For everyone concerned, the death of a dearly loved one can be a extremely sad and emotional time. Friends and family will both be devastated by the loss and for some, normally closer members of the family, they will be consumed with suffering and find it hard to deal with.

Pre-planning your cremation or burial will relieve close family members, of any burden of doing so, on your behalf. There is a lot to organise and pre-planning, with the assistance of your local funeral home, will allow your family to mourn you together without any worries.

These days, more individuals are choosing cremation as they are much more cost effective than a traditional burial. Your funeral home director will provide information and pricing for both processes.

With the cost of a traditional burial rising in recent years, as a result of an increase in value of burial plots and headstone values, cremation seems to be the better option. A direct cremation, which has no service, can cost less than $600, whereas a traditional burial is said to cost in between $2500 and $12.500.

Some people are mislead by thinking you can't hold a memorial service if you decide on cremation. This is not true, and a service, very similar to a burial service, can still be held where family and friends pay their last respects, sing songs and hymns and read antidotes relating to the deceased.

If you do pick cremation then you have various options as to where the ashes are to be kept. The majority of families take the ashes home in an urn where they will stay for years. Others prefer to be ‘scattered’ in a favourite place of theirs – sometimes in the garden! And others, a more traditional burial plot and headstone is purchased, which family and friends can visit to lay flowers and pay their respects.

Pre-planning your own St Thomas funerals, whether it is a burial or cremations in Sudbury, is a must. Take the burden off your family, both emotionally and financially, after you die and make contact with your local funeral home director for more details.