Frequently Asked Cremation Questions

To begin with, it is probably easier to describe what cremation isn't. Cremation is not a final disposition of the remains, nor is it a type of funeral service. Rather, it is a process of reducing the human body to bone fragments using high heat and flame. 

It depends on the weight of the individual. For an average size adult, cremation takes from two to three hours at normal operating temperature between 1,500 ºF to 2,000 ºF. 

All organic bone fragments, which are very brittle, as well as non-consumed metal items, are "swept" into the back of the cremation chamber and into a stainless steel cooling pan. All non-consumed items, like metal from clothing, hip joints, and bridge work, are separated from the cremated remains. This separation is accomplished through visual inspection as well as using a strong magnet for smaller and minute metallic objects. Items such as dental gold and silver are non-recoverable and are commingled in with the cremated remains. The remaining bone fragments are then processed in a machine to a consistent size and placed into a temporary or permanent urn, selected by the family. 

Cremated remains resemble coarse sand and are whitish to light gray in color. The remains of an average size adult usually weigh between four to eight pounds of cremated remains. 

We return remains in a temporary container but we offer a variety of affordable urns. The family may choose to provide their own container in which the cremated remains will be placed.  

With the exception of minute and microscopic particles, which are impossible to remove from the cremation chamber and processing machine, all of the cremated remains are given back to the family. 

Cremation regulations vary from state-to-state. 

Never. Not only is it illegal to do so, but most modern cremation chambers also are not of sufficient size to accommodate more than one adult. Thus it would be a practical impossibility to conduct multiple cremations simultaneously. 

No. We are not offering these services at this time.  

We have developed the most rigorous set of operating policies and procedures in order to maximize our level of quality and minimize the potential for human error. Positive identification of the deceased is assured throughout each stage of the cremation process. We only allow certified professionals to operate our cremation equipment. 

An urn is not required by law. However, an urn may be desired if there is to be a memorial service or the cremated remains are to be interred in a cemetery. If an urn is not selected, the cremated remains will be placed in a plastic bag and then placed in a temporary plastic box or container provided by the family. 

No, a casket is not required for cremation. 

Absolutely not and it is against the law for a funeral home to tell you otherwise. 

Yes, you may select immediate family members to briefly view the deceased prior to cremation at our cremation facility at an additional cost. The deceased is first washed, dressed, and prepared for a private viewing. However, under certain circumstances additional alternative care may be required for autopsy remains organ/tissue or bone donors.

A Memorial Service is a service without a visitation and the remains of your loved one are not present at the time of the service. At this service, you may choose to have the urn present. This ceremony can be held at the funeral home or a church.

A graveside service is celebrated after your loved one is cremated. Family and friends gather at the grave site where a brief ceremony is held to honor the memory of the deceased.

Direct Cremation is when cremation occurs shortly after death, without embalming. The cremated remains are placed in an urn or other container. No viewing or visitation is involved, however, families still have the option to hold a graveside or memorial service if the decide.

Burial is still an option if cremation is part of your funeral arrangements. Options are available. Ask your funeral arrangement specialist during your conference.

Pre-planning a funeral is an effective way to make sure that your final wishes are represented accurately after death. Our dedicated staff will meet with you and your family to discuss all options available to you. They will guide you through the process to ensure that you feel comfortable with your pre-planned funeral arrangements. Our staff is available to meet with you about pre-planning at our facility, located at 164 Pleasant Street, Laconia, or can travel to you to talk about pre-planning in the comfort of your own home. Staff can also meet with you through video calling, should you not feel comfortable coming to the facility or having someone at your home. The staff at Wilkinson-Beane-Simoneau-Paquette Funeral Home and 603Cremations.com will ensure you are comfortable and informed about all the options available, and are available to answer any questions that you may have. 

You can discuss costs at this time, or simply about the types of services available. During pre-planning, you will have the option to pre-pay, or simply prepare you final funeral arrangements. 

There are many options our staff will discuss with you during a pre-planning appointment. Considerations that may be discussed can include, but are not limited to: 

Traditional burial or cremation services

What type, if any, of visitation - viewing, wake or reception

Where the will services be held - funeral home, place of worship, cemetery or other

Religious/spiritual ceremony vs. secular gathering

Specific music to be used

Specific scripture/spiritual readings to be used

Floral preference; donation requests in lieu of flowers; memorial contributions

Any unique and specific desires of the individual or family to personalize a service

Once all of the pre-arrangements have been made, we will keep copies of all decisions on file.

Individuals and families can pre-arrange a funeral at no cost to them. The arrangements will be available once death has occurred. The option is available to pre-fund your funeral arrangements, which alleviates the burden and responsibility of your family to pay for the funeral at the time of death. 

For individuals who choose to pre-fund their funeral, there are different payment options. It may involve a cash purchase of an insurance policy or trust, which will be utilized at the time of death. The policy or trust is designed to increase in value over time to keep pace with any increases in funeral cost over that same period. Payment programs, in which you may payments over time, are also available.

One of the main advantages of pre-paying for your funeral arrangements is that you are guaranteed the products and services that will be provided at a later date. This means that you will pay for what the cost of services now, and that price remains valid in the future, should those prices increase over time. While we cannot control external costs such as flowers and newspaper obituaries, pre-paying for your funeral arrangements with Wilkinson-Beane-Simoneau-Paquette Funeral Home and 603Cremations.com assures that all of the primary funeral and burial costs will be covered. This means that your loved ones will not feel the pressure of unexpected raised costs during an emotional time.

Pre-planning is much like it sounds - making the decisions of how you would like to be remembered. It allows you to make your wishes known to your loved ones and gives you the opportunity to create your own unique celebration. Your loved ones will greatly appreciate you pre-planning your funeral, as it alleviates many questions that may arise. 

Pre-funding is the next logical step in the planning process. One of the key advantages of pre-arranging a funeral, is that when you also choose to prepay, you are guaranteed tomorrow's products and services at today's costs. Pre-funding allows you to pay for your funeral plans, saving loved ones from incurring those costs. We offer different options for pre-funding your funeral arrangements, which our staff will guide you through at your pre-planning appointment.

Are you faced with a deadline for your loved one to qualify for Medicaid? Wilkinson-Beane-Simoneau-Paquette Funeral Homes and 603Cremations.com has expertise in establishing irrevocable funeral accounts. Our staff understands that time is of the essence with a Medicaid Spend Down. If you don't have your application in on time, it could mean paying more health care bills than necessary. We are ready to work quickly and efficiently to assist you, to ensure you do not have to pay more in health care bills.

Where timing is crucial with the Medicaid Application, you do not have to know what kind of funeral you want. The plan can be funded and the specific details can be decided upon later.The most important aspect of this type of pre-arrangement is ensuring that your loved one qualifies for Medicaid. If the applicant already has a life insurance policy, please have the death benefit and cash value available. We’d be honored to walk you through this process.

The best way to establish an irrevocable funeral account is to call Wilkinson-Beane-Simoneau-Paquette Funeral Home and 603Cremations.com and set up an appointment with one of our funeral directors.

Your pre-arrangements are yours and can be transferred to another facility at any time. We will gladly honor any pre-arrangements made at another funeral home. If arrangements were made at another facility, you are not locked in by being serviced by that particular funeral home. Situations change, to include change in ownership, relocation, and other circumstances that are normal changes in our lives. 

Our staff will ensure that all of the details outlined in the pre-arrangement, and any possible new items, will be processed with no additional expense to you. We are locally owned and operated, and have been providing meaningful funeral services to the families of the Lakes Region and New Hampshire for over 150 years. Our staff is led by fourth generation Funeral Director, Craig S. Beane, who has followed in the footsteps of his great-grandfather, grandfather, and father, and is dedicated to you and your family to ensure you receive the best service available. We are happy assist you with the process of transferring your arrangements. Please call us at 603-524-4300 to complete the necessary paperwork to transfer your pre-arrangement.

You must plan for the costs levied by the funeral home if you choose cremation along with a funeral. This cost, which is often included in cremation and funeral expenses, was reported as being $2,895 in 2019 and is gradually increasing. Your funeral or memorial ceremony, a funeral director, the use of the space, and printed materials for the service can all be included in this price.

Another cremation expense you'll need to account for in your budget is body preparation. Any cremation involves handling the body as it is moved from one location to another. If you're organizing a viewing, the cost of embalming and preparing the body for the occasion, as well as grooming, dressing, and any necessary cosmetics, is added. The total costs come to $1,355 on average in 2019; today in 2022, such services have broadly increased. 

A cremation casket differs from a burial casket in that it has fewer metal parts and is better suited for the cremation process. Cremation caskets can be as ornate as burial caskets, intended for the viewing and the funeral, or they can be more basic in shape and appearance. The average cost for a cremation casket in 2019 was recorded as $1,200 in the United States and is higher today and will likely be higher in the future as well. 

You will need to budget for the price of the facilities you will be using if you choose to hold a viewing before the cremation. There will be staff to manage everything and make sure the event runs as planned, wherever you decide to host the viewing. Both the staff and facilities used for the viewing and the facilities used for the funeral service are included in your payment. In 2019, $925 was the typical fee for facility use for viewing; in 2022, you might anticipate a higher fee.

The typical cost of a cremation with a cremation coffin and an urn in the United States of America in 2019 was $6,645, according to the 2019 NFDA General Price List Study. The average price for a basic package, which is choosing only the non-declinable cremation services, was $2,195 in the same year. Economic factors have greatly increased the average cost of goods and services in our current day. We stand confident that our Complete Online Cremation package now offers not only excellent service but amazing value as well to the families of New Hampshire.

The interior of the casket may be removed when you rent one for a viewing and funeral, allowing for several uses. The crematory will use a smaller wooden box to hold the body while it is being cremated. This box can simply slip out of the end of the casket. The coffin itself never comes into contact with the body, is completely hygienic, and maybe a less expensive alternative to paying for a cremation casket. A casket was rented on average for $995 in 2019.

You will have the choice to select an urn to keep your loved one's ashes while planning a cremation. Some urns might be more expensive than others, just like caskets. The average price of a cremation urn in 2019 was $295, however, the urn you ultimately choose will determine your total cost.

In 2019, the cost of flowers for the viewing and funeral ceremony would range from $80-$355. However, the price in 2022 is probably going to increase, just like all the other factors we've stated here.

RSA 290:16   Definitions. In this subdivision:

I. "At-need funeral arrangements" means funeral arrangements made after death.

II. "Custody and control" means the right to make all decisions, consistent with applicable laws, regarding the handling of a dead body, including but not limited to possession, at-need funeral arrangements, final disposition, and disinterment.

III. "Estranged" means living in separate residences and having a relationship characterized by hostility or indifference.

IV. "Next of kin" means a person having the following relationship to the subject, in the following order of priority:

           (a) The spouse.

           (b) An adult son or daughter.

           (c) A parent.

           (d) An adult brother or sister.

           (e) An adult grandchild.

           (f) An adult niece or nephew who is the child of a brother or sister.

           (g) A maternal grandparent.

           (h) A paternal grandparent.

           (i) An adult aunt or uncle.

           (j) An adult first cousin.

           (k) Any other adult relative in descending order of blood relationship.

V. "Subject" means the person whose remains are placed in the custody and control of another person pursuant to this section

Burials and Disinterments

RSA 209:17 Custody and Control Generally. The custody and control of the remains of deceased residents of this state are governed by the following provisions:

I. If the subject has designated a person to have custody and control in a written and signed document, custody and control belong to that person.

II. If the subject has not left a written signed document designating a person to have custody and control, or if the person designated by the subject refuses custody and control, custody and control belong to the next of kin.

III. If the next of kin is 2 or more persons with the same relationship to the subject, the majority of the next of kin have custody and control. If the next of kin cannot, by majority vote, make a decision regarding the subject's remains, the court shall make the decision upon petition under RSA 290:19, IV.

290:18 Estranged Spouse. Notwithstanding RSA 290:17, if the surviving spouse and the subject were estranged at the time of death, the spouse shall not have custody and control of the subject's remains. In this case, custody and control belong to the next of kin following the spouse.

290:19 Court Determination. Notwithstanding other provisions of this subdivision, the court of probate for the residence of the deceased may award custody and control to the person determined by the court most fit and appropriate to carry out the responsiblities of custody and control, and may make decisions regarding the subject's remains if those having custody and control cannot agree. The following provisions apply to court determinations under this section:

I. Before the subject's death, the subject or subject's legal representative may file a petition regarding custody and control of the subject's remains.

II. A relative of the subject may file such a petition.

III. A person who claims and establishes through evidence that person has or had a closer personal relationship to the subject than the next of kin may file a petition, if that person lived with the subject and was not in the employ of the subject or the subject's family.

IV. If the next of kin is 2 or more persons with the same relationship to the subject, and the next of kin cannot, by majority vote, make a decision regarding the subject's remains, 2 or more persons who have custody or control or a funeral director may file a petition asking the court to make a determination in the matter. The court shall consider the following in making its determination.

RSA 290:20 Wishes of Subject. If the subject has left written and signed instructions regarding funeral arrangements and disposal of the subject's remains, the person having custody and control shall abide by those wishes to the extent that the subject paid for those arrangements in advance or left resources for the purpose of carrying out those wishes.

The basic Military Funeral Honors ceremony consists of the folding and presentation of the United States flag to the veteran's family and the playing of Taps. The ceremony is performed by a funeral honors detail consisting of at least two members of the Armed Forces. At least one of the funeral honors detail will be from the Armed Force in which the deceased veteran served. Taps may be played by a bugler or, if a bugler is not available, by using a quality recorded version. This basic ceremony will be provided to every eligible veteran, when requested. Depending upon the culture and traditions of the Military Service, additional personnel or other elements of funeral honors may be added.

In addition, local Veterans Service Organizations (VSO), who have historically performed Military Funeral Honors, and other authorized organization may complement the Military Funeral Honors detail. For example, the VSOs might augment the ceremony by providing a firing party. This voluntary assistance would be in addition to the services provided by the Military Funeral Honors detail. If there is a VSO or authorized organization in the area that might have an interest in assisting in the Military Funeral Honors ceremony, and if desired by the family, the funeral director should notify the Military Service point of contact.

The preferred method is the DD Form 214, Certificate of Release or Discharge from Active Duty. If the DD Form 214 is not available, any discharge document showing other than dishonorable service can be used. The DD 214 may be obtained by filling out a Standard Form 180 and sending it to:

National Personnel Records Center (NPRC)

9700 Page Blvd.

St. Louis, MO 63132

The standard Form 180 may be obtained from the National Records Center or via the Internet at: www.archives.gov

The VA establishes eligibility. Your funeral director will assist you in obtaining a flag. More information is available at: https://www.va.gov/burials-memorials/memorial-items/burial-flags/

This is a parchment certificate with a calligraphic inscription expressing the nation s grateful recognition of an honorably discharged, deceased veteran's service in the Armed Forces. The veteran's name is inscribed and the certificate bears the signature of the President.

All veterans are eligible to receive this certificate. The family may request a Presidential Memorial Certificate either in person at any VA regional office or by U.S. mail. Requests cannot be sent via email. There is no form to fill out when requesting this certificate. If requesting by mail, a return address and a copy of the veterans's discharge documents must be enclosed. Send requests to:

U.S. Department of Veterans Affairs

National Cemetery Administration (403A)

810 Vermont Ave., NW

Washington, DC 20420

More information is available at:

https://www.va.gov/burials-memorials/memorial-items/presidential-memorial-certificates/

Wilkinson-Beane-Simoneau-Paquette Funeral Home & Cremation Services will assist you or if you have questions about grave markers, family members can write to the VA at:

Memorial Programs Service (403)

Department of Veterans Affairs

810 Vermont Ave., NW

Washington, DC 20420

More information is available at:

https://www.va.gov/burials-memorials/memorial-items/headstones-markers-medallions/

You may write to:

Military Funeral Honors

9504 IH 35 North, Suite 320

San Antonio, TX 78233-663