provider of cremation services near Adelphi, MD, for advice. They likely have had past clients with similar needs and should be able to steer you in the right direction. Then, you can move forward with your loved one’s scattering ceremony without worry and stress.

Can You Have a Traditional Funeral with Cremation Services?

Many people choose cremation as their means of final disposition, as opposed to traditional burial. Often times, memorial services are associated with cremation services near College Park, MD, but it’s perfectly possible to have a traditional funeral service instead. The difference between a memorial and a funeral service is essentially the presence of the body of the deceased. For some families, this distinction is very important.

One of the biggest reasons a family might want a traditional funeral is so that they can have a viewing. A viewing takes place prior to the funeral service, either earlier in the day or on the day before. Many people want a viewing because it provides an opportunity for family and friends to see their loved one, one last time. It’s an important step in the grieving process to be able to say goodbye, and for many, a viewing helps to serve this purpose.

For others, having the body present at the funeral service is necessary. Usually this is for religious reasons. In these cases, having a memorial service without the presence of the bodily remains simply isn’t an option. Even if the person is to be cremated, there will still need to be a traditional funeral prior to cremation. Fortunately, this is common and perfectly possible to do. Even though many people might assume a traditional funeral will be followed by a graveside service and burial, this is not always true. Rather than traveling to the cemetery following the funeral, the person’s body will instead be transported to the crematory. Cremation services will take place, and the family will receive their loved one’s remains back in the form of ashes a few days later.

After this, it will be up to the family what they want to do next. If their loved one expressed a wish for their ashes to be scattered in a special place, then this can be done. The family may choose to have their ashes buried in a family plot, or interred at a columbarium. They might instead choose to store their ashes in an urn, to be kept within their home. You can also find many keepsake urns and items that can allow several different households or family members to keep a part of their loved one with them at all times. There is even keepsake jewelry that can be worn, and is designed to hold a small amount of ashes.

As a family dealing with the loss of a loved one, all you can hope for is that your loved one’s wishes will be able to be met. Your funeral home and provider of cremation services near College Park, MD, has lots of experience with many different families and all kinds of situations. They will be happy to help you figure out a plan that works for your family, including if you wish to have a traditional funeral followed by cremation. Then, you can move forward with your loved one’s arrangements and focus on being with your family.

Why Do People Choose Interment for Their Loved Ones?

For many people, a final resting place is an important necessity after they’re gone. Whether it’s because of their religious beliefs or simply their own wishes, there are many who want their bodily remains to be laid to rest in a permanent place. If they have chosen cremation services near Adelphi, MD, they will likely be interred, either within a grave or in a columbarium.

Essentially, interment is when the ashes are placed either within a grave or inside a niche in a columbarium. Typically, they will be contained within an urn for interment. A columbarium is usually located within a cemetery, and it is an aboveground building that is intended to hold ashes. If they have opted for burial, they will likely have a gravesite within the cemetery. If several family members have chosen to be buried after the cremation, then they may be able to utilize a single gravesite. This can bring them closer together as they’re laid to rest, and it conserves land use as well.

One of the biggest reasons that people choose interment is because it provides a permanent and final resting place. Keeping a loved one’s remains in an urn within your home can be special for many people, but it’s not right for everyone. Unfortunately, throughout the years there runs a risk that the urn may become broken, misplaced, or even lost. For some families, this is not a risk that they are willing to take. Additionally, with interment, there is a marked grave or niche that family and friends can visit any time they wish. Future generations can find the resting place of their family members as well.

Some families choose to scatter their loved one’s ashes in a meaningful place. This can be a wonderful way to return a loved one to a place that they held dear in life. However, for others, the lack of a marked and maintained final resting place is an issue. Each family will need to take into account their loved one’s wishes, and if those were not known, then they will have to consider their own needs and circumstances.

Finally, many people choose interment because it is required by their religious beliefs. For instance, within the Catholic religion, traditional burial is preferred, but cremation is permitted in some circumstances. The stipulation is that their ashes must be laid to rest either in a grave or in a niche: somewhere permanent. This is another typical reason to opt for interment after cremation.

Whatever your reasons may be, interment is a very common option for people whose loved ones have been cremated. It’s important to have a permanent and marked place that they can visit when they wish to be close to their loved ones. After you have sought cremation services near Adelphi, MD, for your loved one, feel free to ask for more information about interment. They will be able to recommend trusted cemeteries where you can have your loved one laid to rest, and they can offer urns for their burial or interment. Then you can find peace in knowing that your loved one will be laid to rest, and you can visit them at any time.

What are Your Different Options for Cremation Services?

When a person has chosen cremation services as part of their final arrangements, it will be up to their family to formalize the plans after their passing. They will have to choose between several different options for cremation services near College Park, MD. Here you can find out a little bit more about everything from direct cremation to cremation services following a traditional funeral.

Direct cremation is the most inexpensive and simplest option for cremation. Generally, there are no other services that take place, apart from the cremation itself. After a person’s passing, their body will be transported to the crematory to be cremated, and then their family will receive back their ashes to do what they will with them. Some families who utilize this option might choose to have a memorial service for them later on, but others might simply scatter, bury, or inter their ashes, with no other services involved.

Some families may want a direct cremation for their loved one, but with the opportunity to say a final goodbye. This would involve an extra hour or so prior to cremation where a few close family members can be with their loved one for the last time and say their final goodbyes. This can be an important part of the acceptance and grieving process, and it’s a necessary step for many people in moving forward with their lives without their loved ones. If you don’t have the means or desire to hold a funeral service, but still want that sense of closure, a direct cremation with a final goodbye might be a good choice for your family.

Many families wish for their loved ones to have a traditional funeral prior to cremation. This is generally going to come with more costs, but for many people, it’s a necessity. If you want to hold a viewing prior to the funeral, embalming services will be required. You’ll also have to utilize the services of the funeral home and staff. For the services, a casket will have to be rented to hold your loved one’s bodily remains. A viewing and funeral service can allow for family and friends to attend and pay their respects, offer their condolences, and say goodbye. After the funeral service concludes, the person’s body will be transported to the crematory and held there until the time of cremation.

This is a simple breakdown of some different types of services you can expect to choose from for cremation. You’ll have to take a look at what your loved one wanted for their final services, as well as determine what will work best for your family’s circumstances. Your funeral home and provider of cremation services near College Park, MD, can help you come up with a plan that makes the most sense for your family. If you do wish to have a viewing and funeral service, they can provide all the resources that you need. The important thing is that you have options, so you are able to fulfill your loved one’s wishes while still following what works for your family.

Putting Together a Special Scattering Service

Most people have an idea of how they want their remains to be handled after their passing. Whether they wish for burial, interment, or some other solution, it’s usually a pretty important desire to them. If your loved one chose cremation services near Adelphi, MD, as their method of disposition, they may have wished for their ashes to be scattered in a special place. This could be a spot where they formed many fond childhood memories, or it could be a place where they frequently vacationed. Either way, you can plan a very meaningful scattering ceremony that will allow those attending to say a final goodbye, as well as return their loved ones to a cherished place.

The first thing you’ll need to consider is where you’re going to scatter their ashes. They may have expressed a desire for this to be done in a particular place. It’s important that you research where you’re planning to go so that you can be sure to either obtain permission or learn about the regulations of scattering in that area. In the case of public spaces, you must reach out to local authorities to learn your local laws for scattering there. If it’s private property that you wish to scatter on, you must contact the person or business who owns the property to obtain permission. By doing this due diligence, you can go into the day with no worries in your mind about getting caught doing something you aren’t allowed to do.

Next, take into consideration who you want to invite to attend. You may want to keep it small and intimate, with only a few close family members there. On the other hand, you might want to extend the invitation to a wider group, including more extended family and some close friends. This will depend entirely on your preference, as well as the location you’re planning to go to and what it can accommodate. Also, you need to think about how you want to do the actual scattering. You or another close family member may choose to do it while everyone else looks on, or you might give each person there a chance to scatter a small number of ashes. There is some merchandise that you can purchase to make this process easier.

You may want to incorporate a special song, poem, or prayer into the scattering ceremony as well. Most times these services are relatively short and informal, but including something personal to your loved one’s memory will make it that much more meaningful for those in attendance.

These are just a few ideas to get you started on planning a scattering ceremony for your loved one. Each person is different, and every family will have varying preferences and needs. Your provider of cremation services near Adelphi, MD, can help you find the resources you need to plan a scattering service for your loved one that will properly honor their memory. Then, you and your family can take comfort in the knowledge that your loved one has been returned to a place that they cherished in life. Contact us today.

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