Deciding between burial and cremation is one of the first decisions you’ll make when you consider final arrangements for yourself or a loved one, and it will influence other decisions you’ll make regarding your funeral or memorial service and cemetery property, too.

It’s important to remember to plan for the permanent placement, or  “final disposition,” of cremated remains – that is, what happens to the ashes after the cremation takes place. Placement of cremated remains in a cremation garden or a mausoleum designed for urns called a “columbarium”  at your local cemetery is important for many reasons:

• A permanent site gives loved ones a physical place for visitation and reflection.
  
• The ceremony accompanying the placement of an urn in a cremation niche or a cremation garden in a cemetery provides family and friends with closure after the loss of a loved one
• When ashes of a loved one are kept with relatives, they can easily become misplaced or discarded through the years, as future generations may not feel a connection to the deceased
• A permanent placement provides future generations with a location to visit when researching heritage

If cremation is your choice or the choice of your loved one, you have many service options when you use a Dignity Memorial® provider. Our caring professionals will gladly work with you to plan cremation services and memorialization that fulfill your wishes and honor your life or the life of your loved one.

Families can select items individually or, to make the selection process even easier, Dignity Memorial providers offer a choice of Dignity Memorial Cremation Plans. Designed upon feedback from the families we serve, Dignity Memorial Cremation Plans include services and arrangements frequently selected. Plus, a Dignity Memorial Cremation Plan offers benefits and added value over selecting services individually. (Cremation Plans may not be available in all jurisdictions.)

Each Dignity Memorial Cremation Plan includes:

Four Dignity Memorial Cremation Plans are available:

The merchandise and services included in a plan may vary at different providers. Contact your Dignity Memorial provider to learn about the contents of the Dignity Memorial cremation plans it offers.

Included with the Dignity Memorial Cremation Plans are the following benefits and services, some of which may also be purchased separately.

Child / Grandchild Protection Plan

Acknowledging that nothing can ease the pain of losing a child or grandchild, we offer financial relief for those who choose a Dignity Memorial Cremation Plan. We will provide funeral or cremation services, at no cost, at any Dignity Memorial provider, up to the level of the plan you have selected. The child or grandchild must be less than 21 years of age and unmarried. Not available in Maryland.

24-Hour Compassion Helpline®

When traditional support like family or clergy is unavailable, you and your family are invited to use our toll-free Compassion Helpline for up to one year. The Helpline is staffed by professionals who have advanced degrees and are specially trained in grief counseling. May be purchased separately. 24-Hour Compassion Helpline is provided by Charles Nechtem & Associates, Inc.

Aftercare® Planner

This comprehensive estate management guide, with more than 70 pre-written letters, is an invaluable tool in helping finalize business and personal affairs that arise when a death occurs. It provides clear direction and valuable information that may also reduce legal and professional fees. May be purchased separately.

Omnilaw Legal Plans® (Available in the U.S. only. Included with Legacy and Heritage Plans only.)

To help provide you with the security of legal guidance, we have partnered with Omnilaw, a network of more than 16,000 attorneys. The services include 11 paid-in-full benefits for one year, offering you a tremendous resource including unlimited telephone consultations on all legal matters, probate assistance and document preparation to include a Will, Health Care Proxy and Power of Attorney. For all other legal services that are not paid-in-full, families are entitled to a 25% savings off the attorney’s flat-rate fees.

Estate Fraud Protection (Available in Canada only.)
In order to protect against identity theft, this protection plan notifies key organizations that a loved one has died. The Estate Fraud Protection service will save you time and frustration and ensure the necessary information is communicated quickly.

Everlasting Memorial®
Encompassing online, print and DVD media, the Everlasting Memorial allows your family to share remembrances of your loved one today and preserve these special memories for generations to come. May be purchased separately.

The Everlasting Memorial includes:

• A DVD of the MeM Moving Memories™ movie, a presentation of the images of the Memorial set to beautiful music
• A biography which may include any length of text
• Written and Audio Guest Books, to which family and friends may submit both written and spoken messages; these messages may then be published to the Memorial online
• A Life Remembered™ book, professionally bound and printed, telling your loved one’s life story with the Memorial’s biography, images and Guest Book messages
• Register Book and Service Items personalized with images and biographical information
• A beautiful black leather album, containing a high-quality print version of the Memorial’s content as well as space to hold MeM Moving Memories DVD, keepsakes and mementos

Dignity Memorial provider near you to request your free Personal Planning Guide.

The Dignity Memorial network: North America’s leading funeral homes and cemeteries, united to bring you the services you need when it matters most.

We do not own or operate cemeteries in this state.
 To locate a Dignity Memorial cemetery provider in another state, click here.