Memorial possibilities are endless, only limited by the budget and imagination.

Without written wishes of the decedent, the legal authority to make decisions and care for that decedent first goes to the surviving spouse, then children over 18, parents, siblings over 18, a guardian, the next of kin, a personal representative of the estate, and lastly a public health officer.

The law does not require a casket for cremation.

The ashes, called cremains, can be buried, placed in a niche or columbarium, scattered, released from a boat or a plain, shot into space, used to make an underwater reef, and even made into jewelry, artwork and diamonds.

Cremation Arrangements & Memorial Planning

Cremation

Farewell Assistance can assist a family member who is acting as the funeral director with making cremation arrangements, including transportation and paperwork. We can bring the paperwork to you for your signature, and also deliver the ashes to you. We can accompany you to pick them up if you need our support or assistance looking at urns. You can also transport your own dead, but that will not reduce the crematory fee, which includes this service. Cremation is one of the least expensive forms of disposition, and gives a family greater freedom to plan a memorial.

Memorial Planning

Once the decision is made to have the body cremated, there is no rush to have a service. This flexibility is one of the biggest advantages of having a memorial service. People who will need to travel, especially entire families, can save thousands of dollars in air travel if they buy their tickets two weeks in advance. This delay also allows people time to organize a very personal and meaningful ceremony, and have a greater control of the budget, whether large or small. This also allows for more than one ceremony, because they can take place anytime and anywhere.

Typically, a jazz funeral is arranged according to the wishes of the deceased, who often has chosen the music and the musicians as part of a funeral preplanning process.