Urn and Casket Buying Guide

Casket or coffin?

In the United States, the terms casket and coffin are interchangeable. Casket is the more common term in the United States and coffin the more common outside the US. Although the terms are interchangeable in the United States, there are some traditional differences. The term, "casket" gained popularity in America in the mid 1800s when craftsmen abandoned the traditional coffin shape and adopted the straight rectangular shape seen today. Up until that time, most coffins were built wider at the head and shoulder and tapered towards the foot area.

Caskets: inside and out

The materials used in making caskets are the major factor in their cost. For example, if you choose a metal casket, know that bronze will be far more expensive because it is less abundant than wood or steel. Also, the interior materials can raise the cost.

Casket exteriors

Caskets can be made of various materials, the most common being metal (steel, stainless steel, copper and bronze) and wood (mahogany, oak, cherry, poplar and more). Some caskets are also being made with "green" materials, such as bamboo, paper and tree bark. These caskets materials are referred to as biodegradable and are ideal for a "green burial."

For metal caskets, you may want to know the difference between 18-gauge steel and 20-guage steel. 18-gauge steel takes 18 sheets of steel to equal one-inch thickness. 20-gauge would require 20 sheets of steel to equal one inch. Therefore, the lower the gauge, the thicker the steel.

Casket interiors

Caskets are very opulent, and their interiors are covered with luxurious materials. Common fabrics used are velvet, satin crepe and silk crepe. (Crepe has a slightly wrinkled appearance.) There are several color choices, but the most common used for casket interiors are white, cream, light blue, pale pink, light beige, silver and gold.

Other interior decorations may include embroidered head panels. Some head panels may include a religious saying, a personal message and a picture, or may commemorate a favorite hobby. The interior of the casket should help set the mood you want for the deceased and reflect emotions shared by family and friends.

Please note: Some metal caskets are identified as being "sealed" with a gasket. However, these caskets are constructed to permit the escape of gases and air; no casket is sealed air-tight.

Cremation caskets

If you and your family opt for a cremation, you do not necessarily need a casket. You can wait until after the cremation and hold a service with the remains in an urn. However, if you do decide to have a funeral service prior to cremation, a cremation casket is recommended.

Cremation caskets are generally less expensive than regular caskets, since they will not be used in a burial. Depending on the crematorium and the size of the casket, the cremation casket may or may not be incinerated with the deceased. Speak with your funeral director or the crematorium for the exact procedures.

Urns

If you've decided on a cremation funeral, an urn is a beautiful receptacle to preserve the deceased's remains. Urns come in several styles, colors and sizes. Selecting an urn is far less difficult than selecting a casket. Urns can be buried in most any cemetery, memorial garden or columbarium (a vault designed with recesses or niches for urns; can also be called an urn vault). Be sure to check with your state for any legal restrictions.

When selecting an urn, you might want to choose one that reflects the deceased; it may reflect the individual's hobbies with scenes of sports or other pastimes. Or you may want to find a decorative urn. Funeral urns are available in wood, ceramic, marble, cast bronze, granite, aluminum, mother of pearl and cloisonné. Most urns come in a classic vase-like shape, but you can find many urns in a box or chest shape, including box-shaped wooden urns and metal urns.

A non-biodegradable urn is recommended when the urn will be enclosed in a vault. Biodegradable urns will degrade within one year of burial. For scattering, an urnwith a wide opening and an easily accessible closure is recommended. For burial at sea, a biodegradable urn is recommended.

Keepsakes

Keepsakes are usually the miniature copy of the urn used for the deceased. If internment, burial or scattering was chosen for the deceased, a keepsake is a beautiful way to remember the individual. Funeral keepsakes can also be used to hold the ashes of the deceased.

Funeral planning tips

The average cost of a funeral today, including a casket, can run upwards of $7,800, not including cemetery costs. Cremations, though less expensive, are also rising in costs. The average cremation, including services, is about $2,500. With the rising costs of funerals, online shopping is a great way to save money where you can.

If you are making funeral arrangements, we recommend the following tips:

• Plan as far ahead as is possible to give ample time for delivery of caskets and flowers. Call the telephone numbers associated with the products, especially caskets, to confirm deliver time before ordering.
• Only purchase what you like, need and can afford.
• Work with a licensed, professional funeral director to plan the funeral service and make sure all required state regulations and procedures are met. The licensed funeral director is an expert and can be a great asset to assist in making arrangements.

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