Cremation Information

The Kansas City Cremation Resource

We provide cremation services for only our client families. Many other firms use outside contractors to do their cremations. But we feel it's important to do the entire process ourselves. Unlike the typical Kansas City cremation society, we are a full service cremation provider. As the Kansas City cremation experts we have designed this section of our website to help families become knowledgeable about the cremation process.

Our cremation services are designed to help families celebrate life. As with all of our efforts, we provide a high level of personal attention and support for those choosing cremation.

By focusing on your wishes, we can help you create a simple and meaningful cremation service that will be of value to you and your family. There are several options available. You may choose a ceremony of remembrance, or a simple gathering as a way of saying "goodbye". There are many ways to personalize the experience, and we are here to help you in planning a celebration of life.

We think you will find that Speaks is the Kansas City area cremation provider which brings unparalleled integrity to each cremation. That is why we are the Kansas City area's cremation experts and one of the few family owned and operated cremation and funeral providers left in the Kansas City area. Our cremation services are affordable and provide you and your family with the value that you expect and deserve. You have our guarantee.

What Is Cremation?

We belong to the Cremation Association of North America, which describes cremation as, "The mechanical and/or thermal or other dissolution process that reduces human remains to bone fragments". On our page, The Cremation Process, we offer a deeper look at the most common cremation process which uses extreme heat.

As we said earlier, people choose cremation over burial of casketed remains for any combination of reasons. Sometimes it's the simple fear of burial itself, which may stem directly from the Victorian phobia of being buried alive.

What is Required to Arrange for Cremation?

Simplicity

Many people today hunger for greater simplicity in their lives; a life that is natural, uncluttered, and uncomplicated. This is a desire which is nothing new to the human heart. Consider the Roman Catholic, Anglican and Quaker religious orders who continue to strive for a simple, sincere approach to life. We've long wanted to focus on what is most important, and the simplicity of graveside services does just that.

The Natural Setting

What better place to celebrate the life of a loved one than under the open sky, beneath trees, or beside flowers? No matter the type of cemetery that your loved one's burial services is held at, the emotional and spiritual comforts of the natural surroundings will be keenly felt.

Religious Requirements

There are profound religious reasons families choose burial services over any other final care option. For example, the Christian concept of resurrection of the body is deeply held by many and makes burial an act of religious ceremony. Jewish families and those practicing Islamic traditions also have strong religious and social commitments to burial.

The Importance of Witnessing

As mentioned earlier, human societies of all times and in all places have incorporated burial into their cultural or religious practices. This long-lived social relationship with burial has resulted in a core belief shared among peoples around the globe: burial is an act of respect, made most meaningful when witnessed.

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 the crematory 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 your funeral director 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 the 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 urns that will help memorialize your loved one. Ask one of our caring funeral director's to see the wide variety of urns.

When Cremation is Preferred

Cremation has been a part of the human experience for a very long time, and is the preferred method of caring for a loved one in many parts of the world.

While we could recite statistics on the rising popularity of cremation in North America and other nations, they really won’t mean very much to you. After all, who picks cremation just because everyone else is doing so?

People choose cremation because they believe it to be the right choice for them. It’s as deeply personal of a decision as that of selecting burial. The decision could be based on:

Financial Challenges. The cost of direct cremation with no funeral or memorial service is often ¼ that of a traditional burial. This simple fact is often all it takes for a family to make the cremation decision; however we firmly believe that there is great value in bringing family and friends together for a remembrance service – value which exceed mere cost.
The Desire for Simplicity. There is nothing simpler than a direct cremation, where the body is transferred straight to the crematory and everything is done within hours of completing the necessary paperwork.
The Need for Flexibility. A memorial service after a direct cremation can be arranged at a time that's convenient for family members. There is no rush to put together a ceremony which many in the circle can’t attend due to time or financial constraints.
The Intention to More Fully Commemorate a Loved One. A service can be planned for weeks, even months, after the cremation. This means more people can get involved and there’s plenty of time to gather meaningful scriptural passages, poetry, literary quotes, music, photos and videos.

Why Choose Cremation?

Many families today are considering cremation. For some it is a more affordable option, while for others it is personal choice based on a desire for a simple gathering of friends and family to remember a life lived. We are the area experts on cremation and will be glad to help you.

Decisions You Must Make When Choosing Cremation

Who will perform the cremation?
Should you purchase an urn?
What kind of remembrance ceremony would you like to have?
What will you do with the cremated remains?

You may wish to keep the remains at your home for a time, until you feel ready to let go of them, or when all family members can be present for a scattering ceremony.

Our professional Funeral Directors can advise you on unique ways to memorialize a loved one using the cremated remains, including the creation of art glass objects. We also offer a wide selection of cremation keepsake jewelry.

We can also recommend firms in the area that specialize in scattering the cremated remains at sea, or in the air.

Cremation Information