The shift to cremation is sweeping across the nation as families demand more affordable death care alternatives. Cremation is now a growing choice for many families in Cincinnati.
For those families who do not want to overspend on a funeral or simply do not have the funds for a costly funeral, cremation is a low-cost alternative.
How much does a cremation cost in Cincinnati, OH?
This is the question that most families want to know. As a nation of price-conscious consumers, we expect to check prices and compare deals. The purchase of funeral services is no different.
Traditionally, families felt it was inappropriate to inquire about funeral prices, but today this is changing.
A traditional funeral can cost $7,848 (NFDA), which does NOT include cemetery costs. Many families today cannot afford an amount like $10,000 to pay for a funeral. A cremation will cost at least half this amount, if not less, depending upon the type of cremation services selected and the crematory.
A basic cremation can cost between $998 and $3,000. To help families arrange affordable cremation services, we select only family-owned cremation service providers in Cincinnati who can offer a basic cremation package at an affordable price.
Options for Cremation Services in Cincinnati, Ohio
There are different types of cremation services, so you can arrange whatever funeral service you require – from simple cremation to a full traditional funeral or a unique ‘life celebration’ event.
A great thing about cremation is that it opens up many memorialization possibilities.
A cremation can be conducted, but the funeral service does not have to be held immediately.
This can enable the family to deal with the need to take care of the disposition of the deceased, but allow for befitting memorial services to be planned for a time when the family feels better able to come together and celebrate the life of their lost loved one.
Choosing a Direct cremation Service in Cincinnati
Direct cremation is probably the fastest-growing type of cremation service. Many of the DFS Memorials providers report that 80% of their cremations are direct. Direct cremation is the industry term for a basic cremation with no services.
The deceased is collected and transported to the crematory/funeral home, the legal paperwork is completed, and the cremation is performed. The cremated remains are returned to the family in a temporary urn.
Most funeral homes offering a direct cremation package charge an inclusive price, with only cash advance items such as the death certificate and cremation permit fee additional to the package cost. Be sure to check this when consulting with a funeral home.
Arranging a direct cremation helps the family take care of the immediate disposition of the deceased in a dignified and economical way. This simple, ‘no fuss’ approach to death care is becoming more popular, with many families arranging their own memorial service or ash scattering ceremony once they have the cremated remains returned.
Why pay thousands of dollars to a funeral director when you can conduct your own personalized service for a fraction of this cost?
Why is cremation so much cheaper than a traditional funeral?
There are several significant items of funeral merchandise that are not required for cremation. No casket is required for cremation – a suitable cremation container is all that is required by law.
No burial vault or cemetery plot is needed; in most cases, the body is not embalmed.
This eliminates thousands of dollars in funeral costs. Many families are now opting for direct cremation (the cheapest cremation) because they can then arrange their own funeral service once they have the cremation ashes back.
With the decline of traditionalism and the rise of personalization, more families are opting for something different as a life tribute.
Check out our resource on Creating a Heartfelt Family-Led Memorial After Direct Cremation: A Guide for Families. This guide explains how to ‘do it yourself’, DIY a truly befitting memorial tribute at a fraction of the cost of a funeral home service.
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 have to be made along the way.
The cremation retort must be completely cleaned after each 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.
Not all funeral homes have their own crematory and subcontract their cremations to a local crematory. If you have concerns about the continuity of care offered throughout the cremation process, you may wish to choose a funeral home that has its own crematory so your loved one’s remains never leave their care!
What if I am not sure about cremation, or the family cannot agree about cremation?
Cremation is such a final disposition that you need to ensure that you are completely sure that this is the ‘right’ disposition choice for you. Certain laws ensure that 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 prefer to have all children 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? Are there any laws governing scattering ashes in Ohio?
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, just choose to inter the remains in a cemetery plot.
You can inter the remains in a niche or columbarium or keep the ashes at home. Keepsake urns even let you disperse the ashes among 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 creating a fitting ash scattering ceremony.
Is it possible to plan a low-cost cremation in advance?
Yes. You can preplan a simple direct cremation service. DFS Memorials offers simple and affordable cremation plans.
This is generally funded through an insurance product covering this cost when needed. All monies are secured in a trust fund to protect funeral consumers.
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 many states, a mandatory 24-hour waiting period must occur after death, but this does not apply in Ohio unless an infectious disease is involved.
What do I do if I cannot even afford a cremation?
There is very little ‘free’ money to help families with funeral costs. The assistance available for funeral expenses also varies by state and county. You would need to contact Hamilton County Human Services to find out more.
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.
