A Comprehensive Guide to Cremation Services in Pittsburgh

Deciding how to give your loved one a proper send-off can be a difficult process.

If your loved one mentioned what kind of funeral service they would prefer, cremation may have been their preferred option.

However, if your loved one did not specify how they would like to be sent off, choosing cremation may be difficult, as there are many factors that you and your family will need to consider, such as religious observances and the potential costs involved.

In this blog post, we’ll offer you a comprehensive guide to cremation services in Pittsburgh.

Funeral Options

One common misconception about cremation services is that you cannot hold a traditional funeral for your loved one. But this isn’t completely true; you and your family will have a selection of memorialization options to honor your loved one. These options include:

• Having a traditional funeral with a viewing at a funeral home before cremation
• Having a traditional funeral without a viewing at a funeral home before cremation
• Scattering the ashes at a place that was meaningful to your loved one

It’s very important to carefully plan out which options you’ll choose for your loved one’s funeral, as these options will determine the overall cost of cremation. For example, if you choose to have a viewing for your loved one, you will need to invest in embalming and a casket.

However, it’s still important to consider what the rest of the family thinks before deciding on the other options you have in addition to the cremation. 

Religious Ramifications

Unless your or your loved one’s religion allows it, cremation may clash with your faith. Even if your loved one chooses to be cremated before their passing, it’s important to talk it over with the rest of the family first.

Also, you should consider speaking with a religious leader affiliated with your or your loved one’s faith to help you understand the religious ramifications of cremation.

Cremation Service Types

Before going ahead with cremation, you need to determine what type of cremation you want for your loved one. There are several cremation services in Pittsburgh to choose from. These are:

1. Traditional Cremation

As the name suggests, this type of cremation service involves having a traditional cremation service for your loved one followed by the cremation itself.

A traditional cremation will give friends and family one last chance to say goodbye to your loved one before their body is sent for cremation. Typically, a traditional cremation involves all aspects, including the wake and the memorial.

After the funeral concludes, your loved one’s remains will be taken for cremation, after which their ashes will be buried or scattered, depending on how they wished for their ashes to be handled.

2. Memorial Cremation

In this case, the body of your loved one is cremated immediately after their passing. Afterward, their ashes will be displayed at the memorial service instead of a traditional casket.

Depending on the wishes of your loved one and the rest of the family, friends and family can take the ashes to their final resting place after the memorial service concludes.

3. Direct Cremation

In direct cremation, your loved one’s remains will be cremated immediately after their passing. There will be no funeral service held, and your loved one’s ashes will be handed over to friends and family, as per their final wishes.

Scattering of Ashes

If you do not wish to keep your loved one’s ashes stored in an urn, you can scatter the ashes. Speak to the funeral home that carried out the cremation for places where you can scatter your loved one’s ashes safely.

You may also choose to scatter your loved one’s ashes in a place that has great significance to them, such as the ocean or a place from their childhood. If your loved one wishes to have their ashes scattered in a place such as a park or a stadium, make sure to ask for permission from the relevant authorities first.

Explore Cremation Services in Pittsburgh with Devlin Funeral Home

Planning cremation for your loved one can be a very difficult thing to do when you’re overcome with grief. If cremation is what your loved one chose before passing, you should consider working with a funeral home to help you give your loved one the send-off they wanted.

With the help of a funeral home that offers Pittsburgh cremation services, you’ll have more time to come to terms with your grief while the funeral home manages all aspects of your loved one’s last farewell.