Cremation Service Options Explained

Cremation services in Pennsauken, NJ,   offer different types of services. If you are joining the growing pool of Americans choosing cremation, you should know the available types of services. 

There are mainly three types: traditional, memorial, and direct. Each differs in price, planning, and timeline. Read below to learn more. 

Traditional Cremation 

Traditional cremation is the most familiar type of cremation. It is essentially a full-service traditional funeral, except it ends with a cremation. After the funeral rites, the body heads to the crematory instead of the cemetery. 

You can choose the range of traditional services you want with the cremation. You can decide to have a private visitation and funeral but skip embalming. 

All of these make traditional cremation the most expensive cremation service of all. There are different events to plan and pay for, along with standard services like transport. 

Cremation with a Memorial (or Celebration of Life) 

A cremation with a memorial service is cheaper. In this one, the cremation happens first, and a gathering is organized in honor of the deceased later. This can be immediately or months after the cremation. 

There are different types of memorials. The service happens at a church or your home in a traditional memorial, and the cremation urn is the event's centerpiece. 

Alternatively, it could be a celebration of life event. It's a lighter version of a memorial service. There's laughter, storytelling, and the general mood is uplighting. 

Whichever you prefer, you can plan it on your own or contract the services of a funeral home. But you don't have to choose. Some families can have both at different points in their grief journey. 

Direct (Simple) Cremation 

The third main type of cremation is also the most affordable of the trio. It is a barebones cremation service that only involves the actual cremation. 

There's no ritual or ceremony. Just a body to be cremated and returned to the family in due time. No embalming is necessary, and the process starts immediately when death occurs. 

You receive the ashes within 7-10 days. Two weeks if there's an administrative delay. 

Many families are choosing this option because it saves money, is easy to arrange, and provides maximum flexibility. 

There are other types of cremation, but they are mostly variations of the big three. 

Witnessed Cremation 

Also called cremation viewing or simply witnessing. It is a cremation service that allows loved ones to observe the cremation process until the body goes into the cremation chamber. 

They can choose to have a short committal service before the body goes into the retort or watch from a distance. 

This is an emerging aspect of cremation services, so not all cremation providers offer this service. You may also have to pay extra for it. 

Cremation after Body Donation 



This form of direct cremation occurs after donating your organs or body to science. The family doesn't have to pay for it. The research facility covers the total costs, including the transportation from the hospital or home. 

It depends on the facility, but family members may be allowed to witness the cremation. However, the facilities provide regular updates to the family, and survivors get their loved one's ashes back. 

The research team may also share updates about the impact of their loved one's donation. 

These are the available cremation services in Pennsauken, NJ. Whichever one you want, we can deliver. Contact us today or visit our facility to meet our directors.