Cremation is typically less expensive than a traditional funeral and burial. If no services to commemorate the deceased are desired, a simple direct cremation can cost under $1,000.
Planning can reduce the burden of making tough decisions at a critical time. A local provider can walk you through your options and costs.
Direct Cremation
Direct cremation is an affordable, simple alternative to traditional funeral arrangements. With this choice, families can skip the funeral service entirely and hold a memorial or celebration of life service at any time after the cremation. This arrangement can also save money on cemetery costs and burial plot fees.
When choosing cremation, you can save on the costs of holding a funeral service by skipping the viewing and embalming services and the expensive casket. You can also avoid paying for a cemetery plot, which may cost a few hundred to several thousand dollars.
When selecting this option, you should ensure that your religion accepts cremation as part of its funeral rites before making any final arrangements. In addition, you will need to pay a funeral home’s Basic Services Fee. Other expenses that may occur with this arrangement include a transportation fee and the purchase of an urn for the ashes.
Traditional Cremation
Traditional Dallas cremation cost are typically higher than direct cremation because they involve viewing and service before the body is cremated. These services can be critical in grieving and often help families find closure after a loss.
During a traditional cremation, high temperatures reduce the body to ashes. The ashes are returned to the family in a temporary container or a permanent urn. Urns vary in price depending on the style and material they are made of.
Families may also have a memorial service or scatter the ashes in their favorite place after the funeral. These services and other extra items can add up quickly, so pre-planning is an excellent option for reducing future costs.
Additional fees include a service car or van; flowers; food and beverage; musicians; pallbearers; programs; notices; and other printed materials. Many funeral homes offer these items at an additional cost.
Memorial Service
Memorial services are increasingly replacing or supplementing funerals that involve the body. They are less formal and less expensive than funerals and often include laughter and stories that comfort those in attendance.
Some families choose to hold a private ‘goodbye’ viewing before a direct cremation, which can add a few hundred dollars or more to the cost of an essential service. This may also be necessary if you want to have a ceremony with a casket at the graveside or in a mausoleum crypt.
Under federal law, funeral homes must make an inexpensive unfinished wood box or alternative container available to consumers who choose a direct cremation without a visitation or other ceremony where the body is present. However, you must still pay for a cemetery plot and casket.
Some families want to keep the ashes of their loved ones with them forever, and this option comes with various urns at different prices.
Urn Cremation
Choosing urn cremation allows families to save even more by not having to pay for the services of a funeral ceremony before or after the cremation. Generally, the Dallas cremation cost is less than $2,000.
Families can keep the cremated remains in an urn at home or in a cemetery columbarium or burial plot. The cost of the urn will vary depending on family preference and design.
A basic scattering urn made of cardboard or plastic is inexpensive, while a wooden urn starts at around $25 and can go up to $300. Marble urns that are popular for displays start around $150 and can go up to $500.
For families who do not have the means to afford a traditional funeral and burial, local Texas counties manage their budgets to assist needy families. Contact your county’s social or human services department to learn more. Regardless of your choice, you must talk with a professional who can walk you through your options and help you develop a cremation plan.