Choices at the end of life: Cremation
Choices at the end of life: Cremation
In preparation
You can investigate options and discuss your needs.
Be sure to check with various service providers about possibilities and the range of costs.
It is most important to let family members know your wishes. You could designate
someone to make decisions after your death on the Appointment of Healthcare
Representative form. By naming an agent and discussing your wishes with that person's, some conflicts will be avoided
and matters can be expedited.
At death
A medical officer (family doctor or hospital physician, or the coroner) is needed to certify a death for legal
purposes. Then a funeral director must handle and certify the disposition of
the remains. Indiana is one of only five states that require a licensed funeral
director to certify the transportation and disposal of human remains. A “funeral” with viewing or services is
never required; private family visitation in the home or hospital (before the funeral
director is called) and an individualized memorial gathering at a later time
may be chosen and handled by family and friends.
No public health benefit results from embalming. You can state a preference for cremation to hospital staff or to the
funeral home director when asked, and make arrangements accordingly. Private
visitation immediately after the death, with family and friends in the hospital
or at home, does not require a funeral director’s involvement. If family members wish time with the body at
home or in the hospital, calling a funeral director may be delayed for some
hours. However, if you do wish to have embalming for a public viewing, this procedure must be done as soon after a
death as possible.
A cardboard casket or another simple container may be used to convey the body.
If you wish a more elaborate casket for a formal viewing, you may be
charged a high cost for the brief use. Plain wooden caskets are available from alternative vendors and you are
always allowed to provide a container yourself, without additional charge from
the funeral director. Check the requirements of the cremation facility.
There is a 48-hour waiting period between the time of death and the time a body may
be cremated. No embalming is required, and no storage fee is charged for this
time. The funeral director or crematory will hold the body until cremation. If requested for religious or other
reasons, the coroner alone may suspend this waiting period.
Cremation is the cleanest and simplest way we now have to return human remains to the elements, as well as being the most
"earth-friendly" alternative. Cremation "societies" are
funeral directors that deal directly with the family and file all paperwork,
but charge lower overhead costs than regular funeral homes do.
After cremation
The pulverized bone fragments that remain are clean and may be stored indefinitely or mailed by parcel post for interment
elsewhere. There are no requirements for specific containers, if burial is desired.
In Indiana the remains may be scattered or buried on any public land or
scattered on a public waterway that is not used as a source of drinking water. A scattering permit may be obtained from the
health department, but this is rarely used. On private property, the permission
of the owner of the property must be given. An attachment to the deed can be recorded, though this is not enforced.
Cremation is the cleanest and simplest way we now have to
return human remains to the elements, as well as being the most
"earth-friendly" alternative. Cremation "societies" are
funeral directors that deal directly with the family and file all paperwork,
but have lower overhead costs than funeral homes. A waiting period of at least
48 hours after the death is required before cremation, though the body is held
by the service provider. This rule can only be waived by the coroner. No "storage" charges may be
incurred, nor is embalming required, for the waiting period. The pulverized
bone fragments that remain are clean and may be stored indefinitely or mailed
by parcel post for interment elsewhere. The remains may be scattered or buried
on any public land or waterway in Indiana. On private property, an attachment
to the deed may be necessary, though this is not enforced.
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