Planning

Losing a loved one and coordinating funeral arrangements and memorial services for them is emotionally demanding enough. Now, add to that having to travel to transport their cremation remains and it adds a whole new level of complexity and difficulty to an already challenging situation. 

If you do need to fly to transport or retrieve cremated remains, you may be wondering what the TSA regulations and rules are regarding flying with cremated ashes. We have put together a guide offering you helpful information you need to know with important tips on how to travel with cremated remains.

1. You may transport cremated ashes in bags or checked bags

You should always check with your airline to review their rules and regulations regarding traveling with cremated ashes. The TSA does allow cremation urns to be checked or taken in your carry on luggage. However, not every airline accepts cremated remains to be taken aboard in checked luggage, so you should always check with your airlines to review their particular rules and regulations regarding travelling with cremated remains. Regardless of regulations, it is not advised to take cremation urns on board in checked luggage, anyway as you run the risk that your luggage may get damaged or lost. And the last thing you want is anything happening to your loved one’s remains. Therefore, it is better to just keep your urn in your carry on bag for peace of mind during your travels. 

Losing a loved one is an incredibly emotionally difficult experience. In addition to arranging funeral and memorial services, and handling their personal affairs you may be trying to decide between a cremation or burial to determine which is best for your loved one. While burial and cremation are both popular choices for memorializing the deceased, cremation has actually surged in popularity in recent years for a variety of reasons. A deeply personal and meaningful decision, there are many factors to consider in determining which will be best for your loved one between cremation and burial.  

We will analyze these differences and factors of consideration to help you determine between cremation or burial to decide which is best for you and your family. 

What are the Differences Between Cremation and Burial? 

During cremation, a body is incinerated so that all that remains are cremated ashes. With a burial the body stays unscathed, and is buried in the ground in its intact state. Burial or cremation can be performed immediately following the decedent’s death, after a funeral service or prior to a memorial service. Also, contrary to common belief, you can still have a viewing of the body or a wake before a cremation, just as you can prior to a burial. With burial, the body is either enshrouded into the ground or entombed in a mausoleum. In contrast, after cremation the cremated remains of the decedent are given to a family member to be used however the family wishes. Cremated remains can either be kept in an urn, scattered at different locations or also buried in the ground if the family wishes to do so. 

Since ancient times, people have been honoring their loved ones through the practice of cremation. While cremation as a method of memorialization has increased in popularity in recent years, cremation has a rich history dating back to as early as the Stone Age. In ancient Greece, cremation began as an act that was associated with celebrating the bravery and valour of heroes who died in war, paying tribute to them with an ending as grandiose to how they had lived their life, serving their land and people. The Romans also honored their military heroes through cremation and the epic and extravagant method of memorialization revealed the status of the decedent. In India, cremation has always been recognized and appreciated as an important practice helping to free the soul on its journey through reincarnation. 

While cremation has been practiced for centuries, the method of memorialization as we know it today did not develop until the late 19th century in Italy. In this article we will take a look at the history of cremation in the western world and North America, and explore how it transformed into the act of cremation we are familiar with today used in modern times.

How Did Modern Cremation As We Know It Today Begin? 

Cremation as we understand of it today started when Professor Brunetti invented the first cremation chamber in Italy in 1873. Prior to the invention of an enclosed chamber in which the deceased would be incinerated using high temperatures of concentrated heat to turn into ashes, people honored their deceased loved ones by burning them on an open flame. Cremation performed in this manner in a cremation chamber was viewed as possibly a healthier method of paying tribute to someone who has passed as compared to traditional burial that was then considered to be potentially hazardous and detrimental to public health.  After Brunetti’s invention, a movement started in Europe and the U.S. to foster interest in cremation as a method of memorialization. This movement led to the creation of the first crematorium built in North America in Washington, Pennsylvania in 1876.

It can be difficult to decide what memorialization method is the right for your loved one to honor their life and memory in the most meaningful way. If you are considering cremation for your loved one, you may have questions about how the process works, and what it entails. We will explore the subject of the process of cremation in more depth here in this article to help you determine if cremation is the right method of memorialization for you and your loved one. 

What is Cremation? 

Cremation is the transformation of a body’s remains into ashes as opposed to memorializing the deceased in a more traditional way such as a burial. In the most common type of cremation, a body is incinerated at very high temperatures. The result is finely ground ashes sealed in a safe and sanitary container that is turned over to the beneficiaries.

The vessel in which a body is cremated is called the Cremation Chamber, the facility where the cremation takes place is the Crematorium and may include other rooms such as a chapel or viewing room.

History tells us ancient humans have used various forms of cremation to pay tribute to their loved ones as far back as more than 2,000 years ago. The practice is becoming quite popular nowadays, with many choosing cremation as a way to minimize funeral costs, opt for an eco-friendly alternative, or simply because their family desires to keep a loved one’s remains close to them.

It is estimated that by 2040, almost 80 percent of people will opt for cremation over traditional burial methods. It is undeniable that cremation is emerging to be the leading method of memorialization for the future, but exactly how much does cremation cost? Is it really more affordable than traditional methods? Are there additional costs you should know of?

In this cremation guide, we’ll be covering everything you need to know about cremation costs and help you decide the type of cremation that is appropriate for your needs and budget. Also, we’ll be sharing with you a few secrets funeral directors don’t want you to know, helping you potentially further limit your expenses. Continue reading to learn about what to expect when planning for cremation for a loved one. 

Planning for the passing of a loved one is probably one of the most emotionally difficult and exhausting experiences one can go through. Determining the best method of memorialization to pay tribute to a loved one can also be a highly challenging decision to make during an already stressful time. As cremation has grown in popularity to become a more highly chosen method of memorializing loved ones, there has also been an increase in the number of options available to those who choose the cremation route. With so many options to choose from, deciding which type of cremation urn will work best for you and your loved one can be very overwhelming. 

We have put together this guide to help walk you through the process that comes with choosing a cremation urn and to help you find the best one to honor our loved one.  Even if you may think you enough when it comes to cremation urns, we encourage you to keep reading as there is probably so much more you could be missing.

What Is a Cremation Urn? 

Before we go into further detail, let’s address what a cremation urn is exactly. 

Cremation has continued to gain popularity as a preferred method of memorialization for many. One of the benefits of cremation that accounts for its growing popularity is the versatility it offers in the variety of ways a loved one’s ashes can be handled. Families can choose to bury the cremated ashes of a loved one, keep them in a cremation urn or scatter them throughout one or several sentimental locations. Scattering ashes in a special location can make for a very poignant goodbye ceremony especially if the location that you choose possessed deep meaning to your deceased loved one. An emotionally charged and personal decision, choosing the best place to scatter a loved one’s ashes to honor their life and legacy can be very overwhelming, as well as feel unsettling.

If you’re currently wondering where to scatter your loved one’s cremated remains to make their goodbye as special and meaningful as possible, below are 5 of our top recommendations. We hope these suggestions offer you a sense of comfort as you prepare for a final ceremony to honor your loved one. 

The Ocean

A popular choice to scatter a loved one’s ashes, the ocean holds spiritual meaning for many, seeming to represent infinity and the cycle of life itself with its never ending ebbs and flows and wondrous vastness. Many people feel deeply connected to the ocean, and retreat to it as a place of solace and to clear their mind during different times of their life. If your loved one enjoyed being by the sea, and perhaps always looked forward to their next beach day, then spreading their ashes there could be a great option to take into consideration.  

Who would have thought that the saying “making beauty from ashes” could have ended up having such poignant meaning as we seek to find ways to pay homage to our deceased loved ones? Cremation has since become a leading choice of memorialization for many families due to the many benefits it offers including the versatility to honor a loved one’s remains in a variety of ways. Although there are many options available, one of our favorites, and perhaps most remarkable, is turning cremated ashes into diamonds.

If you have been wondering about a beautiful way to memorialize your loved one, while keeping a piece of them forever close, a diamond made from their cremated remains may be the perfect solution. In this quick guide, we’ll briefly touch on everything you need to know about memorial diamonds and how you can create a stunning and meaningful tribute to those you love. Continue reading as we find out all about making beauty from your loved one’s ashes.

What is a Memorial or Cremation Diamond and How is it Created?

Cremation diamonds, or eternal diamonds, offer a very unique and exquisite way to honor and remember a loved one that has passed away. Cremation diamonds possess all the same qualities and characteristics as that of natural diamonds and are made using the carbon found in someone’s cremated ways in a process that mimics the organic ways in which natural diamonds are created. Given the nature of diamonds and their use as a symbol of enduring love and eternal promises, they also serve as beautiful reminders of a deceased loved one.  

Organizing a funeral for a loved one is always an emotionally charged and complicated experience. Making the necessary arrangements and preparations, especially while you are mourning a deceased loved one, can be incredibly emotionally exhausting and overwhelming. However, as the funeral service serves as a final goodbye to a special loved one you lost, you of course want to coordinate a service that offers them a worthy sendoff. Therefore, you may be asking yourself many questions in regards to what kind of memorialization services you should choose, one being whether or not you should decide to include a cremation casket for your loved one during their cremation ceremony.

This is a common concern for many usually due to a variety of reasons that we will explore in this article. If you are wondering about whether to use a casket or not for the crematory ceremony of a loved one, continue reading to learn how to make a decision that will best suit you and your loved one’s needs. 

Are Caskets Necessary for Cremation?

Cremation has become one of the most common methods of memorializing deceased loved ones. It serves an important role in the funeral ceremonies of various religions, such as Hinduism for example. However, many families opt for cremation of their deceased loved ones without any strict religious affiliations as well. 

While the death of a loved one is always a difficult and emotionally charged experience, losing a loved one at the hands of a negligent party or entity is especially painful. Nothing can compensate for the pain caused by the passing of a loved one. However, if the death was a result of the negligence of another party or entity, you may be able to file a wrongful death claim to potentially win compensation for the damages you suffered. 

It can be especially difficult to imagine that the death of your loved one could have been avoided due to the direct or indirect negligence of a person or another entity. However, if you believe that is the case and want to seek justice for your loved one, we are here to help you begin and understand the process behind filing a wrongful death lawsuit. 

What is a wrongful death lawsuit?

A successful wrongful lawsuit cannot provide closure to the grieving family members or erase the tragedy. However, a wrongful death lawsuit can be invaluable in helping surviving family members win compensation for the grievous damages they suffered on behalf of the wrongful death of their loved one. By obtaining monetary help on behalf of grievous damages and any financial burdens they suffered as a result of losing their loved one to a wrongful death, they can redirect their focus on grieving the loss of their loved one and finding peace of mind, rather than facing financial burdens.