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Affordable direct cremation service in Long Island, NY

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Simple cremation service Long Island NYDirect cremation offers families a simple and affordable alternative to the costs associated with a traditional funeral.  This guide should help you understand what options you have for a cremation service in Nassau county, how choosing cremation can save you on funeral costs, and answer some other questions about cremation.

If you have the immediate need of a low-cost cremation service, call your local DFS Memorials provider on (516) 406-8141.  Direct cremation service packages start at $895.

Why choose a cremation service?

The key reason more families are choosing a cremation service is cost.  A cremation service costs significantly less than a traditional burial.  There is no requirement for embalming, and a casket, burial vault and cemetery plot are not needed.  All of which reduce your overall cost for a funeral by at least half, if not two-thirds.

In addition to this, a cremation service offers greater flexibility as a service does not have to be held immediately, or remains can be transported back to a different state if necessary.

Can you still have a funeral service if you choose cremation?

Yes, a cremation funeral is just the same as a traditional funeral, only the deceased is cremated following the service instead of interred.  If you opt to have a cremation conducted immediately, you can have a service after the cremation with the cremation urn present.  This is known as a Cremation Memorial.

If you opt for a direct cremation, you can choose to arrange your own memorial service, after the cremated remains are returned to the family.  A direct cremation service is a cremation without a ceremony.  The funeral services provider simply conducts everything to take care of the cremation disposition, and then returns your loved one’s ashes directly to you.

Questions about cremationWhat does a cremation cost?

This is not a simple question to answer.  The first thing to say is that the cost for a cremation will vary.  It will vary by cremation provider, by what type of cremation service option you select, and prices even vary by area. In NY state a funeral service provider is not allowed to operate a crematory, so the crematory fee is always considered a ‘third-party’ fee and will be added to your funeral home charge for a cremation.

To give you an idea of cremation costs, I can tell you that the average cost for a direct cremation in Nassau county will range from $895 to $2,800, depending on the funeral home you choose.

What legally do you need to know about cremation?

For a cremation to be legally conducted it must be authorized by the immediate next of kin.  The funeral director will ask the next of kin to sign a Cremation Authorization Form.  There is generally a 24-72 hour wait period after the death occurred before the cremation can go ahead, although this is mandated differently in different states.  The funeral director will need to obtain permission to cremate from the county coroner, and obtain a cremation permit.  Once the wait period has expired, the cremation authorization form is correctly signed and notarized by the next of kin, and the coroner has issued the cremation permit, the cremation can be scheduled.

It will usually take 7-10 days to arrange a cremation, and the deceased will be sheltered in the funeral home or crematory in refrigerated storage.  If there are delays completing all the legal paperwork, it can take a little longer.  If the immediate next of kin are siblings (and there is more than one sibling), then all siblings need to sign the authorization form for a cremation to proceed.  This tends to be one of the main reasons that a cremation gets delayed, as there is disagreement between siblings on authorizing the cremation.

What can you do with the cremated remains?

There is a whole realm of options for how to memorialize with cremated remains.  You can, of course, inter the remains in a cemetery plot or cremation niche…. similar to a burial interment. Other options include: keeping the cremation urn at home, performing an ash-scattering or having a cremation tribute made from some of the remains.  DFS Memorials offers an optional sea scattering with a direct cremation service for an additional $290.00.

A benefit of cremation, is that you do not need to make an immediate decision about the final disposition.  Sometimes it can be easier to hold onto the urn for a while whilst you have time to reflect and consider what is the most befitting disposition.

Is there any financial help for families who cannot afford a funeral?

Sadly, there is little financial support for those families who find themselves in the unfortunate position of losing a loved one and having no funds for a funeral.  What may be available varies so much by area.  You would need to consult with Nassau county Social Services department.  Therefore, a direct cremation can offer a simple and affordable solution to handling the unexpected disposition of a family member if finances are an issue.

A dignified direct cremation can be conducted for $1,135 (with all fees included), and then the family can arrange to hold their own memorial service.

There is the $255 lump-sum Social Services death benefit payment, if the deceased qualified, which can help towards the cremation cost.

If you need further assistance, check our our DFS Memorials Cremation Blog for more articles on cremation.  If you need to arrange a simple and affordable direct cremation, contact DFS Memorials on (516) 406-8141.

Low cost cremation or funeral services in Syracuse, NY

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These days more families are looking to save money on funeral costs, and the Internet provides a great tool to check out funeral prices and compare service providers.  If you would like to know how to arrange a funeral or cremation at an affordable cost, then this article should assist you.

How much does a funeral cost in Syracuse?

cost-of-cremation-syracuse-nyAlthough the funeral industry is being dragged into the 21st century screaming and kicking, it is still pretty much resisting open price disclosure.  The FTC funeral rule means that a funeral home MUST have a General Price List (GPL) which must clearly outline their fees and that they should openly provide you with a GPL if you make an inquiry (by phone or in person).  However, the reality is that many funeral homes still do not put prices on their website and may even not be open about revealing full and complete costs when you call.  For this reason we have put together this guide to give you an idea of what costs to expect.

A traditional funeral is likely to cost between $6,000 and $10,000.  According to the National Funeral Directors Association the average cost of a funeral is $7,045 but this does not take into account any cemetery fees.  It is possible to arrange a traditional funeral package for $4,995 in Syracuse (excluding cemetery fees).

What does a cremation cost in Syracuse?

More families are choosing cremation as a disposition option as it is so much more affordable than a burial.  A cremation will cost you at least half of the cost of a traditional burial, if not more.  This is largely because you remove the need for several of the expensive purchases required for a burial – casket, grave liner and cemetery plot, plus also the cost to embalm.

cremation-service-syracuseA simple cremation (without any services) can be conducted in Syracuse for $1,395, although the average cost of a basic cremation is nearer to $2,000.

A cremation with a funeral or memorial service will cost in the region of $3,000 – $5,000.

Save money by arranging a direct cremation

The most affordable cremation option is called a direct cremation.  This is where the deceased is collected, transferred to the crematory and cremated in a simple cremation container, and then the cremated remains returned directly to the family without any viewing or service.   A memorial service can be arranged at a later date if the family so desire, and the family can even arrange their own memorial service, which can be another way to save on the cost of a funeral.

How do I know that the cremated remains I get back are my loved one’s remains?

This is a question that many families ask.  Be assured that strict legislation governs how human cremations can be conducted and only one person can be cremated at once.

What do I legally need to know about arranging a cremation in Syracuse?

As a cremation is so final there are laws that govern how a cremation can proceed.  New York has exceptionally strict rules and all 47 crematories are state regulated.  All crematory operators must be certified and a ‘Cremation Authorization Form’ must be signed by the legal next of kin, or authorizing agent, before a cremation can be conducted.  A cremation container is required but this need not be a casket and can be a simple reinforced cardboard box, and embalming is not required prior to cremation.

What can we do with the cremated remains?

This is another question that is frequently asked.  Cremation opens up more possibilities about how to conduct the final disposition of remains.  You can inter cremated remains in an existing grave plot or a cremation niche, or choose to scatter in a designated memorial garden.  However, this can still cost a significant amount.  You can keep the cremated remains at home in a cremation urn or you can choose to conduct your own ash scattering ceremony.  If you choose to scatter on private land you need the landowners consent.  You can scatter cremated remains on public land but you do need to observe some ‘common-sense’ ash scattering guidelines.  You may need to check whether a permit is required for municipal or state owned public spaces.

Can I pre-arrange a simple cremation plan?

cremation-plan-syracuseEven a basic low cost cremation can be preplanned and prepaid.  This is all carefully legislated and an insurance product can be used to fund a cremation plan.  However, in New York you cannot sign your own cremation authorization form, this must be signed by an authorizing agent as defined in Section 4201 of the Public Health Law.  You can make pre-arrangements to be cremated but you need to ensure your surviving family complies with the authorizing agent requirements.

Arranging a Veteran Funerals in Syracuse

Certain benefits are available to Veterans.  A Veteran is entitled to a free cemetery plot and grave marker. In some cases a funeral home will offer a discount on services to a Veteran.  Call (315) 203-3737 with any questions you have about Veteran Funerals.

What does it cost to cremate an overweight person?

The cremation cost advertised by funeral homes is generally for a body weight of up to 300 pounds.  For a body over this weight, an extra charge may be levied, but this will depend on how large the deceased was.

The deceased had no life insurance – is there any help with cremation costs in Syracuse?

It can be distressing enough to deal with a death, but even more upsetting if there are no funds to cover the cost of a cremation.  Sadly this is happening more often for families today.  If the deceased had no life insurance, it is likely that the funeral home will need full payment for a direct cremation when you sign the funeral contract. There is a $255 lump sum death benefit payment form Social Security (if the deceased qualified) and the funeral director can help submit your claim for this.  If you have concerns about how you are going to pay for a funeral – visit this guide on ‘What to do if I cannot afford a funeral’.

If you have any further questions about arranging a funeral or cremation in Syracuse, whether you are preplanning, or a death has just occurred – Call (315) 203-3737.  Our funeral director is on hand 24/7 to answer any questions you have.