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302-478-7100 Wilmington & Hockessin, DE

Cremation Options

Cremation Options - Photo of a Cremation Urn at a Memorial ServiceThe number of people choosing cremation has increased significantly in the past few years, yet cremation carries a long tradition and remains largely unchanged. Cremation simply expedites the process of reducing a body to bone fragments through application of intense heat.

What is done before or after the cremation is up to the survivors, or up to you. You can relieve the burden of these decisions by pre-planning your arrangements in advance of need so that your wishes will be honored. Contrary to what some people believe, Cremation does not limit choices, but, in fact, increases one’s options. It is a process which is performed in a respectful and dignified manner and can be memorialized in many ways.

Cremation and Funerals

Choosing cremation neither eliminates nor does it require a funeral service. Traditional or contemporary services are often planned before or after the cremation process. A funeral service followed by cremation may be exactly the same as a funeral service followed by ground burial. They can be elaborate or simple and traditional or nontraditional. Arrangements and ceremonies tend to be as individual as the persons for whom and by whom they are made.They may be personalized specifically to reflect the life of the deceased, and thus have a special meaning. Chandler Funeral Homes and Crematory is able to assist in any and all of your Funeral Service needs.

Cremation Q & A

Traditional Cremation

Service will be just like a Complete Funeral Service except cremation will follow instead of the casketed burial. This can be accommodated by the use of a cremation casket (casket that is designed to be cremated) or the use of a rental casket. Following the viewing, service or ceremony, and eventual cremation, the cremated remains can be buried, properly scattered, or returned to the family for safe keeping. Urns are used to hold the cremated remains. Urns can be constructed out of basic materials like cardboard or plastic, or constructed out of more protective materials like basic and semi-precious metals, ceramics, and woods.

Cremation with Memorial Service

Cremation Services can be arranged as an immediate disposition of the body, but is most times followed by a memorial service at the church, funeral home or other location. A Memorial Service is one where the body is not present, however many times the cremated remains are present in an urn. The Memorial Service usually focuses on celebrating the life of the deceased. As some families may not have any relationship with a particular church or clergy, we have Certified Celebrants on staff to accommodate these needs if requested.

Direct Cremation

A Direct Cremation refers to a cremation being provided, while limiting funeral services to the removal and transportation of the deceased into our care.

Memorialization Options for Cremation

Importance of Memorialization

Memorialization provides a permanent, secure place for cremated remains to be placed, and for family members and descendants to honor the lives of the deceased.

Cremation allows families many choices for memorializing a loved one. Some families choose to keep the cremated remains with them at home, or to scatter the remains over land or water. Chandler Funeral Homes and Crematory allows the following memorialization options, among others, for cremated remains:

Scattering

Your loved one’s remains may be scattered freely within a dedicated, natural environment. There are also certain services which offer scattering among the sea.

Personalized Memorialization

Inscribe your family member’s name and a special saying on a tree plaque, park bench or other special memorial. We also have custom, unique urns and keepsakes, perfect for displaying inside your home.

Outdoor Niches

The cremated remains of your loved ones may be safely held in an above ground columbarium niche.

Traditional Burial

In ground burial on a family plot – Urns may be buried at the head or foot of a grave site. Some cemeteries may require an urn vault.

Additional Cremation Considerations

Cremation Casket

Cremation Caskets

Container Options for Cremation include: Hardwood Caskets, for those desiring something more traditional; Cremation Caskets for those wanting a simple yet dignified casket constructed specifically for cremation; and Basic Cremation Containers.

Urn Vault

Urn Vaults

Urn Vaults are protective containers in which urns are commonly placed. In many cases, where families desire to bury the urn-encapsulated remains of their loved one, cemeteries will require the use of an urn vault. Much like burial vaults for caskets, urn vaults protect the urn from being crushed, and protect the ground above them from caving in over time.

Cremation Urn

Urns

We offer a wide range of styles and prices appropriate for burial, niches, scattering, keepsakes or discreet placement in a home.

Funeral Service Memorial Items - Registry Book, Service Folder and Acknowledgment Cards

Memorial Items

A variety of Memorial Registry Books, Service Folders and Acknowledgment Cards are available that can reflect the life and interests of the deceased.