Cremation, explained.
What it involves, the choices that come with it, and what your faith may ask.
About 4 minutes to read
Cremation returns the body to its basic elements, and the family receives the ashes, usually within a couple of weeks. More than half of American families now choose it, and it leaves room for almost any kind of goodbye.
Three ways to be cremated
Direct cremation
Soon after death, with no service beforehand. Family can hold a memorial whenever and wherever they like. Usually the simplest and least costly choice.
A funeral first
A visitation and funeral with the body present, often in a rental casket, then cremation afterward.
Water cremation
Also called alkaline hydrolysis. It uses water and gentle heat instead of flame, and is legal in a growing number of states.
Read more: what happens, step by step
- Permission is given. The person you named to be in charge, or your next of kin, signs the authorization.
- The paperwork is filed. The death certificate and a cremation permit. Many states ask for a short waiting period first.
- The body is cared for and placed in a simple container, or in a casket when there is a funeral first.
- The cremation itself takes a few hours. Many crematories let family be present as it begins.
- The ashes come home in a temporary container, or in the urn you chose.
Where the ashes can rest
- Kept at home, in an urn or a garden of your own
- In a niche in a cemetery wall or chapel, where family can visit
- Buried in a family plot or an urn garden
- Scattered at sea or in a place that mattered, where rules allow
- Shared in small keepsakes, so more than one person can keep a part
- Not sure yet. There's no rush to decide.
What your faith may ask
Most Christian churches accept cremation. The Catholic Church permits it and asks that the ashes be kept together in a sacred place. Hindu, Buddhist and Sikh traditions favor cremation. Orthodox Christianity, traditional Judaism and Islam ask for burial instead.
Read more: what each tradition asks
- CatholicThe Church permits cremation, ideally after the funeral Mass, and asks that the ashes be kept together and laid to rest in a cemetery or other sacred place, not scattered or kept at home.
- ChristianMost Protestant, evangelical and non-denominational churches accept cremation, and the service can be held with the urn present.
- Orthodox ChristianThe Church asks for burial, after a funeral led by the priest, and does not permit cremation.
- JewishTraditional Jewish law asks for burial and does not permit cremation. Many Reform families accept it.
- MuslimIslam asks for burial soon after death, after the body is washed and shrouded, and does not permit cremation.
- HinduCremation is the tradition, usually soon after death, with family taking part in the last rites and the ashes later placed in flowing water.
- BuddhistCremation is most common, often with chanting by monks, and burial is also accepted. Customs differ by temple and tradition.
- SikhCremation is the tradition, with prayers and hymns, and the ashes placed in flowing water.
- Not religiousThere are no rules to follow. The service can be anything you'd like it to be, led by family or a celebrant.
Customs differ within every tradition. Your own clergy or community can tell you what yours asks.
What you don't have to buy
- A casket. A simple container is enough, and a funeral home that offers direct cremation must have one.
- The funeral home's urn. You can buy one anywhere, and a funeral home can't charge you a fee for using it.
- Embalming. There's no need for it with a direct cremation, and it's rarely required by law.
- A package. You can choose only what you want, from the itemized price list every funeral home must give you.
These protections come from the Federal Trade Commission's Funeral Rule.
In your plan, you’ll decide
- Direct cremation, or a service first
- Where the ashes will rest, or who will decide
- An urn, or a simple container
- Whether to hold a memorial, and where
Make it part of your plan.
We'll open the planner with cremation chosen. Nothing is saved until you choose.