Making an Informed Choice about Cremation

Since you are thinking about cremation, you may want to know about the many options which are available to you. Whether you’re in need, or planning in advance for yourself or a family member, we hope this information will help you in reaching the various choices associated with cremation.

You may decide to choose cremation for a variety of reasons. Cremation can offer you both traditional and creative options in a funeral service. You may feel that cremation is a more "natural" option or perhaps that it is a less expensive alternative, although, the latter is not always true.

The greatest misunderstanding about cremation is the belief that with cremation, there is no need for a funeral service. However, a service or memorial ceremony is an important step in helping the bereaved overcome their grief, and offers family and friends the opportunity to honor a loved one. The value of those services hold true today for those who choose cremation.

The Funeral Director's role in Cremation

Our funeral directors are available to answer any questions about the cremation process or procedures and can guide you throughout the cremation planning process.

Here in Wisconsin, there is a 48 hour waiting period between the time of death and the actual cremation process. This waiting period provides the Coroner/Medical Examiner adequate time, to investigate circumstances surrounding the cause of death. The cremation process may not take place, until the Coroner/Medical Examiner issues a cremation permit to the funeral home.

After the Cremation has taken place, families may elect to have the Urn containing the cremated remains, buried in a cemetery. Families may also prefer to keep the Urn at home as a personal keepsake to be displayed at home. Some cemeteries provide areas for scattering of the Ashes, and may provide a space where families can place a commemorative plaque or other memorial.

Cremation Options Available

Many people believe that choosing cremation means limiting your options. Actually, there are a variety of options available with cremation. Most families hold services, which help the bereaved cope with the loss of a loved one. Many people find that opting for cremation gives opportunity to create and personalize the various service options for a more meaningful experience.

Making any kind of arrangements involves many choices and decisions. It is helpful to consider all the options and take the time to ask questions before making a final decision about such an important event. Funeral service professionals are there to make the experience as emotionally satisfying for you as possible. Making an informed choice can help assure peace of mind for everyone involved.

Families today have the option of having a regular funeral service with the body present before the cremation process occurs. This is accomplished by the use of a rental casket, for the actual public visitation and funeral service. We offer our families the choice of two different wood rental caskets. After the funeral service is completed, the deceased is then cremated. This option eliminates the need for a family to purchase a casket or Outer burial -container/vault, and possible cemetery charges for a plot or grave space.

We offer  many different cremation options:

One option available is to have a traditional open casket - public visitation and funeral service for the deceased by choosing to rent a casket from our funeral home. After all services have been completed, the deceased is then cremated. The Urn with the cremated remains may then either be buried at a cemetery or taken home by the family.

The second option available is not to have any public visitation or funeral service with the deceased present. Rather to have the actual cremation process preclude a memorial service for the deceased. The Urn with the cremated remains can be displayed at the Church or Funeral Home for the actual Memorial Service.

The third option available is to have a direct cremation with no public viewing or funeral services of any kind. However, direct emphasizes no viewing or visitation, no service, no casket or burial, and offentimes .. no closure! We provide very basic and limited services, which allows us to keep the cost for our services to a minimum. 

A final option is to customize a cremation service any way you want it. Our funeral directors will be happy to explore all cremation options available to help you personalize a service that is both dignified and meaningful.

Whatever your reasons for choosing cremation are, it is wise to explore the many options available to you. Don’t hesitate to direct any questions or concerns to our funeral directors who are very knowledgeable in all aspects of cremation.

Our caring and professional staff, honors and respects the wishes of the families that we serve. No matter what type of funeral service options you select, we provide our families with thoughtful consideration and delicate care. You can be assured that your decisions and preferences will be handled by us with the utmost care and efficiency.