The shift to cremation is sweeping across the nation as families demand more affordable death care alternatives.
Cremation is quickly becoming a preferred disposition option for many families in Port St. Lucie, Florida.
For those families who do not want to overspend on a funeral or do not have the funds for a costly funeral, cremation is a low-cost alternative.
What is the average cost of a funeral in Port St Lucie?
Today, we are discerning consumers, very mindful of costs, and people feel the same way about purchasing funeral services. A traditional funeral service costs an average of $7,754 in Port St Lucie*.
So, how do cremation costs compare in Port St Lucie?
Cremation offers a more cost-effective and flexible alternative to traditional burial and can significantly reduce funeral costs. However, a cremation funeral service will still cost an average of $6,258 in Port St Lucie*.
No casket, cemetery plot, or burial vault is required, immediately reducing some of the most expensive funeral costs.
Direct cremation services in Port St Lucie, FL
Direct cremation is the industry term for a ‘simple cremation.’ The funeral home provides only the cremation service. 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.
The DFS Memorials provider, Mortuary Services of Florida, is a licensed Direct Disposer Establishment as licensed by the Florida State Board F438949. Licensed to conduct direct cremations only.
Direct cremation offers families lower-cost funeral services and greater control over the timing and type of memorial services they prefer. 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. It 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 Port St Lucie for $995, although the average price for a direct cremation can be far higher. To help families arrange affordable cremation services, we have selected a licensed direct-disposal establishment that offers a basic cremation package.
Call now at (772) 207-0196 now to arrange a low-cost cremation
Are there any additional fees added to the cremation package?
For a cremation to be conducted, the county must issue a ‘disposition permit’. At present, there is no charge for this. Death certificates incur an additional cost because they are issued by the county and are a third-party expense. Death certificates cost $5 for the first certificate and $4 for each additional copy issued.
If the deceased was overweight (over 250 pounds) or had a pacemaker, you may incur some additional charges.
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 fully cleared after each cremation, and only one cremation may 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 we are unsure about cremation, or the family cannot agree?
Cremation is such a final disposition, and 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.
A Cremation Authorization Form must be signed by the legal next of kin, 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 enable you to disperse the ashes between several family members or 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 in Port St Lucie?
Yes. You can preplan a simple direct cremation service in Port St Lucie. This is generally funded through an insurance product that covers the cost when needed. 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 Florida, there is a mandatory 48-hour wait period after death before a cremation can be conducted.
What do I do if I cannot even afford a cremation in Port St Lucie?
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 St Lucie County DFCS to find out what may be available to you locally.
St. Lucie County BOCC 2300 Virginia Avenue Fort Pierce, FL 34982 Phone: (772) 462-1777
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 cremation in Port St Lucie at $1,095 with DFS Memorials is a dignified yet affordable disposition alternative if your family is struggling financially.
If you have further questions about cremation, feel free to call us at (772) 207-0196, and we will be happy to try to help you.
Sara Marsden-Ille is a writer and researcher specialising in the death care industry. With more than 15 years covering end-of-life services, funeral trends, and consumer funeral planning, she writes for DFS Memorials and US Funerals Online to help families make informed decisions.
