Preplanning Cremations

Preplanning cremations are among the cremation services offered in Glendale, AZ. Preplanning your cremation gives you the ability to plan your funeral the way you want it to be. You can specify every detail so that there are no questions or concerns for your family to worry about when you die.

The step in preplanning your cremation is to decide whether you want a direct cremation (no service beforehand) or an indirect cremation (with a viewing/visitation and/or service beforehand).

If you want to direct cremation, then you can specify many aspects of the cremation. You can specify what kind of cremation container you want. You can spell out what clothes you want to be dressed in. You can indicate what kind of container your cremation remains are to be returned to your family in. You can let your family know what you would like them to do with your cremation remains.

You can also detail the kind of service you want held after your cremation. These services are known as memorial services, but they don’t have any specific format. You can have friends and family gather at your favorite restaurant and share stories and memories of you.

You can have friends and family gather at a favorite spot, like the mountains or the beach, rent a house, and spend a weekend in remembrance of you. Or you can have a service where your favorite music is played, people eat and drink, and anyone who’s there can share their stories and recollections about you.

This service can be anything and anywhere you want it to be. That’s the beauty of preplanning your cremation, because it lets you have input into how you’re remembered and honored after you die.

If you want indirect cremation, then you’ll need to decide whether you want to have a viewing (your body present) or a visitation (your body not present) before the funeral service.

Most people opt for a visitation, which is normally held for two hours before the funeral service. This gives mourners an opportunity to pay their respects and to offer condolences, sympathy, and support to your family. It’s helpful for everyone.

You can design the service that follows the viewing or visitation. While these are traditionally more like a formal funeral service, you have the option to decide whether you want that or not. Whatever you decide, however, make sure that the service is designed to encourage, comfort, and help your family as they are grieving and they are adjusting to losing you.

After the cremation, you can designate what you would like for your family to do with your cremation remains. Many people want some of their cremation remains scattered in a place that is near and dear to them. Others want to be buried in a cemetery (or, if you’re a military veteran, in a national cemetery) near family. Some people don’t care and leave it up to their families to decide what, if anything, to do with their cremation remains.

Wherever on the spectrum you are with regard to what should be done with your cremation remains, make sure to state it.

That means you should put everything in writing, and put the document with your important papers. Talk to your family about your wishes. And make sure your funeral home has a copy of your wishes as well.

For assistance with preplanning cremations and cremation services in Glendale, AZ, our compassionate and experienced team at Simply Cremation & Funeral Arrangements is here to help. You can come to our funeral home at 16952 W. Bell Rd., #303, Surprise, AZ, 85374, or you can contact us today at (623) 975-9393.