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July 13th, 2023 | Chris Leotis
| Blog, Cremation Services, Direct Cremation, Pre Planning Cremation, services, Urns, Veteran's Services
10 Best Cremation Ashes Ideas
After cremation, the next step involves deciding what to do with the ashes. If the deceased had not expressed their wishes, there are a world of possibilities for what you can do with the ashes. While most families keep the remains in an urn, you can explore other options and see what’s best for you. Let’s consider 10 of the most common ideas for cremation ashes:
Scattering the Ashes
You can opt to scatter your loved one’s ashes after cremation in the ocean, river, lake, mountain, or garden. Alternatively, you can spread them at your loved one’s favorite vacation spot or a place where they always wanted to visit but never got the chance. Some even go to the extent of scattering the remains in space. In this case, the sky is truly the limit!
Burying the Ashes
You can bury your loved one’s cremated remains in your home garden or a public cemetery. If you bury the remains, use biodegradable urns because they are environmentally friendly. In addition, consider planting a tree with the ashes to create a living tribute to your loved one.
Columbarium Niche
Instead of burying the ashes in the ground, you can keep them in a columbarium niche. It can be a room or a shelf in a cemetery, church, or other place where the public is allowed to keep the ashes of their loved ones. This option gives friends and family of the deceased the freedom to visit the site at any time to honor their loved ones.
Coral Reefs
You can bury your loved one in the ocean as a coral reef, especially if they loved marine life. The process involves mixing your loved one’s remains with cement to build a reef-shaped structure. Then this structure is dipped in the coral reef to provide shelter for small sea creatures.
Pieces of Art
If you want a permanent tribute to make with cremation ashes, turn the remains into art. You can use the ashes to make a sculpture, glass art, or jewelry. An artist can do that for you, or you can use a 3D printer to produce unique art by combining some of the ashes with the printing material. The best part is that you can have your loved one’s name inscribed on that piece of art or include a short, heartfelt message.
Keepsake Urn
These are small cremation urns that hold a small amount of ashes. They help divide ashes among family and friends so that each member can remember the deceased in their own way. Due to their small sizes, keepsake urns are easy to carry wherever you go. And no one has to know what you’re carrying because it can be disguised as jewelry, a necklace locket, or a key holder.
Unique Memorial Tattoo
One of the trending cremation ashes ideas is drawing tattoos in memory of a deceased loved one. The process works akin to ordinary tattoos, except that the tattoo artist mixes a small amount of ashes with tattoo ink. Such tattoos usually include a message about the deceased loved one.
Vinyl Record
If the deceased loved music, you can have their ashes compressed into a vinyl record. The recording can include their voice or favorite music. You can also record a personal message or your own music composition. This option may require you to have a record player. Also, it’s not recommended to use copyrighted music.
Stuffed Toy Keepsake
Families that have lost a child can store part of the ashes inside a toy or bear. A keepsake bear has an opening at the back where you can slip in a small container with the ashes. Holding and hugging the teddy bear can comfort you and make you feel closer to your loved one.
Final Thoughts on Cremation Ashes Ideas
After cremation, family members have many options for what to do with the ashes. The opportunities are endless, from burying the ashes under the sea to launching them into the sky. Some options, like creating vinyl records, may require you to make arrangements with companies providing those services.
If you have questions about cremation, feel free to consult Florida Family Cremations. We provide affordable cremation services in Clearwater and its neighborhoods. Our packages include simple/direct cremation and veterans’ services, with the option of prepaying for cremation.
Contact us for more information about our services.
June 20th, 2023 | Chris Leotis
| Blog, Cremation Services, Direct Cremation, NEWS, Pre Planning Cremation, services, Urns, Veteran's Services
5 Things You Should Know About Cremation Jewelry Rings
It’s hard to accept that a loved one has passed. The feelings of missing the deceased can linger for many years after they’re gone. One coping strategy after losing a close person is to talk about them and have something to memorialize them. Instead of keeping the ash in an urn, some families choose cremation jewelry rings to remember their loved ones.
Cremation jewelry rings allow you to carry your loved one’s cremated remains wherever you go. Their compact size makes them convenient for people who prefer to keep things simple. If you want to engrave your loved one’s cremated remainson jewelry, you may have some questions.
For instance, what does the process involve, and which jewelry options are available? We’ll consider five things you need to know about cremation jewelry rings:
1. Not All Cremation Jewelry Contain Ashes
While most cremation jewelry’ holds small amounts of ashes, others don’t. Since the objective is to keep your deceased loved one close, you can use anything that reminds you of them. Besides ashes, you can use their hair, dried flowers from their funeral or memorial service, or a small piece of cloth belonging to them.
Alternatively, you can have their fingerprint etched in the cremation ring. The point is to use something belonging to them or what they treasure most. These items will achieve the same purpose of keeping your loved one’s memories alive.
2. Cremation Jewelry Can Be Made From All Sorts of Materials
Cremation jewelry can be made from different materials, such as wood, glass, and metal. Each material involves a different process, and the process can determine the cost of the jewelry. Wood and glass jewelry may be cheaper. But you can also choose sterling silver or gold cremation rings, depending on your budget.
Gold rings are the most expensive and are available in yellow gold, white gold, and rose gold. Other common materials for making cremation jewelry rings include brass, porcelain, ceramic, titanium, stainless steel, copper, and other metal alloys.
3. Cremation Jewelries Come In Different Styles
Like other decorative ornaments, you can have any type of cremation jewelry. Necklacesare ideal if you want a compartment to hold a small amount of ashes. Finger rings may be too small to have a compartment. But you can have the ashes infused into the material that makes up the ring.
Alternatively, the ashes can be made into diamonds through a process that involves intense heating. Once the diamond is ready, it is placed on an ordinary ring to make cremation jewelry. If you wear jewelry like brooches and charms, you can still use them as keepsakes. Also, you can choose different styles to fit men and women.
4. You Can Personalize a Cremation Jewelry
Personalized cremation jewelry is made according to your specific instructions. In addition to choosing the color and the material, you can ask the jewelry maker to inscribe the name, date of birth, or date of death of the deceased. Depending on the available space, you can have them inscribe a short personal message on the jewelry.
Another way to personalize it is by adding a photo of your loved one. It can be a printed photo or a laser-etched image.
5. Cremation Jewelry Rings Require Maintenance
A cremation ring is something you want to keep for your entire life. The jewelry’s durability partly depends on the material and how you take care of it. If you know the ring might get scratched while working, it’s better to remove it.
Sometimes, the ring may accidentally get dirty. When that happens, use a jewelry cleaning cloth to remove build-up soil from stainless steel, sterling silver, and other materials. Also, follow the instructions given by the jewelry maker to clean and maintain the cremation jewelry.
Final Thoughts on Cremation Rings for Ashes
The purpose of cremation jewelry rings is to create a lasting memory of your deceased loved one. They also help divide ashes among families, allowing each member to keep a piece of their relative. Unlike urns, cremation jewelry is easy to carry around wherever you go. Anyone can choose to remember their loved one using this method because there’s jewelry for every budget.
Is there something else you’d like to know about cremation? Florida Family Cremations is here to answer your questions and address your concerns. We provide affordable cremation services in Clearwater, including veterans’ services and simple or direct cremation.
We also allow pre-paying for cremations and offer customizable services. Contact us today for more information.
May 9th, 2023 | Chris Leotis
| Blog, Cremation Services, Direct Cremation, NEWS, Pre Planning Cremation, services, Urns, Veteran's Services
Can You Prepay for Cremation Services?
Everyone wants a respectful sendoff at the end of their life, but that comes at a price. Some people use crowdfunding to raise money for cremation services. Others rely heavily on their family members to contribute the money, creating a financial burden for them. Is there an easier way to do this? Can you prepay for cremation services?
Yes, you can prepay for cremation services, and it’s certainly a good idea to do so. If you think about it, it’s not different from any other prepaid expense. The most important thing is the benefit it brings to the family left behind. We’ll look at those benefits, but first, let’s consider how prepaid cremation works.
How to Prepay for Cremation Services
Once you’ve decided to go for cremation instead of the traditional funeral service, the next step is to plan. Planning involves deciding how you want the cremation process handled. For instance, you can decide whether to have a funeral service. If you do, you can even give details of what should happen during the service.
Once you have the plan, you can proceed to pay in advance. That involves making arrangements with a local funeral home. Most funeral homes have several cremation options. Direct cremation is usually the cheapest because it doesn’t include body viewing or a funeral service.
But you can have a memorial service after cremation at a place and time convenient to you.
That said, be sure to compare the prices of different packages and choose the one you want. After that, decide on your payment method. You can pay the full cost at once or pay in installments. Either way, it will ease your loved one’s burden when the time comes.
So, what are the benefits of preplanning and prepaying for cremation? Let’s discuss.
Why You Should Prepay for Cremation
No one likes thinking about their death, let alone planning for it. But planning your end-of-life services can bring immense relief to your family members. They won’t have to worry about the financial burden.
Even though cremation is cheaper because you may not need a casket and a cemetery plot, the cost often increases due to inflation. And as more people prefer cremation over traditional burial, prices could increase due to the growth in demand.
However, prepaid cremation services are cheaper because they allow you to lock in current prices. Moreover, the amount you use to prepay for cremation is exempt from other assets when determining your Medicaid eligibility. That makes you more likely to be eligible for Medicaid.
Besides helping with funeral expenses, prepaying for cremation gives your family peace of mind. Instead of worrying about finances, they have enough time to celebrate your life and fulfill your final wishes.
Save Money by Prepaying for Cremation
Funerals are quite expensive and can create huge financial burdens for families. Instead of relying on well-wishers for assistance, consider prepaying for cremation.
You only need to approach a cremation provider with your plan, check out their packages, compare prices, and choose the package that fits you. Once you agree on the plan, you can pay in lump sums or installments. And don’t forget to inform your family about your prepaid funeral plan.
If you’d like to prepay for cremation services, Florida Family Cremations is here to help you. We provide affordable cremation services in Clearwater, ranging from simple cremation to veterans’ services. Our prepaid cremation services are not just affordable; they’re also customizable to meet your unique needs.
Don’t leave your end-of-life arrangements to chance. Take action today and contact us to learn more about our prepaid cremation costs and services. Our compassionate and experienced staff is here to guide you every step of the way and help you make the best decisions for you and your family.
April 18th, 2023 | Chris Leotis
| Blog, Cremation Services, Pre Planning Cremation, services, Urns, Veteran's Services
How to Let Your Family Know You’re Choosing Cremation
In recent years, more people have chosen cremation over traditional burial. It’s environmentally friendly and gives families many options on what to do with cremains. Families working on a budget can also save money by choosing a simple cremation. However, choosing cremation is still a personal decision, which your loved ones may not know unless you tell them.
Talking about death with your loved ones can be difficult. That’s why we’ve prepared a few tips to help you approach the topic with care and consideration for your loved one’s feelings. Here are some ideas you can use when talking to your family about cremation.
How to Tell Your Family You’ve Chosen Cremation
When discussing cremation with your family, it’s essential to be honest and open about it. Let them know your final wishes without leaving room for doubts and guesses. Doing so can help eliminate misunderstandings and conflicts in the future.
Here’s how to let your loved ones know that you’ve chosen cremation:
1. Choose the Right Time
One way to show concern for your loved ones is by choosing the right time to discuss sensitive matters. After making up your mind that you want cremation, don’t wait too long to communicate your decision. Do it when you’re still healthy.
Select one evening when everybody is present. In case you have small kids, communicate with adults only, such as your spouse, adult children, parents, and any other concerned person.
Ensure your loved ones are in the right frame of mind and have the time to listen and process what you tell them. Consider discussing your wishes during a quiet moment when you’re alone rather than in a busy or stressful environment.
2. Be Sensitive to Their Feelings
Some of your family members may have different beliefs, opinions, worries, and concerns. Try to address those worries and concerns and answer any questions they might have. If they’re new to cremation, talk to them about the cremation process so they’ll know what to expect when the time comes.
When you explain your reasons for choosing cremation, they might feel comfortable about your choice. But it’s possible that some will have reservations about your choice. In that case, be respectful and sensitive to their beliefs and opinions.
Also, it might be necessary to discuss cremation several times in the future. Doing so can help emphasize your decision and put your loved ones at ease.
3. Share Your Plans
If you’ve made specific plans for your cremation, such as choosing a funeral home and having a memorial service, inform your loved ones. You may also want to discuss specific wishes, such as scattering your ashes in a specific location or keeping them in an urn.
Sharing your plans with them ensures your wishes are honored and you’re remembered in the way you wanted. It also helps ease your family’s burden and makes the process easier for them.
4. Provide Written Instructions
Writing down your final disposition wishes helps ensure there’s no confusion or misunderstanding about your wishes after you’re gone. It leaves no room for interpretation, and everyone involved will know exactly what you want. You may want to work with an attorney or estate planner to ensure your written instructions are legally binding.
Discussing Your Final Wishes with Your Family Shows You Care About Them
No doubt, talking about your final wishes with your family isn’t easy. But it’s essential to prevent misunderstandings in the future. It allows them to express their concerns and feelings and come to terms with your choice.
After telling your family you’ve chosen cremation, you may want to take the next step and make arrangements with a funeral home. This arrangement involves choosing a cremation package and making prepayments.
If you’d like to make such an arrangement, talk to Florida Family Cremations. We provide affordable cremation services in Clearwater, including direct cremation and veterans’ services. Contact us for more information about our services.
March 23rd, 2023 | Chris Leotis
| Blog, Cremation Services, Direct Cremation, NEWS, Pre Planning Cremation, services, Urns
Do You Get All the Ashes After Cremation?
Cremation has become an increasingly popular way of laying loved ones to rest. Most people prefer this option because it’s cheaper and highly flexible. But after the cremation process, families receive a few pounds of the ashes, leaving some wondering, is this all there is? Do they give you all the ashes after cremation?
Understanding how cremation works can help answer that question. Which factors determine the weight of cremated remains?
Here’s what you need to know:
Do They Give You All the Ashes After Cremation?
The simple answer is yes. The work of a crematorium is to reduce the human body into ashes by passing it through intense heat. Cremains belong to the family, so the crematorium can’t keep the ashes, and they have no reason to do so. If a cremation provider retained some of the ashes, such a deed would be unlawful.
But it’s understandable why some people get concerned about the volume of ashes they receive.
But that’s not always the case. All flesh evaporates under the intense heat of the crematorium chamber. Therefore, if a short person weighs more due to more body fat, that doesn’t mean you’ll get more ashes. Arguably, taller people can have more ashes because they have larger bones.
So, how much should cremains weigh?
How Much Should Cremated Remains Weigh?
On average, cremated remains should weigh about 3.5% of the person’s original weight. The actual weight of ashes can range between 2 to 10 pounds (0.9 to 4.5 kg), depending on whether one is a child or an adult.
Let’s say an average-sized adult weighs 150 pounds. After the cremation process, the weight of the cremated remains will be around 3–7 pounds, representing 2-5% of the original body weight. If the person weighed 250 pounds, the weight of the ashes would still be around 3–7 pounds. That’s because the amount of ash produced is not directly proportional to the body weight.
Understanding the amount of ash you expect can help you choose the right size of an urn. A standard urn has a volume of 200 cubic inches. That can fit the cremains of an average person. But if the ashes are more than that, the crematorium can select a larger urn or use two of them. Whatever the case, they’ll ensure you get all the ashes.
If you get more ashes, you can divide them according to the number of families who want to keep them. And if you get a smaller quantity, you can make ornaments or put some in jewelry.
Which Factors Determine the Volume of Ashes?
The average weight of cremated remains varies depending on the following factors:
- The weight and size of the body – Generally, the heavier and larger the body, the more ashes you get. The cremation process breaks down the organic matter in the body, leaving bones. Therefore, it’s the size of the bones left that determines the amount of ashes resulting from cremation.
- The type of cremation chamber – Modern cremation chambers are more efficient. They can reach up to 1,800 degrees Fahrenheit, leaving behind less bone matter. Older cremation chambers are less efficient and may leave more bone matter, leading to more ashes.
- The duration and temperature of the cremation process – Hotter cremation chambers can reduce the body significantly, leading to fewer ashes. Less-hot chambers need to operate longer to reduce the body in the same way as the hotter ones. So, if they run for less time, they can lead to more ashes.
Even though some of the ashes may get lost in the cremation chamber and post-processing activities, that is negligible and often unavoidable.
Contact Florida Family Cremations for Cremation Services
Cremation providers have no reason to keep ashes after cremation unless the family members fail to pick them up. Many factors can determine the volume of ashes you get. These include the body’s weight, type of cremation, temperature, and duration of the cremation process. Whether you get less or more ashes than you expected, you can be sure that the crematorium doesn’t keep any portion of the ashes.
If you have more questions about the cremation process, don’t hesitate to ask Florida Family Cremations. We’re a reputable funeral home providing affordable cremation services in Clearwater. Our packages include direct or simple cremation and veterans’ services.
Contact us for more information on our services.
March 15th, 2023 | Chris Leotis
| Blog, Cremation Services, Direct Cremation, NEWS, Pre Planning Cremation, services, Urns, Veteran's Services
Does the VA Pay for Cremation Expenses?
Members of the armed forces, whether retired or on active duty, are entitled to veteran burial benefits. After the death of a veteran, family members have to bear the responsibility of applying for the benefits. But not all understand the process or the extent of these benefits. Does the VA pay for cremation?
What about expenses such as an urn? How much can you get from the VA? These are some of the questions you may be asking.
It’s essential to have clear answers to these questions to avoid last-minute inconveniences. After all, some of the benefits only apply to eligible members. As such, determining your eligibility in advance can help you make better plans.
The Department of Veterans Affairs (VA) has set out clear guidelines on this matter.
Here’s what you need to know:
Which Benefits Does the VA Provide for Cremation?
The VA can pay for your cremation costs if these expenses fall on you. That means no other organization, government agency, or employer should be paying for the same.
What if you choose cremation instead of a traditional burial? Does the VA pay for cremation services? Yes, the benefits apply to all legal types of burial.
These include cremation, burial at sea, and donating the body to a medical school. So, how much can you expect the VA to pay?
How Much Does the VA Pay for Cremation Services?
For service-related deaths, the VA pays a maximum of $2,000 if the death occurred on or after September 11, 2001. And for deaths before that date, the VA pays up to $1,500 for expenses.
If the death is not service-rrelated, the maximum compensation for burial and funeral expenses is $796 for deaths occurring on or after October 1, 2019. That amount applies to members hospitalized by the VA as of the time of death. If not hospitalized by the VA, the reimbursement for burial and funeral expenses is $300, plus $796 for the burial plot if not buried in VA national cemeteries.
Following up on the VA payments may take time, and you may have to pay the burial and funeral expenses out of pocket. So, ensure you keep the receipts for those expenses since you’ll need them to claim reimbursement from the VA. But for your claim to be successful, the veteran has to be eligible.
Here are the rules concerning eligibility:
Who Is Eligible for VA Benefits?
Veterans’ benefits apply to the subjects, their surviving spouses, children, parents, and official administrators of their estates. The eligibility for burial in a VA national cemetery applies to both current and former members of the armed forces, except those who received a dishonorable discharge. Their spouses and dependents have similar death benefits.
A discharge isn’t dishonorable if the death resulted from a service-related disability and occurred in a VA hospital or a VA-contracted facility, and during authorized travel. Also, the veteran is eligible if they died while receiving a pension or other service-related compensation.
How to Apply for Veterans Benefits
If you’re a family member of an eligible veteran, follow these steps to apply for benefits from the VA:
- Prepare the documents: the necessary documents are the veteran’s discharge papers, marriage certificate (if applicable), death certificate, expense receipts, and burial plot information.
- Apply for burial benefits: download the benefits application form (VA Form 21P-530) from the VA website or obtain a hard copy from a VA regional office.
- Submit the application: Submit the completed form plus the documents to the VA regional office that serves your area. You can mail the application or submit it in person. You can also apply online through the VA’s eBenefits portal.
- Wait for the decision: The VA will review your application and contact you with a decision. If approved, they’ll reimburse expenses.
Florida Family Cremation’s Veterans Services
Florida Family Cremations shows respect to deceased members of the armed forces by providing them with an honorable send-off. From receiving the body to handling cremated remains, we conduct the entire cremation process with dignity and integrity.
We understand the VA provides limited reimbursements to veterans eligible for benefits. That’s why we offer affordable cremation services in Clearwater to former servicemen and women. Besides veterans’ services, we also have simple or direct cremation.
Contact us to learn more about these and other services.
December 28th, 2022 | Chris Leotis
| Cremation Services, Direct Cremation, NEWS, Pre Planning Cremation, services, Urns, Veteran's Services
December 13th, 2022 | Chris Leotis
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