Cremation is fast becoming the number one choice for families as an affordable alternative to a traditional burial service. Although the cremation rate in Texas has typically been below the national rate, the demand for low-cost funeral alternatives is changing the way many Texans approach death care. This guide aims to help you understand how to arrange an affordable cremation in El Paso and save on funeral costs.
Our DFS Memorials funeral provider in El Paso offers a compassionate and professional service at an inexpensive price.
Working with our provider in El Paso, we can help your family conduct a low-cost cremation or burial. They have 4 locations serving the Greater El Paso area, plus a cemetery, and can therefore offer affordable funeral services.
What is the cost of a direct cremation in El Paso?
Firstly, it is important to state that cremation prices in El Paso can vary considerably between funeral homes and depending on what type of cremation service you opt for. Not all funeral homes have their own crematory but will use the services of a local crematory. You can find affordable cremation in El Paso for between $1,850 and $3,000.
A basic cremation can be conducted in El Paso for $1,850. This is what is known as a “direct cremation”. No services are performed; the deceased is collected, transported to the funeral facility, prepared for cremation, and the cremation is conducted.
The cremated remains are returned to the family in a temporary plastic urn. The family can arrange a brief final goodbye viewing at the funeral home if desired.
Call DFS Memorials now at (915) 201-2446 to arrange a direct cremation in El Paso.
What type of cremation services are available?
You can select from a range of cremation services and packages. These will start with a basic cremation without any additional services, which is the cheapest type of cremation package. You can have a full-service funeral that is followed by the cremation, a cremation followed by a memorial service, or just a viewing followed by a cremation. The change in the funeral industry today is the move towards ‘personalization’ and making a funeral service that fits the needs of the family, whatever they are.
How do I know that the cremated remains I get back are my loved one’s remains?
This is probably the most common cremation question we are asked. Strict laws govern the cremation of human remains, and identity checks have to be made along the way. The cremation retort has to be completely cleared following a cremation, and only one cremation can be performed at a time. The remains are cleared into a machine that filters out any metal parts (tooth fillings, hip replacements, etc) and then ground into the fine ‘dust’ that is returned as cremation ashes.
Understanding the legal requirements for cremation in El Paso
As mentioned above, there are laws in place regarding the cremation of human remains. A cremation cannot be performed until the medical examiner’s office issues a cremation permit. The legal next of kin must sign a Cremation Authorization Form, and a mandatory legal waiting period in Texas is 48 hours after death before a cremation can go ahead.
It is unnecessary to embalm a body for cremation, and refrigerated storage is used to preserve the body until it is performed. The funeral home will generally store the body for up to 5 days in refrigerated storage at no extra charge. If the cremation does not go ahead within 5 days, an additional storage fee may be incurred.
What can we do with the cremated remains?
Cremation offers greater flexibility in what you can do with the cremated remains once you have returned. You can, of course, inter them in a grave plot or niche.
However, you can choose to store them in an urn at home or scatter the cremated remains.
There are also options such as having cremation artifacts made from cremated remains such as cremation diamonds, glass jewelry, birdbaths, and paintings.
Preplanning an affordable cremation in El Paso
If you wish to preplan a simple cremation, you can lock in a low-cost cremation price of $1,850. This may depend upon your age when setting up a prepaid cremation plan. A cremation plan can be set up using an insurance policy where the funds are put into a trust. You can also opt to preplan your cremation service without prepaying.
This ensures that your surviving family can proceed with arrangements at the time of need without having to worry about completing the paperwork or making difficult decisions. The money to pay for the cremation can be put aside in a POD account (Payable on Death) which your beneficiary can draw out upon death immediately without probate.
Can an overweight body be cremated?
A standard cremation at the inclusive cost is for a person weighing up to 300 pounds. Over this weight, there is an additional charge as additional work is required to prepare the body, reinforce the cremation container, and extra gas usage. The additional amount will depend upon the weight of the deceased.
The deceased had no life insurance – is there any help with cremation costs?
It is sadly a reality that more folks are passing without leaving the means to pay for their funeral. If you are faced with this situation, you need to explore what help may be available to you. Social Security pays out a $255 lump sum death benefit (if you qualify), and your funeral director can assist you with this.
The support for indigent burials differs so much by state and county. You should contact El Paso County Human Services Department to find out what may be available at (915) 546-2000. They are located at 500 E. San Antonio, El Paso, Texas, 79901.
Direct cremation is available to residents of Sunset Heights, East El Paso, Ysleta, Mission Valley El Paso, West El Paso or Upper Valley, Northeast El Paso, West Central El Paso, and Anthony, Canutillo, Clint, Fabens, Homestead Meadows North, Homestead Meadows South, Horizon City, Montana Vista, San Elizario, Socorro, Sparks, Vinton, Tornillo, & Westway.
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I have been researching and writing about the death care industry for the past fifteen years. End-of-life services and experiences are topics most people avoid thinking about until they must face them. My work provides comprehensive and independent resources for families, explaining the workings of the funeral industry, the laws governing funeral practices, and the death care trends that impact consumers. With a BA in Cultural Studies, I bring a unique perspective to analyzing cultural death care rituals, complemented by a career background in Business Management. The death care industry is undergoing significant changes, which I find fascinating. The shift towards cremation services and the emergence of sustainable alternatives like aquamation and human composting are of particular interest. I am also intrigued by how technology is reshaping the funeral planning process and experience. I write for US Funerals Online and DFS Memorials LLC, and contribute to various forums and publications within the death care industry.
