The Truth About Direct Cremation
If you are considering cremation, we encourage you to read this page to understand the key differences in pricing between funeral professionals and direct cremation providers. If cost is your only concern, you may not need to read further. However, if the care and dignity of your loved one are important to you, we invite you to take the time to explore this information fully.
You may have noticed a wide range of prices for direct cremations. According to the New Jersey Funeral Directors Association, the average direct cremation provided by a New Jersey funeral home is $2,642, with costs ranging from $2,108 to $3,358 (as stated on njsfda.org).
Some low-cost providers, often referred to as "Disposers" within the funeral industry, advertise cremations as low as $500 by cutting corners. These providers often handle multiple cremations at once rather than treating each case individually. Many operate without a dedicated facility, using a small funeral home’s registration to conduct business, while transporting remains in vans or box trucks designed to accommodate multiple individuals at a time.
The Federal Trade Commission requires full price disclosure of all funeral homes.
Funeral professionals go above and beyond to ensure every family and their loved one is treated with care, dignity, and respect. Our cremation services are provided from a dedicated facility, ensuring that each individual is transported and cared for with the highest standards.
- Only one person is transported per vehicle at a time.
- A scheduled cremation time ensures each cremation is handled individually.
- Our funeral directors personally witness the placement of your loved one into the crematory retort.
- We remain present at the crematory until the process is irreversible to ensure the highest level of accountability.
- We oversee the tagging and identification system, ensuring the remains returned to you are those of your loved one.
Each crematory we work with utilizes a metal disk numbering system that follows the individual throughout the process. By taking these extra steps, we provide the assurance and supervision expected of professional funeral directors.
That is why we prefer the term "complete cremation" rather than "direct cremation." We believe that every person—regardless of their preferences or financial circumstances—deserves to be treated with individual care and respect.
Our Complete Cremations packages range from $2,750 to $3,550 depending on place of death and include transfer from place of death, obtaining of permits and filing of death certificate, Concierge Services, scheduling time at crematory, licensed funeral director at crematory, individual transportation to the crematory, and alternative container for cremation. Actual cost to the crematory, health department issuing certificates, memorial services, newspapers, or any other item not expressly indicated is not included.
We offer our packages throughout the New Jersey – New York Metropolitan area.
Complete Cremation
Facilities & Arrangements:
We offer flexible arrangement options to suit your needs, including in-person arrangements at our facility, home visits for added comfort, and digital arrangements for those at a distance or who prefer the convenience of online planning.
Individual Service:
We believe in providing individualized care and dignity for every person we serve. Each loved one is transported to the crematory individually, ensuring that only one person is in the vehicle at a time. We also schedule a specific cremation time, so the process is handled with precision and respect.
Our funeral directors personally witness the placement of your loved one into the crematory retort and remain present until the process is irreversible. Throughout this time, they carefully monitor the tagging and identification system to ensure accuracy. Every crematory we work with uses a metal disk numbering system that follows each individual through every step.
By maintaining this high level of supervision, we provide peace of mind, ensuring that the cremated remains returned to you are those of your loved one—handled with the care, respect, and professionalism that every family deserves.
Shelter:
New Jersey, along with other states, enforces a 24-hour waiting period before cremation can take place. If a loved one passes away in a facility with refrigeration, such as a hospital, the family may choose to have them remain there during this period. However, when someone passes in a facility without refrigeration or at home, proper sheltering is required.
We are one of the few funeral homes that offer on-site refrigeration, ensuring that your loved one is cared for in a secure, dignified environment while meeting all legal requirements. This provides families with peace of mind, knowing their loved one is properly sheltered and identified throughout the process.
Discount Direct Cremation
Facilities & Arrangements:
Arrangements can be made in your home or at the hospital during the transfer, often with your loved one present in the same room.
Multiple Cremations:
Because their business model prioritizes volume over individual care, low-cost cremation providers often transport the deceased in vans or box trucks designed for multiple individuals at once. With limited crematory capacity, these providers simply drop off the deceased, leaving them to wait unsupervised for their turn in the cremation process.
Without direct oversight, there is no way for these providers to guarantee that the cremated remains returned to the family truly belong to their loved one. This lack of supervision raises serious concerns about identity verification, leaving families to wonder: "Are you receiving your loved one's remains or someone else's?"
Shelter:
Put simply, these are important questions you should ask:
- Where is my loved one being sheltered?
- Can I inspect the facility?
- Is refrigeration available?
- How many others are stored alongside my loved one?
If the provider operates with nothing more than a "man with a van," the only option is to leave your loved one at the crematory for the waiting period, relying solely on the cremation operator for identification and care—or, in some cases, sheltering them in a mobile office.
PROUD RECIPIENTS OF THE NATIONAL FUNERAL DIRECTORS ASSOCIATION "BEST OF THE BEST" AWARD
Frank Patti:
Frank Patti II: