Monthly Archives: August 2019

cremation services in Dublin, CA

Are Cremation Services Environmentally Friendly?

As our planet continues to suffer from worse and worse climate change, many people are beginning to as the question: “What can I do?” A posthumous, non-traditional way to help the environment is through cremation. A lot of people never even think about burials’ environmental impact, but a few small changes to funerals and services can go a long way.

Read also: Basic Information on Scattering Ashes After Cremation Services

If you are looking for a green way to celebrate the life of a loved one, or prepare for your own passing in an environmentally friendly way, cremation services in Dublin, CA might be the answer. Make an informed decision on how best to make your cremation environmentally conscious.

Cremation has a lot of positive sides over traditional burials. One of the main ones is environmental impact. Traditional, full service burials have considerable negative impact on the environment.

One big example is loss of habitat. A recent statistic from the Centre for National Burial states that 10 acres of cemetery holds almost 20,000 tons of vault concrete, 1000 tons of casket steal, and enough wood to build over 40 full-sized homes. All that material leaves little room for animal and plant life. Not to mention loss of land that could otherwise be used to grow food or build homes.

On the whole, thanks to modern advances, cremation is a greener choice. However, there are some downsides to cremation in terms of the environment. Standard crematoriums burn a lot of natural gas, and therefore release lots of greenhouse gases and chemical vapors that can harm the atmosphere.

Also, to fully dehydrate a human body to bone and ash, a crematorium has to be fully heated to at least 1400 degrees Fahrenheit, and maintain the heat for a minimum of 45 minutes. This process releases a lot of carbon dioxide, and uses up a lot of fossil fuel. But, new technology and more fuel-efficient crematorium centers have greatly reduced these negative impacts.

There are ways you personally can make cremation even greener. Some of these include:

  • Choose the casket carefully. Cremation providers generally require bodies to be in a rigid, consumable, and leak-proof casket for the cremation process. Burning these caskets can give off noxious gases and fumes, if you chose a bad one. When picking out your cremation casket, look for one made of non-toxic and renewable material. Wicker and cardboard are great options.
  • Recycle medical materials. Remove and recycle medical devices and parts, like pacemakers, before cremation. Burning said parts can release harmful gases and produce non-biodegradable ash.
  • Consider a biodegradable urn. Many people chose to bury their loved one’s ashes after cremation. While urns and ashes take up less space than a full-size grave, urns slow down the decay process and may negatively impact the surrounding earth. Choose a biodegradable urn to better protect the local ground.

Read also: Memorial Jewelry For After Cremation Services

Be careful to remain aware of your options when it comes to Dublin, CA cremation services so you can feel good about your choice in terms of the environment and celebrating your loved one. If you want more information, you can visit Deer Creek Funeral Service at 20630 Redwood Rd Castro Valley, CA 94546, or give us a call at (510) 317-7890.

funeral homes in Dublin, CA

Do You Need An Estate Planning Attorney?

No one wants to think about funeral homes in Dublin, CA, but its important to plan and protect your family in case anything should happen to you before your time, or in the event of your eventual passing. An estate-planning attorney might be able to help you do that.

Read also: Do You Want Traditional Burial Services and Funeral Homes?

Estate planning attorneys help guide you through the process of deciding how you want to divide your assets, gathering and preparing necessary post-life documents, and making sure your wishes are carried out after you’re gone. These lawyers are important because sometimes, without proper legal advice, affairs are left up to family members that are unsure of your wishes, or, in the worst case, might fight over the decisions. Estate lawyers can help you draft, review, and authorize important documents such as:

  • Last will and testament
  • Trust
  • Durable power of attorney
  • Medical durable power of attorney
  • Beneficiary designations

Like all other lawyers, estate-planning attorneys charge fees. They generally charge a flat rate for prepping your desired documents and a per hour rate for more complicated tasks like handling disputes or carrying out the will. The exact rates depend on where you live and what caliber of lawyer you wish to procure. Be sure to decide on rates up front with your lawyer to protect yourself from getting over charged.

The questions remains, however, do you need an estate-planning lawyer?

For most people, the answer is generally no. You don’t really need an estate planning unless:

  • Your net worth is more than $5 million. If you have a large net worth, your estate might be subject to estate tax. In that case, it’s a good idea to consult a lawyer to make sure that your beneficiaries get what you wish as opposed to it being taken by taxes.
  • You own large or many properties. Dividing up property can be tricky as titles are held in many ways and there are often confusing technicalities that you might be unaware of. In some cases, you might not even have the right to bequeath certain properties. An experiences lawyer can help guide you through these confusing laws to make sure your property is dealt with appropriately.
  • You have special circumstances. From children with disabilities to foreign property or heirs, special circumstances and finances are tough to navigate. A specialized estate-planning attorney can show you the way to get through such special circumstances.

Read also: Different Ways of Spreading Ashes After Cremation Services

If you’re unsure if you need an estate-planning lawyer, it couldn’t hurt to get a consultation. Remember, most lawyers do charge fees even for consultations, but sometimes peace of mind is worth the small cost. If you have more questions about estate planning, or want to know more about preplanning for your passing, Deer Creek Funeral Service would be happy to help. We offer Dublin, CA funeral home services from 20630 Redwood Rd Castro Valley, CA 94546. Please give us a call at (510) 317-7890 to learn more about what we can do for you.

cremation services in Castro Valley, CA

Planning Cremation Services

Cremations are a popular choice for final body disposition. But how do you go about arranging cremation services? No matter if you’re preplanning for your own cremation, or planning for a loved one’s recent death, it’s helpful to know what steps you need to take to arrange cremation services in Castro Valley, CA.

  1. Choose Which Cremation Services You Want- There are a few different types of cremations, and the first step is to choose which one you want. The two main types of cremation you can choose from are traditional cremation and direct cremation. Traditional cremation involves a funeral before the cremation. The body is embalmed and put in a casket for a funeral service, then cremated afterward. Direct cremation happens before any type of service, so the body is not embalmed or put in a casket.
  2. Obtain a Death Certificate- You will have to furnish a death certificate in order for a facility to process the body. If you don’t already have one, some funeral homes and crematories may help you get one for an extra charge. Be sure to get extra copies, as you will need a death certificate copy for many stops along the way. If you need copies after you’ve already submitted the original, contact your local county records office.
  3. Complete the Cremation Authorization Forms- Before any body can be cremated it needs to be held and examined by the county coroner or medical examiner. The examiner must fill out and sign a cremation authorization form showing information including:
    • Date of birth
    • Pacemakers or other implants
    • Infectious diseases
    • Time, place and cause of death

    Many cremation authorization forms also include fingerprints or other body identifiers.

  4. Arrange Body Transportation – Most funeral homes and crematories provide transportation for the body from the place of death, medical office or storage to the crematorium. In some cases, the family must arrange separate transportation.
  5. Choose and Purchase a Cremation Casket – Even if you choose a direct cremation, you will still need a cremation casket for the body to be cremated in. Some facilities provide a cremation casket free of charge, but you may purchase one if you wish.
  6. Determine Post Cremation Plans- The cremated remains will be returned to you after the cremation, and you must make plans for what to do with them. Some common options are scattering, burying or interring, displaying or storing the remains. Scattering is very common, and is when loved ones, friends or family scatter the remains in a special place, or even into water. Be sure to check for local laws about scattering and get any necessary permits. Others choose to bury or inter the remains in the ground, a mausoleum, or a columbarium. You can also display the remains in an urn at home or some other special location.

If you would like more guidance on arranging Castro Valley, CA cremation services, you can contact Deer Creek Funeral Service by visiting 20630 Redwood Rd Castro Valley, CA 94546, or calling (510) 317-7890.

funeral homes in Castro Valley, CA

Average Funeral Home Services

When most people think about funeral homes in Castro Valley, CA, they most likely picture undertakers in dark suits, flowers and caskets. Funeral homes are actually much more than that. Funeral homes all over the country offer lots of different services with the overall intention of helping the bereaved not only plan and execute a respectful service to honor the deceased, but also to get through the many different steps and actions associated with a death.

Some common funeral home services include help with planning:

  • Funerals – A funeral is a formal event or ceremony about the deceased, typically with religious or cultural leanings. Funerals are mostly used to remember and celebrate a death, and to allow family and friends to grieve together. A funeral usually happens a few days after death in a funeral home, church, or even the deceased’s house. For an event to be a true funeral, it requires the body to be present and intact. Most funerals have reading, hymns, sermons, eulogies or speeches throughout the ceremony.
  • Memorial Services – Memorial services are very similar to funerals, except for a few key differences. Fist, the body does not have to be present at a memorial service. Since the body is not present, there is no time or scheduling constraints for memorial services, and the body can be cremated beforehand. Memorial services are typically less religious and more informal than funerals, and are hosted in a variety of locations.
  • Committal (or Graveside) Services – While memorials and funerals oftentimes include a graveside service, graveside services can also be performed independently from other funeral and cremation services. When a graveside service is not preceded by a funeral or memorial, it’s called a committal. Committal services are generally very brief, but have some ceremony around lowering the body into the grave and covering it with soil. These services take place at the cemetery, columbarium, mausoleum, or wherever the body’s final resting place may be.
  • Viewings and Visitations – Viewings and visitations are also generally held in tandem with a funeral or memorial as they allow family and friends to visit with and express sympathy for the funeral hosts. Viewings and visitations help people grieve together in an intimate, less formal setting. Visitations are events in which family, friends, acquaintances and more can stop by to express sympathy and grief with the immediate family of the deceased. They are usually held at the funeral home, but can sometimes take place in a church, home or other location. Viewings are when the deceased’s casket is open for final goodbyes and visits. They occur before or during the visitation.

Funeral homes also help the bereaved with:

  • Transfer of the deceased from the place of death
  • Help notifying relatives, friends and coworkers
  • Filing all permits, certificates, and authorizations
  • Planning special ceremonies or events including Veteran’s services
  • Assistance with social security claims

Not every funeral home offers the same services, so be sure to check with your local funeral homes for a complete list of their services. Deer Creek Funeral Service, located at 20630 Redwood Rd Castro Valley, CA 94546, offers a range of Castro Valley, CA funeral home services. Call us today at (510) 317-7890 for more information.