Choosing a Saint Charles, MO cremation service expands the ways you can memorialize your loved one after the process. It also includes the events you can have before, like having a visitation. 

Whether you want a visitation with or without the body, there’s a cremation service that fits your needs. We explain each one below. 

Traditional Cremation 

This is the best option if you want an elaborate visitation like a burial. Everything happens the same way, except after the funeral rites are over, the body heads to the crematory instead of the cemetery. 

Choosing a traditional cremation service option allows you to embalm, dress, and place the deceased’s body in a fancy casket. You don’t have to buy the temporary casket. Funeral homes have rental caskets specifically for this purpose. 

The body will be displayed for family and community members to view when they visit to offer their condolences. And since the body is embalmed, the visitation can last hours or days, giving distant relatives who can’t rush down on short notice time to say goodbye and gain closure. 

However, these advantages come at a cost. Because of the costs of preserving the body and putting up the display, traditional cremation is the most expensive cremation service. 

For those who don’t mind having a simple visitation, there’s a more cost-effective alternative. 

Witnessed Direct Cremation 

Direct cremation is a service focused exclusively on the cremation itself. The funeral home or cremation provider doesn’t arrange a visitation or wake, but it doesn’t mean you can’t have one on your own. 

Funeral homes allow a close group of family members and friends to view the body at the cremation center before the process begins. Visitation done this way is simple; in many cases, the deceased may be wearing the same clothes they had on before they passed. 

It also requires everyone to gather quickly. The cremation professional removes the body from the place of death shortly after the passing, and cremation takes place within 48 hours. 

Regardless, for those who live close to the deceased or can make the trip on short notice, it’s an inexpensive way to have a visitation/viewing. And if they can’t arrive in time, it’s equally possible to have the visitation without the body present. 

Visitation with a Memorial Service 

Unlike a viewing where the primary reason for the gathering is to see the body, visitation can occur without an open casket. 

Visitations are a period before the funeral when the bereaved make themself available for people to drop by and offer their support and condolences. While many families prefer having the body present, it’s not crucial to the event. 

Having a visitation this way is not only cost-effective. It can also be paired with memorial services like a scattering ceremony or celebration of life. 

Each arrangement has its pros and cons, but there’s a cremation service for anyone who wants a visitation. 

Whatever you decide, contact us if you need help. We provide cremation services in Saint Charles, MO, and help families arrange personalized services. Call us now to speak with our caring staff to learn more.