CONTENTS
3 Introduction
4 Planning Your Cremation
6 About the Cremation Process
9 Keepsakes
Cremation Urns, Cremation Jewelry, and More
12 Conclusion
3 Cremations, A Caring Choice for Final Arrangement
INTRODUCTION
When a loved one passes away, surviving friends and family members should
spend time supporting and embracing one another – not feeling overwhelmed
by the details and expenses associated with planning a memorial. That is
why we created Cremation Society, a cremation service designed to ease the
burden on families and pay tribute to the passing of loved ones in a personal
and honorable way.
Cremation Society of Greater Cincinnati has clients throughout Ohio and
all over the U.S. Since 1994, we have been providing dedicated service that
meets the needs of our clients and exceeds their expectations throughout the
planning and cremation process. We have our own crematory in Cincinnati,
and we also network with thousands of other crematories that can serve our
clients wherever they may be.
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Why Cremation?
Making the decision to be cremated or have a loved one cremated is a very
personal one. Today, more and more people are choosing cremation. In 1960,
less than 4 percent of people chose cremation. By 2010, the number had risen
to more than 40 percent and is expected to reach more than 55 percent by
2025.
There are many reasons why our clients choose cremation. For some, it is a
matter of personal preference. For others, cremation is about practicality and
flexibility. It also provides greater flexibility for families who wish to relocate,
but are reluctant to leave a loved one’s grave site behind. Furthermore,
choosing cremation does not mean sacrificing memorial services. In fact, some
families find there are even more memorial options available with cremation
than there are for traditional burials.
If you have decided that cremation is right for you or otherwise have questions
about the cremation process, contact Cremation Society to speak with one of
our helpful advisors. We are happy to assist you in planning and making your
arrangements at a time most convenient for you.
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PLANNING YOUR CREMATION
Planning for cremation is as important as planning for any other life event. Life
is full of milestones – education, marriage, parenting, the purchase of a home,
and eventually retirement. We plan for each of them and also prepare for the
unexpected, such as fires and floods. Advance preparation offers security for
the future and peace of mind during difficult circumstances. It only makes
sense to treat your final arrangements with the same detailed attention,
removing the burden from your family and ensuring your memory is preserved
according to your wishes.
Pre-Planning: a Gift to Loved Ones and Yourself
The loss of a loved one is a difficult and stressful time for friends and family,
who are often left with just days to commemorate an entire life. When you pre-
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plan your cremation and memorial, loved ones are alleviated of the burden of
planning a service. They can relax knowing that every detail is accounted for
instead of spending hours making arrangements at a funeral home. Instead of
making rushed decisions, they can spend their days supporting one another
with the comfort of knowing your final arrangements were made according to
your wishes.
It is never too early to begin pre-planning a cremation. In fact, many are
surprised at the peace and reassurance the process provides. Our staff is
highly trained and experienced in helping clients straighten out their affairs
and document their wishes in detail. Working together, we create a dignified
plan that ensures your final wishes are carried out exactly as you specify.
The Pre-Planning Process
We have streamlined the cremation
planning process to be as simple and
straightforward as possible. We want
to allow each of our clients plenty of
time to reflect on their wishes and
concerns. For your convenience, we
offer two options for pre-planning
– in-home and in-office. Depending
of your preferences, one of our
cremation planning representatives can visit you at your home to begin the
planning process, or you can schedule an appointment to meet with us here at
Cremation Society of Greater Cincinnati.
We offer a simplified cremation-planning checklist, which one of our staff
members will be happy to review with you in detail. The checklist and planning
meeting are designed to cover all bases, answering any questions you may
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have and permanently documenting your wishes and desires for safe-keeping.
During our meeting, we will discuss your biographical information, making
it easy for loved ones to remember your life achievements and other details
after your passing. We also review memorial options, including information
about monuments and markers.
In addition, we will review your options for advance payment and membership
in Cremation Society. When you pre-pay for cremation, both you and your
family have peace of mind knowing there is no financial burden in your final
arrangements. Families do not worry about how they will pay for cremation,
and you rest knowing your prepaid investment is safe and secure. In fact, the
security of your funding is guaranteed.
For clients who are concerned about the expense, our team is knowledgeable
in understanding Medicaid guidelines. We can help you determine your
eligibility for Medicaid assistance and place your Medicaid spend down in the
safety of an irrevocable trust.
If you have not made your final arrangements, there is no better time than
now to make these important decisions. Contact Cremation Society to
schedule an opportunity to review your options today.
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ABOUT THE CREMATION PROCESS
The loss of a loved one is a highly emotional experience that leaves survivors
to cope with many different thoughts and feelings in the days that follow. At
Cremation Society of Greater Cincinnati, we strive to streamline every detail
of the cremation process so that loved ones making final arrangements will
feel comfortable and supported. We care deeply about our clients and their
families and we are committed to providing cremation services with dignity
and distinction.
Home Arrangements
We start by offering in-home arrangements to remove the need for visiting a
funeral home after a loved one’s death. This is a no-cost service provided to
our clients during which we will meet to discuss options for cremation and any
other details that were not specified in the pre-planning process. Our clients’
families simply sign authorization forms, and we handle every detail from start
to finish.
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Please ask our staff for more information reguarding visitations & memorial
services.
Our Services
Following the meeting, Cremation Society immediately goes to work, going
above and beyond to ensure every wish is carried out exactly as planned. We
will file the Death Certificate at no extra charge, as well as run death notices in
the newspaper on behalf of the family at no extra charge. We also offer, at no
cost, an online obituary where loved ones can leave their sympathies for the
family.
Cremation occurs at our own crematory, open only to our clients. We have
an open-door policy and invite the family to come tour the facility and learn
more about the cremation process. Once a family’s loved one arrives at our
on-site crematory, we take thorough measures to see the body through the
cremation process, eliminating the possibility of mistake or confusion. We take
every precaution to ensure that the ashes we return to loved ones are certified
authentic and delivered in the urn or memorial container selected by the
family.
Continued Support
We help families connect with
grief counselors and support
groups following cremation.
Death is difficult for many
to process, and support
organizations may provide the
tools and experience necessary to move on in a healthy and respectful way.
We also work on behalf of families to notify the Social Security Office of a
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death, and inform family members of any benefits they may be entitled to
receive.
We provide special services for
veterans, taking steps to acquire
a veteran’s flag and designated
grave markers. We also provide a
complimentary veteran’s copy of
the death certificate. If requested,
the cremated remains can be
buried in a veteran’s cemetery at
no cost to the family. We continue
to offer support after the services and cremation are complete. Our staff is
happy to assist surviving family members in applying for veteran’s benefits if
they qualify.
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KEEPSAKES
There are countless ways to memorialize a loved one following cremation.
While some choose to scatter ashes or bury them in a marked grave, others
choose to celebrate the life of a loved one with a beautiful urn, customized
jewelry, or some other type of unique memorial. Doing so offers family
members the opportunity to honor a personal loss in a way that is both lasting
and meaningful.
Cremation Urns
Urns come in many types and styles, with options that range far beyond the
traditional design, shape and color. In fact, many families choose urns that
reflect a loved one’s personality or interests. For example, many choose eco-
friendly urns designed to be both natural and bio-degradable. Some are made
from clay or salt, while others are designed to portray a beautiful scene in
nature.
Stone is another type of cremation urn used to honor the life of an individual.
We offer traditional urns made of beautiful, polished granite, as well as a
cultured marble collection that is available for personalized engraving. Both
Cremation Urns, Cremation Jewelry, and More
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granite and marble urns come in beautiful shades of color, as well as some
alternative shapes and styles.
Metal urns are another popular choice, of which we feature a vast collection
suitable to nearly any preference or style. Our metal urns come in shades
of bronze, pewter, silver, copper and gold, each of which are etched with
ornate designs that are attractive and impressive. We even offer a black metal
cremation urn option, which looks extremely elegant when inscribed with a
personal message.
Whether a loved one’s ashes will be contained in a single urn or divided
separately between multiple people, our staff is happy to help family members
determine which urn is right for them. In addition to stone, metal and eco-
friendly urns, we also offer other unique containers, include hand-painted
porcelain urns and beautiful wooden chests. Most can even be customized
with an inscription, and some provide accompanying displays for a favorite
portrait.
Cremation Jewelry
Another way to celebrate the life of a loved one is by selecting from our
beautiful line of cremation jewelry. As the weeks and months go by, wearing
these styles and designs ensure a lost loved one is forever remembered in a
special way. Cremation jewelry is artistic in nature, providing a combination of
13 Cremations, A Caring Choice for Final Arrangement
personal expression and memorial in a single, elegant piece. For some, having
a tangible reminder of a loved one is both comforting and an effective way of
feeling they are somehow close. We are happy to assist loved ones in selecting
a beautifully crafted piece from our vast cremation jewelry collection.
We offer many different keepsake pendants that can be added to a simple
chain, such as a bracelet or necklace. These pendants come in brass, stainles
steel, pewter, gold vermeil, sterling silver, 14K gold and titanium, and they are
available in both small and large sizes. Some pendants may simply serve as
a reminder of a loved one’s personality, whereas others provide ornate and
discreet ways of carrying a small amount of a loved one’s cremains at all times.
We also offer beautiful, hand-crafted cremation art glass that can be worn as
jewelry or displayed as a decorative memorial piece in a home. Art glass is
made using some of the ashes after cremation. The result is a stunning, multi-
colored piece of glass formed into a unique shape, such as a heart, flame, or
necklace pendant.
CONCLUSION
At Cremation Society, we know that loss is never easy. However, we believe
that it should always be uncomplicated and worry-free. As loved ones grieve,
we are honored to assist with the burden of the many obligations often faced
following a loss. Since 1994 we have been accommodating the needs of our
members and their families. During that time, we have built a reputation for
being the ‘Caring Choice’ for cremation.
We believe that cremation is highly dignified and offers our clients the greatest
flexibility for memorializing a loved one. Our focus is on serving our clients
throughout the planning and cremation process, and to provide supportive
services during the grieving period. It’s never easy to mourn the loss of a loved
one, but it is always less stressful when surrounded by a strong system of
support.
If you are deciding between traditional burial or cremation for yourself,
or considering cremation for a loved one, we can help. We welcome the
opportunity to speak with you about your questions and concerns and help
you determine if cremation is the right choice for your final arrangements.