We’ve explained a lot about the cremation process over the years, but there’s one topic we haven’t discussed yet. Today, we’re going over the key differences between direct cremation and traditional cremation.
But first it’s important to make a quick clarification. There are two types of disposition that fit into the cremation category. There’s flame cremation and water cremation. Either of those could be direct cremation or traditional cremation.
With all the different terminology, cremation options can get a bit confusing. So let’s clear it up with a full rundown of direct cremation vs. traditional cremation.
The Biggest Difference: Funeral Services vs. No Funeral Services
Here’s where the great divide lies between traditional cremation and direct cremation. A traditional cremation involves a viewing service at the funeral home. That’s why it’s dubbed “traditional”.
A direct cremation doesn’t involve a viewing or any other services at the funeral home before the actual cremation occurs. It’s only the disposition, which is why it’s called “direct”. You go directly to the disposition after a death, and that’s all that the funeral home handles.
Many more families today are opting to bypass the viewing at the funeral home for direct cremation with a memorial service that’s held after the cremation is complete. It takes a lot of the work and stress out of funeral planning since there’s no timeline for holding the memorial service. Forgoing the traditional funeral services also has another important advantage in terms of cost.
The Next Biggest Difference: The Cost of Direct Cremation vs. Traditional Cremation
Here is the next notable difference between direct cremation and traditional cremation. Because of the formal funeral services, a traditional cremation isn’t much cheaper than traditional burial (minus the cost of the burial casket).
The latest data from the National Funeral Directors Association (NFDA) shows that the average cost of a traditional cremation with a viewing service at a funeral home is $6,280. Compare that to direct cremation from Cremation.Green, which starts at just $995 for flame cremation and $1,995 for water cremation.
That’s a huge difference in price, and it’s not just related to the viewing services. There’s another factor that adds to the cost, and it’s also a key difference between direct cremation vs traditional cremation.
Embalming is Typically Used for Traditional Cremation But Not Direct Cremation
The embalming process is something that we’ve gone into detail about in the past because of the related environmental concerns. Even though embalming is totally unnecessary and not legally required, many funeral homes still require it for their viewing services.
Embalming is used as a way of preserving the body, usually because viewing services are being held with the body present. While the process does effectively preserve the body, it comes at a huge environmental cost.
Numerous toxic chemicals, including formaldehyde, are used in embalming fluid. It puts funeral home staff at risk during the embalming process, and puts the rest of us at risk if the body is then buried. We know that over time the embalming fluid can leach out into the ground and possibly groundwater.
The cost of embalming is also a financial hit. According to the NFDA, the average cost for embalming is $845. That’s a huge chunk of money for a procedure that actually isn’t necessary, and isn’t performed with a direct cremation. Since there’s no viewing, there’s absolutely no need for embalming.
The Timeline for Traditional Cremation and Direct Cremation is Also Different
Families that want to get through the funeral planning process as quickly as possible gravitate towards direct cremation. Without the additional body preparation and funeral services, the timeline for direct cremation tends to be a good deal shorter than traditional cremation. Plus, the family has plenty of time to plan a memorial service or scattering ceremony that takes place after the body is cremated.
If the crematorium has availability, a direct cremation can be performed in as little as three days. Part of the delay is needing to obtain the death certification first, which can take 1-3 days. Once that is in hand, along with a cremation authorization form, the crematorium can complete the process.
More Funeral Home Options With Direct Cremation
Basically, any crematorium or funeral home with a cremation retort can provide direct cremation. However, not all crematoriums provide funeral services. That means the family will have more funeral home options with direct cremation.
Having more options can have an impact on the price and the timeline. Each funeral home sets their own prices and some may not be able to get to the cremation right away. If the cost and timeline are important factors, direct cremation has an edge over traditional cremation.
The End Result is the Same With Traditional Cremation and Direct Cremation
One key similarity between traditional cremation and direct cremation is that the end result is exactly the same. The family will receive the cremated remains from the funeral home in their receptacle of choice within the same amount of time. It’s everything that happens prior to the cremation that is different between the two, not the actual cremation itself.
Furthermore, you’ll receive the exact same amount of cremains because there’s no difference in the cremation process. However, it should be noted that typically more cremains are generated with water cremation than flame cremation. That’s because of the process that’s used. With water cremation more of the bone is preserved, and that is what is used to create the cremated remains.
Cremation.Green specializes in eco-friendly direct cremation with the choice of flame creation or water cremation. We work with families in Texas to provide cremation services that reduce environmental impact and cost while improving the experience. With fewer stressors and expenses, many of our clients find that direct cremation leads to a better experience overall.
