Deciding between burial and cremation is one of the first decisions you’ll make when you consider final arrangements for yourself or a loved one, and it will influence other decisions you’ll make regarding your funeral or memorial service and cemetery property, too.

It’s important to remember to plan for the permanent placement, or “final disposition,” of cremated remains – that is, what happens to the ashes after the cremation takes place. Placement of cremated remains in a cremation garden or a mausoleum designed for urns called a “columbarium” at your local cemetery is important for many reasons:

• A permanent site gives loved ones a physical place for visitation and reflection.
  
• The ceremony accompanying the placement of an urn in a cremation niche or a cremation garden in a cemetery provides family and friends with closure after the loss of a loved one
• When ashes of a loved one are kept with relatives, they can easily become misplaced or discarded through the years, as future generations may not feel a connection to the deceased
  
• A permanent placement provides future generations with a location to visit when researching heritage

If cremation is your choice or the choice of your loved one, you have many service options when you use a Dignity Memorial® provider. Our caring professionals will gladly work with you to plan cremation services and memorialization that fulfill your wishes and honor your life or the life of your loved one.

Using a Dignity Memorial provider gives you access to the following products, services and benefits:

24-Hour Compassion Helpline®

When traditional support like family or clergy is unavailable, you and your family are invited to use our toll-free Compassion Helpline for up to one year. The Helpline is staffed by professionals who have advanced degrees and are specially trained in grief counseling. 24-Hour Compassion Helpline is provided by Charles Nechtem & Associates, Inc.

Aftercare® Planner

This comprehensive estate management guide, with more than 70 pre-written letters, is an invaluable tool in helping finalize business and personal affairs that arise when a death occurs. It provides clear direction and valuable information that may also reduce legal and professional fees.

Omnilaw Legal Plans®

To help provide you with the security of legal guidance, we have partnered with Omnilaw, a network of more than 16,000 attorneys. The services include 11 paid-in-full benefits for one year, offering you a tremendous resource including unlimited telephone consultations on all legal matters, probate assistance and document preparation to include a Will, Health Care Proxy and Power of Attorney. For all other legal services that are not paid-in-full, families are entitled to a 25% savings off the attorney’s flat-rate fees.

Everlasting Memorial®

Encompassing online, print and DVD media, the Everlasting Memorial allows your family to share remembrances of your loved one today and preserve these special memories for generations to come.

The Everlasting Memorial includes:

• A DVD of the MeM Moving Memories™ movie, a presentation of the images of the Memorial set to beautiful music
• A biography which may include any length of text
• Written and Audio Guest Books, to which family and friends may submit both written and spoken messages; these messages may then be published to the Memorial online
• A Life Remembered™ book, professionally bound and printed, telling your loved one’s life story with the Memorial’s biography, images and Guest Book messages
• Register Book and Service Items personalized with images and biographical information

Bereavement Travel Services
We provide the best available travel options throughout the U.S. and Canada and to many international destinations. On a moment’s notice, dedicated travel specialists will seek the best available airfares as well as hotel accommodations and car rentals for all family and friends to attend a funeral, cremation, memorial or graveside service. There is a nominal fee associated with the issuance of an airline ticket.

100% Service Guarantee

Each Dignity Memorial provider is committed to service beyond expectation before, during and after the service. To that end, we offer this guarantee: if there is anything we can do to meet your individual needs, please let us know and we will take care of it immediately.

National Transferability

Should you move more than 75 miles from where your original arrangements were made, your prearranged funeral services are fully transferable and will be honored by any Dignity Memorial provider throughout North America. 

Dignity Memorial Guidance Series

Dignity Memorial providers understand that the loss of a loved one is extremely difficult, as is the accompanying grief. Our bereavement materials were developed to support and comfort those coping with these complex emotions. An extensive collection of booklets, DVDs and CDs offers professional advice and compassionate insight.

Personal Planning Guide

This helpful guide gives you everything you need to organize vital information like personal affairs, family heritage, military history, estate information and so much more. The Personal Planning Guide also makes your wishes known. It’s a great benefit to your family and relieves them of having to make many difficult decisions.

Ready to make your cremation selections now? Start planning right away with our free online planning tool. You can make your selections online and share them automatically with the family members or friends you designate. Or click here to request your free Personal Planning Guide.

The Dignity Memorial network: North America’s leading funeral homes and cemeteries, united to bring you the services you need when it matters most.