The choice between cremation and burial is a personal one. Today, many people are choosing cremation for their final arrangements due to the fact that it can be more affordable than other options. Although affordability is something to be considered, there are many other details to think of as well. Funeral pre-planning can help to make sure your cremation or burial wishes come true. With help from a funeral home in Oakland, you can decide how you like to be placed to rest. Read on for some information that will help you choose between cremation and burial.

Process
A burial places the body of the deceased in a casket, and is the preferred option for many religions. It offers a permanent way to be laid to rest, and can be personalized through the choice of the casket. The cremation process only lasts a few hours, and is often thought to signify reverence for the deceased.

Economics
Choosing cremation can be a smart decision for you and your family economically, as direct cremation is an affordable option when compared to other burial options. Direct cremations do not require embalming or a casket like traditional burials. However, if you choose to have a viewing or funeral with the body before the cremation, the costs may be comparable to those of a traditional burial.

Memorialization
Both traditional burials and cremation allow for memorial services to take place. A traditional burial allows friends and family to come to the gravesite to pay tribute, both during the memorial service and for decades afterwards. After cremation, the deceased can be memorialized with a traditional service or a ceremony during which the ashes are scattered. The ashes can also be kept in an urn at the family’s home or entombed.

If you and your family are interested in learning more about cremation , contact Chapel of the Chimes in Oakland at (510) 654-0123. Since 1909, we have been serving the Bay Area as a crematorium and columbarium. Our expert staff will help you decide on the correct final arrangements for you or your loved one.

When the loss of a loved one occurs, arranging a funeral service can seem daunting. There are many decisions you will have to consider. Working with a trusted funeral home in Oakland can help you sort through all of your options. Having the proper information and know-how ahead of time can help to make funeral planning an easier process to go through. Read on to learn about how to arrange a funeral service.

Burial Method
Each individual and family has a unique preference about the internment method. The first step to arranging a funeral is deciding whether the deceased will be cremated, entombed, or buried. If the decision to be cremated is chosen, it is a good idea to consider what will be done with the cremains. In some cases, they are buried or entombed, while other times, they are scatted at a location that has meaning to the family or the deceased. Cost can be a deciding factor when considering burial methods , but it is important to also remember the deceased’s personal preference.

Ceremony Type
Once the burial method has been chosen, it is pertinent to think about how you and your family would like the ceremony to go. At this time, you will decide whether to have an open viewing of the casket or a memorial service in honor of your loved one. Deciding where to hold the ceremony is crucial to planning the rest of the funeral. Oftentimes, the ceremony is held at a family member’s home, a funeral home, at the graveside, or at a religious institution. Once you know where the funeral or memorial service will be held, deciding who will take part in the ceremony and adding your personal touches to pay tribute to your loved one will be simpler.

If you have decided that cremation is the best burial method for your loved one, call Chapel of the Chimes in Oakland at (510) 654-0123. We have been serving the Bay Area as a columbarium and crematorium since 1909. We also have a cemetery and offer funeral planning services.

If you or a loved one is interested in planning ahead for a cremation service, many funeral homes and crematoriums offer funeral pre-planning services. In addition to the cremation, you may want to consider planning a cremation ceremony or memorial service, as there will most likely be no burial at a cemetery. Watch this video to learn more about arranging for cremation.

For more information on cremation services , get in touch with Chapel of the Chimes Oakland. We provide funeral and cremation services, grief counseling and grief support services, and funeral pre-planning to the community. Visit our website or call (510) 992-6984 to begin planning a cremation service.

If your loved one has chosen cremation , you may be looking for a way to memorialize him or her. Cremation jewelry is a beautiful way to honor the memory of a loved one, and allows you to keep a part of the person with you forever. Here is some advice on how to choose a piece of cremation jewelry that is appropriate for you and the deceased.

Take Your Time

There’s no rush in picking out a piece of cremation jewelry, and you shouldn’t feel pressured to find the perfect piece right away. Until you find a piece of cremation jewelry that moves you and seems like a fitting tribute and memorial to your loved one, the ashes can be kept in a cremation urn or other vessel. Take some time to look at various pieces of jewelry online and in person, and choose one that you love and that will truly honor the deceased’s memory.

Consider a Custom Piece

Cremation jewelry can be customized to further memorialize your loved one. Choosing a piece of jewelry that can be engraved or otherwise customized can help you feel like it’s more connected to the person that you lost. Cremation jewelry can also have more than one chamber inside, meaning that you can find one that holds not just ashes, but other small keepsakes or mementos.

Choose a Reputable Business

Before placing an order for a piece of cremation jewelry, investigate the business that is selling it. For something this important, you do not want to pay money to a disreputable company whose products are subpar. Read online reviews to find out if their customers are satisfied, or ask your funeral home or crematory for a recommendation.

If you or your loved one is interested in planning ahead for funeral services or cremation services , contact Chapel of the Chimes Oakland. We have been providing comfort and support to the community since 1909. Call us today at (510) 992-6984 for more information on how we can help you and your family in your time of need.

Cremation is the process of heating remains to a temperature between 1,400 and 1,800 ºF to reduce them to their basic elements. An increasing number of cemeteries near Oakland are offering cremation because it honors the life of the deceased while giving families the freedom to decide how and where to store or scatter the remains. Continue reading for an overview of how cremation works.

Location of Cremation

Cremation takes place in a cremation chamber, which is also known as a retort, inside of a crematory. The chamber is preheated to a certain temperature first, and then the body is placed into the chamber through a mechanized door to minimize heat loss. Before the body is placed in the chamber, however, pacemakers and other mechanical devices are removed from the body to prevent an explosion.

Incineration

Powered by natural gas, oil, or propane, the furnace inside the chamber produces a column of flames that incinerate the body. The gases created during the cremation process are discharged through the chamber’s exhaust system. There is typically no smell, because the smoke and gases are processed by the exhaust system.

Collection of Remains

The result of the incineration process is that the body is reduced to bone fragments and skeletal remains. These remains are collected into a tray or pan and allowed to cool. After cooling, technicians will use magnets and forceps to remove non-consumed metal objects, such as the parts of the cremation container, dental work, surgical screws, implants, and so on. The entire cremation process takes one to three hours.

Cremation is an ideal end-of-life option for many families. Many people who opt for cremation services also plan a funeral ceremony for the deceased. For help in planning a cremation ceremony for your loved one, contact Chapel of the Chimes in Oakland at (510) 992-6984.

One of the biggest decisions involved in funeral pre-planning near Oakland is making the choice between cremation and burial. This can be an even more complicated decision if you are making it on behalf of a deceased loved one. Use this guide to learn more about each option for help deciding which one is the right choice.

Cremation

People have been choosing cremation for centuries. This process uses high amounts of heat to rapidly decompose the body to bone fragments. There are many ceremony and memorialization options associated with cremation. When people choose cremation, they can have a traditional ceremony with a viewing for friends and family before the cremation is done. They could also opt for a ceremonial cremation with a memorial ceremony after the cremation is complete. Other people do not want a ceremony. A funeral home can also offer memorialization options and in-ground burial of the ashes. Many people opt for cremation because it is often the less expensive option and it gives family and friends the opportunity to keep or to scatter the ashes in a special location.

Burial

Many people choose burial because of cultural or religious beliefs. When people choose this option, they must pick out a casket and buy a plot. The deceased can be buried in a cemetery, in an above-ground entombment, in a mausoleum, or in a private family estate. These areas provide a convenient location for family and friends to visit and to pay respects to a lost loved one. Burials are often accompanied by traditional funerals, but people can choose different memorialization options.

Whether you decide on cremation or burial, Chapel of the Chimes in Oakland is here to make the planning process a little easier for you. With beautiful architecture and scenery, our peaceful location offers personalized services to each and every family in their time of loss. To learn more about our services or to start funeral pre-planning, visit our website or call (510) 654-0123.