Cremation Options in Philadelphia

Cremation Options in Philadelphia

Cremations are rapidly becoming a popular choice over burials across the country, especially in Pennsylvania with the fifth highest number of cremations in the U.S. in 2010. If you are considering a cremation in Philadelphia for yourself or a loved one, consider all options to create a plan that works for you and your family.

Why Choose Cremation?

More and more people are choosing cremation because a cremation costs a fraction of the price of a standard burial. Burials are costly, requiring caskets, headstones, embalming services, and burial fees. In comparison, direct cremations, which do not include a memorial or burial service, are low cost. Even a cremation with a memorial service can cost less than a burial, provided you use a rental casket and skip embalming. If you want to bury cremated remains, you can save money and space by burying the remains of multiple family members in one plot of land. Cremations also give you more options when it comes to final disposition of remains. You can bury them, keep them, or scatter them at a location of your choosing.

Planning a Philadelphia Cremation

If you know you want a cremation and not burial, it is best to plan your cremation in advance to save your family members from the expense and hassle of planning after your death. If you are planning a cremation for a recently lost loved one, funeral homes and cremation planning services help you write and communicate a plan. You need to make important decisions regarding your memorial service and what will be done with your remains. You may want to have your ashes scattered in a special place, but you will need to consider how your choice will affect your family members who will perform the scattering.

Scattering Ashes in Philadelphia

Scattering ashes is legal in most places, but check with the Pennsylvania Department of State and the City of Philadelphia, or funeral homes in your area, to make sure you’re complying with local rules and regulations. If you’re scattering ashes in a local park or other public setting, check with the parks department before scattering the ashes. Burial at sea is another option for disposing of remains. The EPA mandates that burials at sea in the Mid-Atlantic must be at least three nautical miles from land in a depth of at least 600 feet. Containers or other non-biodegradable objects cannot be dumped along with the remains. Many charter boat services out of New Jersey, New York, and the New England area offer burial at sea services.