In Tennessee, as in all states in the United States, cremation is a legal, practical and very well accepted option to a more traditional funeral followed by burial at a cemetery. Cremation services in Tennessee are offered through most funeral homes as well as through a process known as direct cremation.
Funeral homes offering Tennessee cremation services can be found online using any search engine. Use the full term of Tennessee cremation services to get the most specific results that will provide you with accurate, complete information. These websites will also provide you with information on the cremation process as well as answer questions that are frequently asked.
Sometimes, for a variety of reasons, a family or family member may be hesitant to consider cremation as an option to a traditional burial. This is usually because they are misinformed or simply do not understand the process. If you are responsible for planning the funeral you can help to put everyone's mind at ease by talking about cremation and providing them the information they need to see why you think this is a good option for your loved one.
Increasing use of Tennessee Cremation Services
According to the National Funeral Directors Association in 2005 approximately 10.5% of all people that died in the state were cremated. This number is slightly lower than many states but, as with all states, there is an annual increase in the number of individuals and families that requesting cremation services in Tennessee.
The increasing demand for cremation as an alternative to a burial is typically associated with many different factors. This include a greater understanding of the process, increased concerns about the environment, increasing costs of traditional funerals as well as an increasing awareness of the options that cremation provides the family.
Describing the Process
Often people associate cremation with a very archaic and almost ancient process. In fact, modern crematories are fully automated and designed to allow the body to be processed with a maximum amount of dignity and respect.
The best way to describe cremation services in Tennessee to family members is to explain that the remains are exposed to very high heat and flames, leading to the breakdown of all organic materials. Once the process is complete all that will be left are bone fragments and any small metal objects that were in the cremation container or in or on the individual. These metal fragments are removed from the bone fragments and the bone is then processed to create a sandy material. This material is known as cremains or, more commonly, the ashes.
Some Cremation Benefits to Consider
Cremation offers several benefits over a traditional burial. By having an urn with the ashes the loved one can be kept with the family indefinitely. Many families are finding it more and more difficult to get home to visit graves or to find time to go to a cemetery. Cremated remains that are scattered on family property or kept in an urn in the home are always available whenever you want to feel close to your loved one.
In the case where family members live a long distance away, choosing a cemetery can be a difficult task. Keepsake urns allow the ashes to be divided, providing each family member with their own memorial. This can all be calculated into the cremation costs in Tennessee as quoted by the funeral home or through direct cremation services.
While this may not seem as compassionate of a reason, cremation costs in Tennessee are significantly less than that of an equal funeral and graveside service. By saving considerably with the Tennessee cremation costs the family is not as financially restricted as to the type of service or memorial they wish to have.
Family members may also want to consider the option of aerial scattering over a favorite place of the family or the loved one. These services can be requested at the time that you discuss cremation costs in Tennessee. The staff will be able to provide you with options for scattering the ashes and professionals that may provide these specialized types of services.
Listen To Their Concerns
One of the biggest concerns in many families is that people don't understand that the cremation can occur with a traditional funeral service. They sometimes see it as a replacement for the funeral which, in fact, is not the case. You can have a full religious or non-religious service, with or without the body present, and then plan the cremation at a later point in time in lieu of going to the cemetery.
By listening to the concerns that the family members have about cremation you can easily discover what information you need to provide. The good news is that professionals that handle cremations and provide Tennessee cremation services can be a valuable resource to you at this time. They can help you in formulating answers to ensure that the family supports the decision and feels comfortable with the choice of cremation.
