Cremation Services in Harford County, Maryland
There are many reasons why you may consider cremation services when making funeral arrangements. In Harford, Cecil, Baltimore and York County families are increasingly choosing cremation for their loved ones and combining it with a customized memorial service or gathering. It offers the opportunity to ensure a personalized goodbye that can be shared by family and friends.
Traditional Funeral Service followed by Cremation
Many families find meaning and beauty in a traditional funeral service. With a traditional service combined with cremation, you can still choose to have a final viewing, visitation or wake, and a funeral service. However instead of in-ground burial, the funeral service will be followed by the cremation process in our private crematory. Depending on your wishes, the cremated remains may be either returned to your family for storage in an urn, scattered, or interred in a columbarium. This option will include fees for the funeral services as well as the fees associated with the cremation itself.
Memorial Service
The memorial service can be held in our chapel, a church, or any other venue the family chooses. We work with our families to design a service that honors their loved one with stories, music, or scripture. We also have life celebrants that lead services where clergy may not be chosen. Our celebrants are trained in creating experiences that help start the healing process.
Graveside Service
A graveside or committal service is typically held immediately following the funeral or memorial service but it can also be a small intimate gathering of those closest to you.
Local Crematory Services
At McComas Family Funeral Homes & Cremation Memorial Center, we understand that every family’s needs are unique when it comes to honoring their loved ones. That’s why we are proud to offer a private, local crematory for families when selecting cremation services. With our commitment to excellence and compassion, we provide a personalized approach to cremation services that meet your specific wishes.
Options for Cremated Remains
Keeping an Urn at Home
This is a common choice and families can select the perfect urn for their loved one's ashes.
Placing the Urn in a Columbarium (aka, a “niche”)
Many families find comfort in having a final resting place that they can visit.
Burying the Urn
Similar to a casket, the in-ground burial of the urn allows for a final resting place.
Scattering of the Cremated Remains
Some families find comfort scattering the cremated remains(ashes) in a place that was special to their loved one.
What is Cremation?
Part of making funeral arrangements on behalf of a loved one involves choosing between burial of the body, or cremation. Certainly, this is a big decision, based on any number of factors: religious or spiritual beliefs, finances, or ecological awareness are just some of the reasons we've heard for choosing cremation. Before you can make the choice, you need to know exactly what it is you're considering. You can learn the basics below, however, if the content here raises additional questions for you, please give us a call. One of our cremation specialists will address any of your inquiries or concerns.
The Cremation Association of North America describes cremation as, "The mechanical and/or thermal or other dissolution process that reduces human remains to bone fragments".
What is Required to Arrange for Cremation Service?
Once the cremation-over-burial decision has been made, all that's required is authorization. This is provided by the person who is the legally identified or appointed next-of-kin. Once all authorization documents are signed, and service charges are paid, the body can be transported from the place of death to our crematory in Bel Air, Maryland, and the cremation process can take place. However, there are some additional things you may wish to consider, such as:
- Is there a special set of clothes (such as a military uniform or favorite dress) your loved one would appreciate the thought of wearing? This will be a focus of the cremation arrangement conversation, and you will be advised by one of our funeral directors as to your best options regarding jewelry or other valuable personal items.
- Are there any keepsake items you'd like to include in their cremation casket? Perhaps there's a special memento, such as a treasured photograph or letter? We sometimes suggest family members write cards, notes or letters to their deceased loved one, and place them in the casket prior to the cremation.
- Would you or other family members like to be present for–or participate to some degree in your loved one's cremation? Because we know how healing it can be to take part in an act of "letting go", we welcome the opportunity to bring interested family or friends into our crematory. Please discuss your desire to participate with your funeral director.
- What will you keep the cremated remains or ashes in after the cremation or the service? Many families are simply unaware that they can purchase a cremation urn to be placed in a special place, such as the family home. We offer a large selection of cremation urns & keepsakes that will help memorialize your loved one. Ask one of our caring funeral directors to see the wide variety of urns.
Cremation Q & A
What is a crematorium or crematory?
A crematorium or crematory is a venue for the cremation of the deceased. Modern crematoria contain at least one cremator (also known as a crematory, retort, or cremation chamber), a purpose-built furnace or an oven. A crematorium can also be attached to a funeral home, like in our case as we operate one on-site. Sometimes, the terms crematory and crematorium are used interchangeably. In some countries, a crematorium can also be a venue for open-air cremation, like in the Hindu religion. In many countries, crematoriums contain facilities for funeral services or memorial ceremonies, such as a chapel. Some crematoriums also incorporate a columbarium, a place for interring cremation ashes or remains. We have an on-site crematory located at our cremation memorial center, located at our Bel Air location.
How long does the cremation process last in a crematory or crematorium?
The duration of the cremation process in a crematory or crematorium can vary depending on several factors, including the size and weight of the body, the type of cremation equipment used, and the specific protocols followed by the crematory. Some crematories are more efficient than others, so it takes less time for the cremation process. On average, the cremation process typically takes anywhere from 1.5 to 3 hours. However, it's important to note that this is an estimate, and the actual duration may vary. Some cremations may be completed in a shorter period of time, while others, particularly for larger individuals, may take longer. It's best to consult with one of our crematory specialists for more precise information regarding our processes and estimated timeframes.
