Cost of Cremation

Cost of Cremation

Unfortunately, many of our important decisions in life are made based on financial considerations alone. This appears to be true when it comes to choosing cremation; today more families are opting for low-cost cremation services than ever before – usually in order to save money. We often get asked "how much does cremation cost?" and the answer varies depending on many factors.

Without doubt, the cost of cremation is much lower than those related to traditional casketed burial. Yet, one has to ask: is saving money more important than providing the highest quality end-of-life care for a deceased family member?

Let’s not forget this well-worn wisdom: you get what you pay for. This can be especially true when your goal is to find a cheap cremation service provider. In the following paragraphs, we’ll examine the key factors you want to look for when choosing a cremation services provider. And while the cremation cost is important, in our opinion, it’s not the most important factor. When it comes to end-of-life care for someone you love, we believe the quality of care they receive is paramount.
Cost of Cremation Candle

How Does Cremation Cost Relate to Value?

If you do an Internet search for cheap cremation the search engine used will return thousands of results, some of which will offer what are described as "low-cost" cremation services. We know the prices quoted by the cremation societies and “third-party cremation providers” will be enticingly low.

But, as you probably already know from experience, there’s always a relationship between cost and quality of service. What does that mean when it comes to cremation? When you make arrangements on behalf of a family member, you want assurance there are clearly-defined, and strictly-adhered to procedures, such as:
affordable cremation lantern
  • A clear chain of custody: Throughout the cremation cycle – from the moment your loved one’s physical remains are transported from the place of their passing, to the time when their ashes are returned; you want to know exactly who is responsible for your loved one’s physical remains. A documented chain of custody is your guarantee of greater peace-of-mind.

  • Verification of identity: Very few, cheap cremation providers require a positive means of identification prior to cremation. This is not the case with the crematories we work with, where there are strict verification procedures in place. You can be confident the ashes you receive are, indeed, the cremated remains of your relative (and not those of someone else).
Who will pick up my loved one’s body, and how will he or she be transported? When you come to Vander Plaat-Vermeulen Memorial Home for the cremation of a loved one; a trusted, named member of our staff will escort them–individually–to our facility (or directly to the crematory if you have requested a direct cremation). Unlike cheap cremation providers which often pick up more than one body at a time; we give your loved one the respect and dignity you’d expect from funeral service professionals.

Where will it be taken? The answer to this question is important: do you want your deceased relative to be warehoused prior to the cremation in an unknown location? Of course not; that’s why (unless your request is for direct cremation); your loved one’s body will be under watchful eye at our funeral home facility until it’s appropriate to escort them to the crematory.

Which crematory will you use? Cremation societies exist primarily to process bodies in quantity at minimum cost, often through sub-contracted (and therefore unknowable to you) facilities. That is not the case when you come to Vander Plaat-Vermeulen Memorial Home; our transparent business practices require us to be candid about the crematories we use (currently we partner with the crematory located at Rosedale Cemetery).

Do you verify the identity of the deceased prior to the cremation? We cannot stress the importance of clearly-defined verification processes enough; you are guaranteed a clearly-defined verification process, shared by both the licensed staff of Vander Plaat-Vermeulen Memorial Home and the specific crematory we have contract with to perform your loved one’s cremation.

When will I be able to receive the cremated remains? Third-party cremation providers or cremation societies cannot always specify how long it will be before you can receive your loved one’s “ashes”. This is not the case for you when you come to Vander Plaat-Vermeulen Memorial Home; we’ll be very clear as to how long the cremation process will take and when a designated family member will be able to pick up the cremated remains.

The Cost of Cremation is Only One Reason 

The popularity of cremation in the United States has been on a steady rise for the past 50 years. As the popularity grows, we receive more and more questions about cremation. Many people are still confused about cremation, and we often hear misconceptions about cremation. This section of our website is committed to teaching you all about cremation. The pages below have been written by our cremation professionals in hopes that families can improve their education about cremation and feel more empowered when making end-of-life decisions. Often people struggle to decide if cremation is right for them or their loved one. The starting point to this decision is to first understand and become informed with the facts of cremation. 

 

What are some factors that you will have to consider when deciding on cremation? The cost of cremation is not everything when it comes to making big decisions like this. All of them are deeply personal and significant: there are your spiritual/religious beliefs, your level of environmental consciousness, financial considerations, and the expectations of your immediate family and your wider social group. 

 

As you dive into the pages below, have these questions in mind: 

 

1) How do you feel about the idea of cremation? What about burial? Purely based on emotions, which one makes you feel better? 

 

2) Is cost a big concern for you? When it comes to end-of-life planning, are you most interested in saving you and your family money? 

 

3) What does your religion say about cremation? Will your religious or spiritual beliefs have a great impact on the decision to cremate? 

 

4) Do you have concerns about reducing pollution and being as environmentally friendly as possible? 

 

5) How do you think your family and friends will react to your decision? What are their end-of-life plans? 


Our Affordable Cremation in Franklin Lakes

Even in the best of times, no one wants to purchase inferior products or services. This is especially true when it comes to cremation; we don’t believe anyone should make their decision based solely on the cost of cremation. Instead, he or she should look at the overall quality of the services provided. Asking the right questions; not only about the cost of cremation, but about verification procedures and operator certification; is the best way to get the facts you need. Why not start by calling us at 201-891-4770 We’re confident you’ll be impressed by the quality and cost of our various cremation options.
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