Losing a loved one in Queens is a deeply personal journey, and navigating the logistics of final arrangements in New York City shouldn’t add financial stress to your grief. At DFS Memorials, we specialize exclusively in direct cremation services for families throughout Queens County. We provide a respectful, professional, and transparent alternative to the high-pressure sales and inflated costs often found at traditional neighborhood funeral homes. Our focus is on the core of what you need: a dignified, simple cremation that honors your loved one’s memory without the unnecessary expenses of embalming, expensive caskets, or formal viewing rooms.
We understand that Queens families value both community roots and honesty. By choosing direct cremation, you are opting for the most cost-effective and flexible method of disposition available in NYC today. This approach gives you the freedom to plan a personal memorial or “celebration of life” on your own terms—whether that’s a tribute overlooking the Long Island City skyline, a family gathering at Flushing Meadows-Corona Park, or a private service in your local neighborhood after the remains are returned to you. We handle all the NYC-specific legalities with the utmost care so you can focus on your family.
How Cremation Pricing Works in New York City
New York law does not allow a funeral home to own or operate a crematory, so every crematory in the state is run independently by a cemetery or non-profit organization. That means a direct cremation in Queens has two parts: the funeral home’s professional service fee, and the crematory’s own fee, which is charged separately along with required city fees.
Our Queens partner’s professional service fee starts at $495. Once the crematory fee and city fees are added, most Queens families pay a total of approximately $800 to $1,100 for a complete direct cremation—still well below what many traditional funeral homes in the borough charge.
What the Professional Service Fee (From $495) Covers
Professional Transportation: Dignified removal and transport of your loved one from any Queens hospital, hospice, or medical facility.
Legal Paperwork & Filing: We handle the electronic filing of the death certificate and coordinate necessary authorizations with the NYC Department of Health and the Medical Examiner.
Respectful Sheltering: Climate-controlled care of the deceased while the city permits and death certificates are processed.
Arranging the Cremation: Scheduling with a licensed crematory serving the NYC area and handling the authorizations it requires.
Basic Return of Remains: A simple container for the dignified return of your loved one’s cremated remains.
Paid Separately: Crematory & City Fees
These charges are set by outside organizations, not by the funeral home, and are added to the service fee:
Crematory Fee: Charged by the crematory itself, typically $185 to $425 depending on the crematory used.
NYC Cremation Permit: $40, plus a small electronic filing (EDRS) fee.
Certified Death Certificates: $15 per copy in New York City.
Before you commit, ask for an itemized price list so you know your full total. Our Queens partner is happy to walk you through every charge—call (718) 395-3142.
Direct Cremation Cost Comparison: Queens, NY
To help you make an informed choice, the table below shows published direct cremation prices from providers serving the Queens area. When comparing, always check whether a quoted price includes the crematory fee—in New York, many do not.
| Local Provider | Published Direct Cremation Price |
| DFS Memorials Queens | From $495 service fee + crematory & city fees (typical total ~$800–$1,100) |
| City Funeral Service | $1,295 |
| Hess-Miller Funeral Home | $1,800+ |
| Farenga Funeral Home | $2,463 |
| R. Stutzmann & Son Funeral & Cremation [Dignity] | $3,200.00+ |
Note: Competitor prices are based on recent publicly available General Price Lists and may or may not include the crematory fee and NYC permit fees ($40). Always ask any provider for an itemized total.
