Funeral homes offering cremation services in Florida are often asked about planning a memorial at sea. This is because the beautiful waters and beaches of the state are what brings many people to this tropical paradise. For those that loved the water or enjoyed the breathtaking beautiful views of the coast a memorial at sea after Florida cremation services is a very meaningful way to say goodbye.
Do I Need To Have a Funeral Service after Florida Cremation Services?
Often people that are planning a funeral confuse the issues of a funeral service and Florida cremation services. Cremation services in Florida do not replace or duplicate the funeral service, and they can both occur or you may choose just to use cremation services. In Florida, as in all other states, there is no requirement to have a funeral service; that is strictly a decision by the family and loved ones of the deceased.
A funeral service is the comprehensive handling of the body from transporting, preparation, to final disposition. For a burial this will be a graveside service and for a cremation this will be placing the ashes in the urn and the family taking possession of the ashes. Cremation services, in Florida and all other states, only includes the cremation process from receiving the body from the funeral home at the crematory, processing the body with high heat and exposure to flames, and preparing the ashes and placing them in the urn for the family.
Cremation services in Florida can occur prior to or after a funeral service, or a funeral service may be held at a much later date and time from the cremation. Some families opt to forgo a funeral service for personal or religious reasons and instead plan a memorial service around the scattering of the ashes.
Who should be at the Memorial at Sea or Ash Scattering at Sea?
Each family has the option to create the memorial at sea or the ash scattering at sea based on their own preferences. Some families choose to have the ashes scattered without a service, and this can be done either with or without family members present. Unattended scattering at sea options can include a video of the scattering as well as a Memorial Certificate or simply the certificate.
Families can also attend the scattering and have a traditional memorial service or a less formal Celebration of Life service. A memorial service can include a sermon by a religious leader of your choice as well as eulogies and prayer on the boat or on land. Often the memorial service on land is timed to be simultaneous with the scattering of the ashes at sea.
Some families may choose to scatter some but not all of the ashes in the memorial at sea ceremony. This allows a small or larger amount of the ashes to be kept in urn as a keepsake or a permanent memorial to the deceased. This urn can then be kept in the home or placed in a columbarium as a land based memorial.
Most adult bodies will produce approximately three to four pounds of ashes, enough to provide the option to do both a memorial at sea with ash scattering and have ashes for a permanent urn placement as well.
Cremation Costs in Florida with Memorial Services at Sea
The Florida cremation costs are not based on what you choose as the final disposition of the remains. However, it is important to discuss the options you are considering with the funeral director. This is essential since, depending on the type of service you are planning; different urns may be required to ensure the safekeeping of the ashes. Permanent urns are often made of a variety of different types of metals, wood or other materials such as marble or colored enamel.
Scattering ashes at seas does not require a permanent urn. Temporary urns made of plastic or cardboard can be used to protect the ashes until the service. This can help reduce cremation costs in Florida. If you elect to have an urn for display and memorialization as well as ashes to scatter the crematory can arrange for this as well. This will include additional charges over the standard package cremation costs. In Florida the funeral director will provide you with written information on all your funeral services, including prices for permanent and temporary urns. You may also want to select a biodegradable urn that will dissolve in water.
Florida cremation costs will vary between funeral service providers based on the options they offer. Comparing the packages and individual services offered as part of Florida cremation costs will help you determine which funeral home is the right choice for your needs.
The option of a memorial at sea is very appealing to people that love the ocean and have enjoyed the beauty of the coastal areas of the state. Florida cremation costs and your memorial service options can all be discussed with the funeral director to ensure that the service you choose will be the ideal goodbye for your loved one.
