What exactly is a Cremation Society?
If you’ve made it this far you’re more than likely interested in cremation when your time on earth is over. And for good reason; cremation is much easier on your family members left with the task of arranging your funeral (which btw you should go ahead and take care of ahead of time so they don’t have to). But who do you turn do when cremation is the choice and the need for a provider arises?
Cremation Societies are nothing new although they may be new to Tallahassee. In fact the Neptune Society was founded in 1973 and operates as a subsidiary of Service Corporation International (SCI) aka “Dignity Memorial.” As the cremation rate in America grew, SCI saw a demand for a funeral service company that exclusively provided “direct” or “simple” cremations. A direct cremation simply means a cremation WITHOUT a ceremony.
Aside from cost, the Cremation Societies we know today aren’t much different from those of years past. They usually operate out of a strip mall and are dependent on a licensed funeral home & crematory establishment. This means they share the facilities, vehicles, equipment, and even employees so they can offer the exact same direct cremation services at a discounted rate. You might be wondering why the parent funeral home would allow the subsidiary cremation society to pirate their potential client families. It’s because there are other competitors in the market, some of them family owned, who usually offer cremation services at a lower cost. So the Cremation Society exists to better compete with the local firms.
Over the years, cremation societies have become known as the funeral provider of choice if a family desires a simple cremation. But as your local funeral & cremation provider, I urge you to do your due diligence. More often than not, your local funeral home is more competitive in pricing and more flexible and accommodating when planning a cremation. Your local funeral director isn’t working for commissions and has a vested interest in making their families happy so they’ll choose their firm again in the future. Take the time to meet with a funeral director at 2 or 3 different firms. Ask questions about pricing, how long they plan to be apart of our community, and operating procedures. What if I need help with VA benefits or scheduling the burial of Dad’s ashes at the Tallahassee National Cemetery? There are many aspects to consider when selecting a funeral home or crematory. But the most important thing is how the people within care for their client families.
