Do you need to save money on funeral costs? Are you seeking a simple and inexpensive alternative to a traditional funeral service?
Consider arranging a simple cremation service for $1,295 complete. If you opt for a simple, no-fuss direct cremation and you hold your own memorial service, you can save thousands of dollars on funeral expenses! Call us now at (815) 216-4601 to arrange a low-cost cremation service.
Deciding on cremation vs. burial
Making the decision to bury or cremate is a personal choice. For some families, the decision is dictated by their funeral budget, and a cremation service will cost less than a traditional burial funeral.
On average, a cremation service will save you at least 40% on the cost of a burial. Sometimes, you can save as much as 60%. More families are choosing cremation as it offers greater flexibility.
The funeral service does not have to go ahead immediately. Instead, a cremation can be performed to handle the immediate disposition of the body, and then a memorial service can be held at a later date convenient to the family.
How much does a funeral cost in Waukegan?
This is not a simple question to answer, as funeral costs can vary significantly depending on the type of services and products selected and the funeral services provider used. However, online funeral price surveys put the average funeral cost in Waukegan at $6,915.
How much does a cremation cost in Waukegan?
Firstly, a cremation WILL save you on funeral costs. There is no requirement for a casket, cemetery plot, or burial vault, which alone saves thousands of dollars. Generally, embalming is not required when a cremation is performed, so you can save on many funeral expenses, meaning that a cremation will cost at least half, if not less, than the full cost of a burial funeral.
It is important to state that cremation prices in Waukegan DO vary quite 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. The average cost of a cremation memorial is $3,970*. However, it is possible to find much lower-priced cremation services in Waukegan.
How much is a direct cremation in Waukegan, IL?
A basic cremation can be conducted in Waukegan for as little as $1,165 complete. 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 (815) 216-4601 to arrange a low-cost cremation service.
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. Cremation offers versatility in your options and when and where any services can be held.
How to compare cremation costs in Waukegan, IL
The cost of a cremation can vary enormously – for the exact same service – but from different cremation service providers. Ensure that you compare like-for-like services. Some cremation service providers include crematory fees and cremation container costs in a direct cremation package; others do not always include these fees. Death certificate fees and cremation permits are often additional ‘cash advance’ items.
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 receive. Strict laws govern the cremation of human remains, and identity checks must be made along the way. The cremation retort must be completely cleared following a cremation, and only one 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 Waukegan
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. There is a mandatory wait period of 24 after death in Illinois before the cremation can proceed.
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 fee for storage may be incurred.
What can we do with the cremated remains?
Cremation offers some greater flexibility in what you can do with the cremated remains once you have them 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, bird baths, and paintings.
Preplanning an affordable cremation service
If you wish to preplan a simple cremation, you can lock in a low-cost price. This may depend upon your age at the time of 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 worrying 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.
The deceased had no life insurance – is there any help with cremation costs?
Sadly, 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. Some counties do offer some financial assistance to low-income families, whereas in other counties, only county indigent dispositions are conducted. To find out what may be available, you should contact the Lake County Human Services Department at Phone: (708) 338-7600
The deceased is at the Medical Examiner’s Office. What do I do?
Suppose the deceased was the victim of a crime, or there were unusual circumstances surrounding the death. In that case, the deceased’s body may be taken into the care of the coroner for an examination to determine the cause of death. You will need to employ the services of a funeral director as soon as possible to coordinate the release of your loved one from the ME’s office.
A deceased person can only be released into the care of a licensed funeral director. Many funeral homes are familiar with the process of liaising with the ME to have the body released as quickly as possible.
You may also find that a simple, direct cremation can be arranged at a very low cost when the deceased is in the Coroner’s morgue, as all the paperwork can be expedited quickly. The process of transferring the deceased to the funeral facility is simplified.
Address of Lake county coroner’s office: 26 N Martin Luther King Jr Ave, Waukegan, IL 60085
We hope this guide has answered some of your immediate questions and helped you understand how to arrange an affordable funeral or cremation service in Waukegan, IL. If you need to research more information on funeral planning, please visit the Funeral Resources section on US Funerals Online.
*Funeral prices obtained from online funeral price comparison survey 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.
