How to Make a Cremation Service Meaningful
Posted: March 23, 2018
At one time, there was the misconception for those considering cremation when they were planning a funeral. People believed that if they chose cremation, they could not have a funeral service that was meaningful and told the story of their loved one’s life. Of course, this is not true when you choose Cedar Memorial. Funeral traditions are constantly changing and evolving over time, and families are now discovering that cremation is a dignified form of commemoration, when you choose an experienced funeral home that cares about your family.
As traditions change, we are always developing new and meaningful ways to honor and memorialize the life that was lived. Attitudes, generally, toward what is “appropriate” during a funeral has broadened, and that means we can offer families new personalized choices and unique forms of tribute and remembrance. However, families who have lost a loved one sometimes find these choices overwhelming. We can help. The best place to start is by making a list of your loved one’s interests, hobbies, accomplishments, as well as faith and cultural traditions.
Families selecting cremation are discovering that dignified and touching services are available to help them honor and celebrate their loved one. Many experts say it’s also an important step in the grieving process.
When you choose cremation with Cedar Memorial, we encourage holding a visitation, memorial service, traditional funeral service, graveside observance, or other comforting and healing rituals. And you can personalize cremation services with vaults, 
caskets, and urns that bear emblems and engravings denoting religious affiliation, hobbies, special interests, and/or military or civic service. Our beautiful cemetery park features a variety of dignified and affordable options for inurnment of cremated remains to offer a permanent place of memorialization.
There is one other important aspect of cremation that you may wish to keep in mind— where does the cremation take place?. The Cedar Cremation Center, nestled within Cedar Memorial Park Cemetery, is a dignified and state-of-the-art facility unique to Cedar Rapids. Our cremation center provides a place of calm and comfort by offering the ability to say a final goodbye to a deceased loved one and the unique option of cremation witnessing. Cedar Memorial also has only Iowa Licensed Funeral Directors that oversee all aspects of the cremation, including crematory operations. Many of our Funeral Directors have completed the Cremation Association of North America’s Crematory Operations Certification Program that is considered “The Gold Standard in Crematory Operations Training.”
When you choose cremation, ask these important questions: What kind of memorial services are available? What are the choices for personalization and telling the story of the life that has been lived? And most importantly, what measures does the funeral home take to maintain the identity of the deceased and guard the dignity of the cremation process? Operating our own crematory and our extensive identification tracking process is great assurance. Another assurance is our unwavering commitment to preserve the dignity of your loved one. And that’s the best assurance of all.