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Cremation Services and Preplanning

Ed Damstra • May 13, 2019

Death is always difficult for the bereaved. However, you can make your passing a little easier on your loved ones by choosing to preplan your cremation services in Orland Park, IL. Preplanning your cremation can not only make sure your wishes are followed but can also relieve your family and loved ones of the stress of dealing with the details after you’re gone.

While there are a lot of decisions that go into a cremation, preplanning isn’t as hard as you might think. In fact, preplanning can be broken down into a few simple steps. The first step is to decide where you want to be cremated. Look into funeral homes and crematories in the area, making sure to investigate pricing and services offered. Once you decide on a location, you then have to consider what kind of cremation you want. Some of the most common options include:

Traditional setting with a funeral service before the cremation, generally with the casket present
Memorial service after the cremation, typically similar in structure to a funeral but the urn or a photo takes place of the casket
Internment ceremony in which the ashes are interred or scattered after the cremation

You then have to think about and decide on the smaller cremation details, including what kind of urn you want, where you want to be buried or scattered, or if you want to go in a different direction all together. There are many options for the ashes after cremation such as:

Internment at a cemetery or family plot
Scattering in a special place, over water, or even in the air. There are ash scattering restrictions that vary by state and county
Kept in an urn by family or friends

The final step is to think about how you will pay for your cremation. Be sure to contact your life insurance company, because, even though they won’t begin funding before death, it’s a good idea to make sure they understand your plans. Explain your insurance coverage to your family so they also understand how your insurance will cover the services. If you are planning on providing the funding yourself, make a specific plan and put it in place. Make sure everyone involved understands who is covering what and what kind of budget you have.

It’s important to remember that the preplanning process isn’t something you should do on your own. Since you will be gone when the decisions are put into action, you need to be sure you clearly communicate with your family, friends and other loved ones about your wishes. Your family can also be a part of the process, and help you make some difficult decisions such as where the cremation will be and what kind of memorial. In talking about these decisions with loved ones, be sure to document what you decide, either in your will or with the funeral home you have selected. This is very important to make sure your exact wishes are followed after you’re gone, as confusion or mistakes are fairly common in times of grief.

If you want more information on preplanning Orland Park, IL cremation services, contact Colonial Chapel Funeral Home & Crematory by visiting15525 S 73rd Ave Orland Park, IL 60462, or calling (708) 532-5400.

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