What is Cremation?

We understand that there are many misconceptions about cremation and the cremation process, and at Washburn-McReavy we are dedicated to educating families about cremation and helping your family decide what is right for you.

There are many reasons that families chose cremation, and one of its advantages is that it can offer families increased flexibility when making funeral and cemetery arrangements. Families have the option of holding a traditional service before cremation, and/or a memorial service with the cremation urn. Families may need to wait for an extended period before a memorial service and cremation can offer that flexibility in timing. Cremation also offers a variety of burial options, including burial in a cemetery plot, ossuary or columbarium placement, or the remains can be scattered at a cemetery or private location (pending permission by the owner and local regulations), or the remains can be retained by a family member.

The important thing to remember about cremation is that it is not a substitute for a funeral or memorial service, it is simply a way to prepare the deceased for final disposition. Families often look to a memorial service to provide a safe place for grieving and closure, so it is important to consider how cremation will fit into the grieving process.

In addition to considering memorial services, it is equally important to consider the final resting place of the remains. Providing your family with an accessible, permanent resting place ensures that future generations will have a place to go, to gather and remember, helping to bring closure and the start of the healing process.