The cremation trend is sweeping our nation and is already a popular disposition choice in Florida with 6 in every 10 families opting for a cremation for their end of life disposition choice. Why is cremation the preferred choice for Gainesville families? Cremation offers a simple, affordable and flexible funeral option that is preferred by many families today. The disposition is taken care of in a simple and affordable fashion and family can then have more control over the act of memorialization. Many families opt for a low cost cremation in Gainesville and then choose to conduct their own funeral memorial service.
Why choose cremation over burial?
Several reasons are cited for why families are now choosing cremation rather than burial. Cost is by far the most common reason why a family will now opt for a cremation. A cremation generally costs at least 40% of the cost of a traditional funeral – sometimes less! Florida is also home to many retiree communities and transplants from across the U.S and cremation therefore provides a flexible and affordable option to deal with a disposition and send cremated remains back to family.
What does a cremation cost in Gainesville?
Generally this is one of the primary reasons many people seek out information about cremation online. They want to know how much it will cost. We live in an era where price comparison is the norm, and finding a deal is an important aspect of how we purchase services and products. A funeral can be a large purchase for many families and one that they do not want to spend unnecessarily on.
The popularity of simple cremation in Gainesville has resulted in competitive cremation rates. There is a demand for simple cremation services in Gainesville, and it is possible to arrange a basic cremation for $695. A cremation with a memorial is likely to cost in the region of $1,500 and a full service cremation starts at around $3,000
A direct cremation is the term used for the simplest and most economical cremation service. No services are offered with a direct cremation. To find a low cost cremation provider in Gainesville, visit our DFS Memorials Florida section.
What is included with a low cost direct cremation in Gainesville?
A direct cremation generally includes:
- Collecting the deceased
- Preparing all the necessary paperwork (death certificates, cremation authorization, cremation permit etc)
- Preparation of the body for cremation
- Storage of the remains until the cremation can be performed*
- A basic cremation container
- The cremation fee
- A temporary urn (to return the cremated remains to the family)
The fees for the death certificate and cremation permit are ‘cash advances’ and are an extra fee added to most direct cremation packages.
Additional costs may be incurred or option for a residential removal, additional mileage (if outside a service area), extended storage (if cremation cannot be performed after mandatory waiting period), oversize cremation fee (for individuals weighing over 300 lbs) and the selection of a cremation urn.
Life celebration and cremation
Today we are moving into an era where funerals are less somber events and more of a celebration of a life lived. Cremation offers a great opportunity to be able to arrange a life celebration ceremony. A memorial service does not have to be held immediately, when family and friends are still in the midst of their immediate grief, but can be scheduled at a later date. A celebrant can work with the family to plan a Life Tribute almost equivalent to how a wedding planner would stage a grand wedding ceremony!
What can you do with the cremated remains?
Cremated remains can be interred in a grave or columbarium, stored at home in a cremation urn, scattered or converted into a myriad of cremation artifacts.
Cremation and memorialization
“Personalization” is the buzz phrase in the funeral industry today. As funeral profits have declined with lower cost cremation services, many funeral homes in Gainesville have looked towards personalization and the many cremation memorialization industries to help make incremental revenue. Many families want to do something unique with the cremation ashes, and these days the options are almost limitless! You can have a cremation diamond made from around $3,000, have ashes embedded into a memorial reef for around $6,000 or have cremation ashes blast into space or tattooed into your body!
Ash scattering in Gainesville
For those that want a simpler and less expensive memorialization option – ash scattering is proving to be a memorialization alternative. Cremated remains can be scattered at sea or over land in a favorite spot of the deceased. Read this guide on Ash Scattering for more information.
Preplanning a low cost basic cremation in Gainesville
Preplanning your funeral wishes can save family from the decision-making process at a time of immense distress, and ensure your wishes are met. You can set up a prepaid cremation plan where the funds are put in trust or take out an insurance that covers your cremation needs.
Alternatively, you can prearrange with a cremation provider and put the required funds aside in a payable on death (POD) account. This ensures your money remains in your control and any interest accrued stays with you. At the time of death the named beneficiary can withdraw the funds and pay the funeral home.
Cremation is revolutionizing how we view death care, how much it costs and how we memorialize in the 21st century. To find out more about cremation services in Gainesville – call us now on (352) 443-6866
What if the deceased had no life insurance? What financial assistance is there for funeral costs?
There is very limited public aid for funerals. The state has an obligation to take care of those that become the state’s responsibility and there is generally some indigent burial assistance from social services at a county level. There is a $255 Social Security payment if you qualify and your funeral director can generally assist you with this.
Low cost cremation services available in Alachua, Gilchrist, Columbia, Hamilton, Baker, Bradford, Madison, Union, Bradford, Putnam, Suwannee and Clay Counties.
