Cremation is now fast becoming the preferred funeral choice for many families in California. For those families who do not want to overspend on a funeral or simply do not have the funds for a costly funeral, direct cremation is a low-cost alternative in Long Beach.
Arranging a direct cremation service is the most affordable and no-fuss cremation option available.
It also gives the family control over the process of arranging a memorial, life celebration, or ceremony. A memorial service does not have to be conducted immediately by a funeral services provider. A service can be conducted at a later date after the direct cremation has been performed and the ashes returned to the family.
Comparing funeral costs compare in Long Beach, CA?
The cost of a funeral can vary significantly!! You will be amazed by how much the same service can cost from different funeral homes. Because of this, and often the lack of open pricing on funeral home websites, many consumers resort to other resources to find and compare funeral costs.
There are a few organizations that do funeral price comparison surveys, but some of them require a fee or membership to access the survey. Alternatively, you can select a number of funeral service providers and call for pricing. However, this can be time-consuming and not always a straightforward task.
That is why we have put this information together to help families understand a little more about cremation costs and options without having to spend unnecessary time researching other resources. So let’s look at comparing costs.
What is the average cost of a funeral in Long Beach?
These days we are discerning consumers, very mindful of costs, and people now feel the same way about purchasing funeral services. Why should we not ask how much it costs?
The average cost of a traditional funeral in Long Beach is $6,210* (excluding cemetery fees).
What does a cremation cost in Long Beach?
Cremation offers a cheaper and more flexible alternative to a traditional burial and can, therefore, significantly reduce funeral costs.
No casket, cemetery plot, or burial vault is required, immediately reducing some of the most expensive purchases related to funeral expenses.
The average price for a cremation funeral service in Long Beach is $3,361*
Choosing a direct cremation service in Long Beach, CA
Direct cremation is the industry term for a ‘simple cremation.’ Only the cremation service is provided by the funeral home. The funeral home provides no ceremony or funeral services. The deceased is collected and cremated, and the remains are returned to the family in a basic urn.
Direct cremation offers families lower-cost funeral services and more control over the time and type of memorial ceremonial services they desire.
A memorial service can be held in a place of worship, a community venue, or even outdoors. The service can be conducted with or without the cremation urn present and can even take the form of an ash-scattering ceremony or interment in a cremation niche or scattering garden.
A basic direct cremation is available in Long Beach for $925, although the average price for a direct cremation is $1,482. To help families arrange affordable cremation services, we have selected only family-owned cremation service providers who can offer a basic cremation package for just $925.
Direct cremation means a family can manage to conduct dignified funeral services for as little as $925
Call now at (323) 798-9055 now to arrange a low-cost cremation
Are there any additional fees to the direct cremation package?
In order for a cremation to be conducted, a ‘disposition permit’ must be issued by the county. Death certificates are an additional cost, as the county issues these and are a third-party expense. Death certificates cost $21.00 each.
Visit our Complete Guide to Cremation to learn every step of the cremation process. From when the deceased is collected to when the family receives the cremated remains. It covers all the legal aspects, FAQs about cremation, options for cremation services, and much more.
How do I know that I am getting the remains of my loved one back?
This is one of the most frequent questions families ask about cremation. Strict laws govern the cremation of human remains, and identity checks must be made all along the way.
The cremation retort must 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) and then ground into the fine ‘dust’ that is returned as cremation ashes.
What if I am not sure about cremation or the family cannot agree about cremation?
Cremation is such a final disposition you do need to ensure that you are completely sure that this IS the ‘right’ disposition choice for you. Certain laws are in place to ensure this final disposition can only proceed if the legal next of kin has authorized it.
The legal next of kin must sign a Cremation Authorization Form, and in the case of children, many funeral directors will require all children to sign.
You can authorize an agent for your final disposition or sign the authorization when you preplan a cremation.
What can you do with the cremated remains?
The options of what you can do with the cremated remains of your loved one are one of the reasons cremation is becoming more popular. You can, of course, choose to inter the remains in a cemetery plot.
You can inter the remains in a niche or columbarium, or you can keep the ashes at home. Keepsake urns even enable you to disperse the ashes between several family members or choose to scatter some and retain a ‘keepsake’ memorial.
Ash scattering is also more common these days, and there are many options for how you can create a befitting ash scattering ceremony.
Can I preplan a direct cremation at an affordable cost?
Yes. You can preplan a simple direct cremation service. This is generally funded through an insurance product that will cover this cost when the need arises. All monies are secured in a trust fund.
How quickly can a cremation be performed?
It generally takes a few days to make the necessary arrangements, complete all the legal paperwork and schedule the cremation. However, expedited services can be arranged if required. In California, there is a mandatory 24-hour wait period after death before a cremation can be conducted.
What do I do if I cannot even afford a cremation?
There is very little ‘free’ money to help families with funeral costs. What is available is constantly changing due to budget constraints and varies by county. Some counties do have a provision to assist needy or low-income families. Contact the Los Angeles County Department of Public Social Services to find out what may be available to you locally.
Los Angeles County DPSS,10728 S Central Ave, Los Angeles, CA 90059 Phone: (866) 613-3777
There is also a $255 lump sum social security death benefit payment if the deceased qualifies, and your funeral director can help you claim this. So you may find that a low-cost direct cremation at $750 with DFS Memorials Long Beach is a dignified yet affordable disposition alternative if your family is struggling financially.
if the deceased happens to be at the Los Angeles County morgue under the care of the Medical County Coroner, you will need the services of a licensed funeral director to release the body. As the funeral director can liaise directly with the Coroner to secure the required permits and paperwork, a direct cremation can be sustained at a low cost for county morgue collections.
What is the service area around Long Beach?
The direct cremation package is available throughout all of Long Beach and surrounding counties.
If you have further questions about cremation, feel free to call us at (323) 798-9055, and we will be happy to try and help you.
*funeral prices obtained from online funeral price survey website 2024
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.
