Trusted Cremation Service Experts
Graciously serving families in Troy, Clifton Park, Albany NY & Surrounding Areas

Is a cremation service the right option for you?

Part of making funeral arrangements on behalf of a loved one involves choosing between burial of the body, or cremation services. Certainly this is a big decision, based on any number of factors: religious or spiritual beliefs, finances, or ecological awareness are just some of the reasons we've heard for choosing cremation. Before you can make the choice, you need to know exactly what it is you're considering. You can learn the basics below, however, if the content here raises additional questions for you, please give us a call . One of our funeral home's cremation service specialists will address any of your inquiries or concerns. We serve families throughout Albany, Clifton Park, and Troy, NY.

What is cremation?

The Cremation Association of North America describes cremation as, "The mechanical and/or thermal or other dissolution process that reduces human remains to bone fragments".  On our page, The Cremation Process, we offer a deeper look at the most common cremation process which uses extreme heat.


In some instances, people find it helpful to learn all about the process of cremation. If that is the case, you’ve come to the right place. Our knowledgeable and experienced staff can provide you with a detailed breakdown of what exactly goes into our cremation services. Reach out to our funeral home or explore our Cremation Process page. For a brief overview, the first essential step of the process involves preparing the body. Any jewelry or medical devices must be removed before incineration. Once this is accomplished, the body is placed inside a wooden or carboard cremation container, which is then moved into a cremation chamber. There, the body is subjected to intense heat of up to 1,800 degrees Fahrenheit, which reduces it to basic elements. Often, some fragments of bone are left behind, which will be further processed through a cremulator machine into a fine powder. At this point, the remains will essentially be ashes and may be collected into a container such as an urn.


As we said earlier, people choose cremation services over burial of casketed remains for any combination of reasons. Sometimes it's the simple fear of burial itself, which may stem directly from the Victorian phobia of being buried alive. Funeral pre-planning can help your family with the decision between being buried or being cremated. Learn more about our cremation service below.

What is required to arrange a cremation Service?

a couple discussing cremation - Philip J. Brendese Funeral Home
Once the cremation-over-burial decision has been made, all that's required is authorization. This is provided by the person who is the legally identified or appointed next-of-kin. Once all authorization documents are signed, and service charges are paid; the body can be transported from the place of death to the crematory and the cremation process can take place. However, there are some additional things you may wish to consider, such as:
  • Is there a special set of clothes (such as a military uniform or favorite dress) your loved one would appreciate the thought of wearing? This will be a focus of the cremation arrangement conversation, and you will be advised by your funeral home director as to your best options regarding jewelry or other valuable personal items.

  • Are there any keepsake items you'd like to include in their cremation casket? Perhaps there's a special memento, such as a treasured photograph or letter? We sometimes suggest family members write cards, notes or letters to their deceased loved one, and place them in the casket prior to the cremation.

  • Would you or other family members like to be present for–or participate to some degree in–your loved one's cremation service? Because we know how healing it can be to take part in an act of "letting go", we welcome the opportunity to bring interested family or friends into the crematory. Please discuss your desire to participate with your funeral home director.

  • What will you keep the cremated remains or ashes in after the cremation or the service? Many families are simply unaware that they can purchase a cremation urn to be placed in a special place such as the family home. We offer a large selection of urns that will help memorialize your loved one. Ask one of our caring funeral home directors to see the wide variety of urns.

Why choose a Cremation Service For Your Loved One?

Everyone has their own personal reasons for choosing cremation over traditional casketed burial. Our funeral home in the Albany, Clifton Park, and Troy, NY area is proud to honor your cremation service wishes.

There are many reasons that people choose cremation.

Given the religious, ethnic, and regional diversity among us, there are many other reasons for the dramatic rise in the number of cremations performed each year. According to Tyler Mathisen of NBC, one of those reasons "is the softening of the Catholic church's views of the practice. For centuries—until 1963, in fact—the church outlawed it. The church's laws still express a preference for burial. But the outright ban is a thing of the past."

He goes on to tell readers that the decline in nuclear families is another reason. "As more Americans live far from hometowns and parents, and as family burial plots have waned in popularity and accessibility, millions have turned to cremation as a practical and cost-effective way to care for a loved one's remains."

Cremation also allows a family the flexibility they may need in  funeral pre-planning and preparing for a memorial service, celebration-of-life, or a scattering ceremony. While the cremation service process can occur almost immediately (once all the proper paperwork is complete), the decisions required in planning a meaningful memorial for a loved one can be made in a relaxed, rational way.

You can also be sure that concern for the environment ranks high among many who choose cremation. Casketed and embalmed remains take up cemetery space and can pollute the ground water but many still question the amount of atmospheric pollution created by cremation services.

Are you ready to talk about cremation? Contact us today.

We want you to know that no matter your reasons for choosing cremation, we're here to help you explore your options. Funeral pre-planning with our cremation service allows your family to grieve and begin the healing process. They don't have to spend their time worrying about whether to bury or cremate you. When you're ready, call our funeral home to set an appointment or simply drop by our office. Our cremation service specialists are caring and have been assisting families in Clifton Park, Albany, Troy, NY and surrounding areas for well over 35 years. Additionally, if you'd prefer, you can also send us an email via our online contact us form. 
Sources:
  1. What is Cremation, Cremation Association of North America
  2. Mathisen, Tyler, "Cremation is the Hottest Trend in the Funeral Industry"