Burial of a dearly departed loved one still remains the most widely chosen option in Ireland.  However more and more people are choosing Cremation. There are a number of factors that may influence your decision. What were the departed person’s wishes, is a family plot available, if not, budget considerations may have to be taken into account.

Many people believe that cremation costs a lot less that burial, it is true that the cost difference between cremation and opening an existing grave in minimal, however if a grave has to be purchased, then the cost difference between  cremation and burial can be substantial.

There are three crematoria in Dublin

All the crematoria have a chapel or chapels where the service can take place. This can be a short prayer service, following a service or mass in Church, or the main service or mass can take place in the crematorium chapel. Families may supply iPods, CD’s, or similar, with their own preference of music to be played in the crematorium chapel.

Ashes are usually available two to three days after the cremation service.

When cremation is the preferred option, it is necessary that some paperwork is completed for the cremation to be authorised. The funeral director has these forms, which consist of the following:

1. The funeral director states some personal details of the deceased, the time and place of the cremation service, and the name and address of the person (executor or next of kin) giving permission for the cremation to take place.
2. The executor or next of kin gives written permission for the cremation to take place.
3. The attending doctor fills out the medical form, which comprises the medical history of the deceased, where the death took place, persons in attendance, that the doctor has confirmed the identity of the deceased, and that the doctor has identified the deceased after death. The doctor who completes this form has to have been registered in Ireland for at least two full years.
4. In cases of sudden death, where a doctor has not been in attendance, or where the attending doctor is not contactable, or where no doctor is qualified more that two years, then the local coroner will usually give permission for the cremation.
5. All crematoria have a medical referee, who states that all conditions for cremation have been met, and confirms that cremation can take place.

After Cremation

Many families choose to keep Ashes at home, or to have them scattered somewhere that has special meaning. There are also several other choices that can be considered, and usually consist of one of the following;

• Columbarium Walls, where the Ashes are placed in a niche behind an engraved plaque in a wall built or adapted for the purpose.
• Garden of Remembrance areas, where the Ashes are buried in a plot for cremated remains, with name plaques to the side of the garden area.
• Cremation Plots are available in some cemeteries where Ashes are buried in a small grave reserved specifically for Ashes.
• In addition to this, Ashes can also be buried in family graves, with other deceased family members.