Cremation has rapidly become the most popular choice of American families, now accounting for more than half of funeral services each year. It’s less expensive and, in most cases. Cremation also does away with the “viewing” of the deceased that many now find distasteful.
Contrary to what you may believe, cremation doesn’t mean you can’t have a funeral or visitation. While memorial services are becoming more popular, many families still choose a somewhat traditional funeral, substituting an urn for the coffin.
Ashes can be buried in cemeteries, interred in vaults, divided up among relatives in jewelry or small urns and, of course, scattered. Be sure to check local laws before scattering remains. It’s illegal in many places and some people find the ashes — which are really more like ground-up bones — unpleasant.
Neptune Society One of the oldest and largest provider of cremation services, Neptune has been in business for nearly 40 years. “We offer personalized, reliable, and affordable solutions for end-of-life needs. Some of our competitors offer cut-rate services, but may not have Neptune Society’s reliability and diligence,” the company says. More information.
Tulip A “full-service” cremation company, Tulip will collect your remains, handle the paperwork, conduct a private cremation and return your ashes to your family in a simple container. Prices start around $600. Tulip currently operates in parts of California, Illinois, Texas and Washington. More information.