Like most Americans, more residents are choosing Surprise, AZ cremations over traditional funerals with a burial. Since 2002, the cremation rate has grown by over 20%, and in 2017, a slight majority of deaths nationwide resulted in a cremation rather than a burial. In Arizona, the cremation rate is close to 70%, but not all cremations are the same!
While the rise in the popularity of Surprise, AZ cremations is due to a number of factors, the biggest one is that cremations are less expensive than a traditional funeral with a burial. While traditional funerals average at least $7,000 and can cost families $10,000 or more, cremation funerals are always significantly cheaper. The least expensive kind of cremation is a direct cremation. With this kind of cremation, the body is cremated shortly after death, without any kind of funeral or memorial service. This is the most cost-effective way to treat a body after death, as it avoids traditional expenses such as a casket, embalming fees, a ceremony, a gravestone, and so on. A direct cremation usually costs about $1,000. Without paying the other fees, families can save thousands of dollars by choosing a direct cremation over a traditional funeral.
If you’re considering a direct cremation, the Federal Trade Commission has three rules in place which you should be aware of.
- The cremator can’t mandate that you purchase a casket for the procedure.
- The cremator needs to make a basic, incomplete wooden box, along with other kinds of containers for the deceased, available for you to select.
- If you provide an urn or some other kind of container, the cremator must return the deceased’s remains inside of it. If no container is provided, the cremator can return the remains in a different one, like a cardboard box.
A direct cremation is the least expensive way to treat a death. The process also gives families options to decide what kind of funeral or memorial service would be most appropriate for them. The remains of a loved one can be kept close at hand in a meaningful container, or can be spread in a place that was important to the deceased.
However, some families may find any kind of cremation inappropriate, due to religious or spiritual reasons. While most religious denominations don’t prohibit cremation, some families might prefer a traditional funeral.
Before families settle on a plan for the death of a loved one, it’s best to consult an experienced funeral director. If you have questions about Surprise, AZ cremations, such as the direct cremation process, contact the Thompson Funeral Chapel and its crematory, Simply Cremation. The owner, Sean, can be reached at (623) 932-1780. With decades of experience in the industry, Sean will answer your questions with professionalism and with complete empathy for your needs at this vulnerable time. The crematory is located at Simply Cremation 16952 W Bell Rd #303, Surprise, AZ 85374. The Thompson Funeral Chapel itself is located at 926 S Litchfield Rd, Goodyear, AZ 85338.
