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Burial or Cremation Service Options

Burial

Casket Options

Caskets are typically crafted of either wood or metal. The cost of a casket is most influenced by the type of material used in construction and the grade of interior fabric. There are many dignified options available in a broad price spectrum to suit your individual needs.


The selection of casket is a very personal one and will be determined based on the deceased’s wishes, economic considerations and personal taste. There are many options because each family’s needs are different.


Some of the typical materials used in casket construction are:

Wood

  • Mahogany


  • Cherry


  • Walnut


  • Oak


  • Pine


  • Poplar


  • Cloth-Covered Wood

Metal

  • Bronze


  • Copper


  • Stainless Steel


  • 16-gauge steel


  • 18-gauge steel


  • 20-gauge steel



Interior fabric used in casket construction can range from simple crepe fabric to a more luxurious look using plush velvet. In addition, some caskets are designed to be “protective”, meaning they are designed to withstand the entrance of outside elements and other gravesite substances.

Outer Burial Container Options


We are committed to ensuring you understand your choices and helping you select the casket that best suits your family's needs. Many cemeteries have a requirement that an outer burial container be placed around the casket in the ground. The primary reason for this is that the casket is not designed to withstand the weight of the grave and the heavy equipment used in routine maintenance of the cemetery. An outer burial container helps to support the weight of the grave, protect the integrity of the casket and aid in keeping the grave level, which contributes to the overall positive appearance of the cemetery. We will advise you as to the outer burial container options that are available in your area and are most widely utilized in the cemetery of your choice.


Like caskets, there are options in outer burial containers from which you can choose based on your personal needs, taste and budget. Some of the materials that are commonly utilized in manufacturing outer burial containers include concrete and various types of metal.

Embalming


For families planning a public visitation, embalming is recommended. The process of embalming is considered to be the most successful practice of preparation for the viewing of a loved one’s body.


By definition, embalming is “the process of chemically treating the deceased human body to reduce the presence and growth of microorganisms, delay organic decomposition and restore an acceptable physical appearance.” A loved one’s physical appearance is an important part of what makes a viewing/visitation a meaningful experience for all who attend.



Your loved one’s body is the most important symbol present during a viewing/visitation. The process of embalming – and sometimes further efforts through reconstruction – promotes a more natural look and a healing final impression of your loved one.

Viewings, Visitations and Funerals

Honoring and remembering a loved one’s life is an important part of the healing journey. Regardless of what a family decides for a loved one’s final resting place, a meaningful event to say goodbye can be beneficial, whether it is in a private setting or with extended family and friends. The opportunity to spend final time with a loved one will help those who are grieving acknowledge the reality of the death and receive caring support from others. Sweet-Olsen Family Mortuary is committed to helping families plan a fitting tribute honoring a loved one’s life.

Honoring and Remembering a Loved One

Many families that decide to commemorate their loved one’s life, sharing their fondest memories and allowing others to share memories as well, will choose to have a visitation with their loved one’s body present. A visitation allows family and friends to reflect on how the loved one affected their life and encourages the sharing of stories. Viewing a loved one’s body during this time may evoke strong emotions. Saying goodbye and expressing those emotions in a convenient setting surrounded by others who share feelings of sadness is part of a healthy grieving process.

Is embalming required by law?

Generally, embalming is not required by law. However, many states require that a body be either embalmed or refrigerated within a certain time period after death has occurred. The funeral home or cemetery may also have an embalming requirement for certain types of arrangements, such as when there will be a public viewing of the deceased. You always have the option to select alternative arrangements that do not require embalming.

Should everyone be embalmed?

There are important considerations unique to each family that affect end-of-life service decisions following the death of a loved one. The funeral director at Sweet-Olsen Family Mortuary will explain the choices for funeral services and/or memorial events and when embalming would be beneficial to create a suitable physical appearance.

What if my loved one experienced extreme trauma?

It is often assumed that extreme trauma precludes the viewing of the deceased. Depending on the circumstances, reconstruction and/or restorative procedures may be necessary in order to achieve a more natural and acceptable appearance suitable for viewing. After a careful evaluation of the human remains by a licensed embalmer, both the funeral director and embalmer can help determine the best course of action to restore the deceased’s physical appearance

What are some circumstances in which embalming is optional?

  • Cremation with no viewing


  • Private family viewing


  • Immediate burial with no viewing


  • Identification of human remains



  • Religious beliefs that prohibit embalming

What are some circumstances in which embalming should be performed?

Embalming is recommended when a public viewing/visitation is selected. The embalming process not only helps maintain a suitable appearance but allows those planning the funeral or memorial to have some flexibility in scheduling the event.

Who makes the decision as to whether a person is embalmed?

The person who holds the right of disposition under state law is the person who authorizes embalming. Typically, if embalming has not been authorized by the decedent in a preneed contract or other directions that are binding under state law, the survivor who holds the right to arrange the funeral under state law will decide whether the remains are to be embalmed.

How much does it cost to embalm a body?

The cost for embalming varies among funeral homes. Additional costs may apply if reconstruction and/or restorative procedures are necessary.

What happens if a body is not embalmed?

If a body is not embalmed or kept in a climate-controlled environment, the process of decomposition begins. Decomposition is most evident though odor, physical changes to the body and/or discoloration.

How long does an embalmed body last?

Even though the embalming process delays decomposition, it does not stop this natural process. Other determining factors such as environmental conditions and the manner in which someone died can directly affect the condition

Cremation

Like burial, cremation is only one element of the funeral process and should be approached that way. When made part of a meaningful funeral service, cremation can play a vital role in the healing journey. Some may feel that by cremating a body, they are somehow eliminating the pain associated with their loss. Cremation is not a way of eliminating your grief, but a process of preparing your loved one for his or her final resting place. Cremation is just one step in the commemorative process – an important step in preparing the remains for memorialization.

Selecting a Permanent Resting Place

Persons selecting cremation for themselves or a loved one have the same options for services and merchandise as those who select casket burial. What many people do not realize is that cremation is a process and is not the final disposition of the human remains. A determination will need to be made as to the person’s final resting place. This important place will be used to memorialize the life lived and will serve as a place for family and friends to visit and honor the memory of their loved one.]


Some of the most commonly chosen options for the final resting place for cremated remains include:


  • Earth Burial – Some cemeteries have a designated area with burial spaces specifically designed for the placement of cremated remains. In addition, arrangements can sometimes be made to place an urn in the family lot where other persons in caskets may have their final resting place.


  • Indoor/Outdoor Columbarium – A columbarium is similar to a mausoleum for caskets. The smaller spaces or niches are used to place the urn and may have a glass or a granite front. Some niches may have additional room for personal items to be placed with the urn. Like a mausoleum, a columbarium may be outdoors or within a climate-controlled building.


  • Scattering – Some people choose to scatter all or a portion of their loved one’s cremated remains in a special location. It is important to check with your NFDA funeral director to ensure that this act is permitted in the location of your choosing. Caution should also be exercised when scattering as it is a final, irrevocable act. Be certain that this is what you want to do before proceeding. Note that some religious groups do not permit scattering.


  • Other Options – Determining the final resting place of your loved one is a personal decision. Some people choose to keep the urn at their home for a period of time. This is ultimately your decision but it is recommended that you give consideration as to your long-term plans for the urn or multiple urns you have in your home. A trusted advisor or family member should have clear instructions as to what should happen to the urn or urns after your death.

Selecting a Cremation Casket or Container

The crematory that is utilized will usually have a requirement that the deceased be placed in a rigid container for the cremation process. Either a cremation casket or container will fulfill this requirement.


Cremation caskets and containers are both typically made of wood, fiberboard or a composite of materials. A cremation casket has a finished interior and closely resembles a casket used for earth burial. A cremation container is designed to fulfill the crematories’ minimum requirements and typically does not have an interior lining or has a minimally finished interior.


A person who chooses to have viewing, visitation and/or funeral services in their church or funeral home prior to cremation will typically select a cremation casket. Some funeral directors also have a ceremonial or rental cremation caskets available as an option.



We can assist you in making a selection of a cremation casket or container that is appropriate for the arrangements you have chosen.

Selecting an Urn

There are many urn options available in a broad price spectrum. Metal, glass, wood, granite, marble and other materials are commonly utilized in urn construction. There are also specialty urns available that reflect a personal statement on a person’s life, hobbies, etc.



We will explain all of your urn options and any special considerations at the final resting place you have selected that should be part of your decision making process.

Selecting an Outer Burial Container

Should you select earth burial for a final resting place for your loved one, the cemetery may require an outer burial container to surround the urn or container in the ground. This would be a smaller version of those utilized for caskets.



We will inform you if this cemetery requirement exists and describe your options.

Memorialization

Families that choose cremation have many options and much flexibility when determining how to best memorialize the life of their loved one. Some families choose to have a viewing or funeral service before the cremation. Others choose a memorial service at the time of cremation or afterward with the urn present, or even a committal service at the final disposition of cremated remains. Often, funeral or memorial services can be held in a place of worship, a funeral home, a crematory chapel or even at a place of special significance to your loved one.

Take some time to consider how you would like to memorialize your loved one. Will you have a service or gathering of family and friends prior to cremation? Will there be a public or private viewing? What kind of urn will you select? Will the cremated remains be interred? Like so many other events in your life, being an educated consumer is important.

Religious Views

Most religions accept cremation, with the exception of the Islamic, Orthodox Jewish, Eastern Orthodox and some fundamentalist Christian faiths. Though the Roman Catholic Church expresses a preference for burial, it now allows cremation for reasons compatible with church teachings. It does not sanction the scattering of remains, however, and prefers the presence of the body during the liturgy, prior to cremation.

Cremation Costs

The cost of cremation varies depending on the services and products selected by the family. Funeral homes should provide an itemized list that includes the costs of the services and products offered.

Final Disposition

People selecting cremation for themselves or a loved one have the same options for services and merchandise as those who select casket burial. What many people do not realize is that cremation is a process and is not the final disposition of the human remains. A determination will need to be made as to the person’s final resting place. This important place will be used to memorialize the life lived and will serve as a place for family and friends to visit and honor the memory of their loved one.

Cemeteries

Why a cemetery?

The idea of honoring our loved ones at their permanent resting place is a time-honored tradition. Whether it was the ancient Egyptians constructing the pyramids, the erection of a grand private mausoleum, the Tomb of the Unknown Soldier at Arlington Cemetery, or a simple burial space with a marker, the idea of a dignified burial for our deceased loved ones is an important tradition. We care for these places and visit them to remember and feel connected to this special person in our lives. A cemetery provides a peaceful environment for our loved ones to rest and for us to honor their memory.

Cemetery Property Options

Like funeral homes, cemeteries can provide many dignified options for a family, depending on their personal taste and budget. You can select individual burial spaces for a casket or urn (if selecting cremation) or a group of spaces for multiple family members. The options are varied and will depend on the individual cemetery’s offerings and available inventory.


When selecting a cemetery, you may want to seek personal recommendations from friends, business associates, your clergy or a funeral director. Be sure to inquire with the cemetery representative as to their maintenance practices, whether it is a “perpetual care” cemetery (a portion of the purchase price is placed into a fund for the upkeep of the cemetery) and any other pertinent rules or regulations regarding: flower placement, allowing upright monument and/or flat markers, special seasonal decorations on graves, etc.


Depending on the individual cemetery’s design and availability, some of your property options may include:


  • Single-Depth Burial Space – Utilized for one person. The cemetery will have a policy regarding the type of grave marker (flat, or upright) that can be placed to identify the grave.


  • Double-Depth Burial Space – Utilized for two persons. The space appears to be the same size as a single burial space, but the grave is deeper than normal. The first person is placed at a deeper than normal depth and the second person is buried at a normal depth on top of the first.


  • Family Lot – An area designated for multiple family members. The cemetery can provide options as to the number of burial spaces contained within the family lot.


  • Lawn Crypt – This is similar to a typical burial space and may be single or double depth. There is a concrete grave liner (crypt) already placed in the ground where the casket will rest.


  • Mausoleum – A building designed for above-ground placement of the casket. The casket is placed into a crypt that may be designed for one or two persons. The mausoleum may be outdoors or inside a climate-controlled building.


  • Private Estates – Available in a wide variety of offerings, depending on the cemetery. This would typically be a private mausoleum building or a private grouping of burial spaces contained within a designated area. Some cemeteries offer custom-designed family estates built to your specifications.