Traditional Visitation and Funeral?
The visitation and funeral ceremony offers family and friends the opportunity to come together and respond to each other. Because of the care, comfort and consolation it provides, the sharing of feelings and emotions can be of far-reaching psychological benefits. If you wish the body to be present, you may elect to use either a Cremation Casket or a Traditional Casket.

Visitation/Memorial Service?
The Visitation/Memorial Service may be held before or after the cremation takes place with or without the cremated remains present. If the Cremains are to be present, a display urn is appropriate.

We can handle the arrangements for any type of service that you want. A licensed funeral director does not have to be present for services when a physical body is not present.

Immediate Disposition?
Our Direct Cremation Program offers immediate pick up of the deceased upon passing from this life and includes everything necessary to complete the cremation process. There are no hidden charges when you select Direct Cremation from Aldine Funeral Chapel. When Direct Cremation is selected as the form of final disposition, the last time the person is seen by family and friends is at the place of death. A Memorial Service may be appropriate when Direct Cremation is selected.

Pre-Planning?
Making arrangements in advance is a practical and helpful way to assure that a family's or individual's specific wishes will be carried out properly. In addition, the difficult, often emotional, details that are required to be dealt with may be carried out under more relaxed conditions, without the grief and (often sudden) stress of a death. Finally, satisfying arrangements can lead to important peace of mind for all concerned. The State of Texas has very specific laws regarding cremation and who may authorize cremation. There are specific documents that can be executed in advance of a death that will secure the necessary authorizations. One can even pay for final arrangements in advance of a death and freeze the cost of cremation at today's prices thereby eliminating the worry of inflation.

Pre-funeral instructions have become a way of showing love and concern for each other, and making difficult times of need as easy as possible. Assistance in planning is only a phone call away.

Caskets?
Crematoriums require that the body be transported in a container of some type. A casket, as such, is not required, however, usually is preferred for visitation and/or funeral ceremony purposes. The most economical ones are manufactured from cardboard, fiberboard or particleboard and are frequently referred to as "alternative containers."

What to do after Cremation?
There are no laws in the State of Texas restricting what can or cannot be done with Cremains after the cremation is complete. Other states or countries may have certain limitations and/or requirements (such as scattering permits). Final disposition of cremated remains may include just about anything the family selects, including:

• Keeping them at home, perhaps until final disposition with another future burial or cremation
• Burial in a private cemetery or at a National Cemetery
• Interment in a niche at a columbarium (a place at a cemetery designated for above-ground interment of cremated remains)
• Scattering in a special place, although this should be considered carefully, as it is an irrevocable act. The U.S. Coast Guard will scatter the Cremains of elegible veterans and their eligible dependents in the Gulf of Mexico and send a Scattering Certificate after fulfilling the request.
• Divided, with one or more portions scattered, one or more portions buried, and other portions divided among family members
• Any combination of the above

Summary
Although everybody hopes they will never have to plan a funeral, unfortunately it is a very real part of life. Whether death results from a long-term illness, or is sudden and traumatic, no one is ever ready for its occurrence. Although pre-planning aids the decision-making process, it is never easy. The best advice we can give you is as follows:

No matter what type of funeral service you plan, whether cremation or burial, someone will say that you spent too much. At the same time, someone else will say that you didn't spend enough. The funeral is a time for friends and family to say goodbye and to honor the life of their loved one. There is no right or wrong when making decisions regarding the funeral. We at Aldine Funeral Chapel are here to make suggestions, help with the planning, and then to carry out all of your wishes. No matter what final choices are made, when final arrangements show respect and dignity to the deceased, the resulting actions will show the love that went into its planning.