Cremation is just one form of preparing the body for final disposition.
Cremation does not take the place of customary funeral services. Funeral services are the way we, the living, share our grief, acknowledge the contributions the deceased has made to our lives, and prepares us for going on with life.
What happens during a cremation service is decided entirely by the family. Families are encouraged to customize the service in ways that pay special tribute to their loved one. Choices include viewing and visitation with open or closed casket arrangements. A memorial service or gathering of remembrance can take place with or without the urn present.
Cremation does not limit your choices, but rather allows more options.
If your family has chosen a more traditional form of burial in the past, cremation need not be a conflict to your personal choice.
A full service, with cremation following, is quite typical. Perhaps you have thought of having your loved one carried to the gravesite by a horse-drawn caisson. that wish can still be fulfilled.
No matter what type of service you choose, family traditions can be met and a life lived can be celebrated.
Military Honors
We frequently arrange for our nation's veterans to be commemorated with special military observances, which may include a color guard, musicians, gun salute, or even a flyover. We coordinate with all branches of the military, so the proper arrangements can be made easily and efficiently.
Video Tribute
A collection of family photos can be digitally formatted into a sequence that will tell the visual story of the life lived. Photos can be selected and paired with music of your choice for a truly memorable video tribute. Copies can be purchased and given to family members and friends that will be cherished for years to come.
Dove Release
From the past to the present and into eternity, white doves have been and forever shall be a beautiful symbol of joy, peace, love, and hope...
In celebration of a life lived, we will release a single snow white dove in a tribute to your loved one. You may choose other options to include the release of three white doves symbolizing peace, love, and hope.
As the doves soar into the sky far above the clouds, it is our hope that you will send with them your love and your prayers for your loved one.
It is our wish that as you experience this magical moment in time, you will forever know the joy, the peace, the love, and the hope embodied by the doves.
Our staff will coordinate the symbolic ceremony. It is a wonderful way to involve young children and grandchildren in the tribute.
Meaning, Place, Future Generations
Most often, families that choose cremation have a specific place in mind to place the cremated remains of their loved one. They may choose a grave, niche, or mausoleum, a beautiful scattering garden or scattering in a lake or the sea.
There are times when families are not sure what they want to do. Often in those times, a loved ones cremated remains will end up on the shelf of a closet, or left in the trunk of the car. Hardly the way that anyone should be, or wants to be remembered.
When uncertainty or differences occur as to where to place the cremated remains we can offer an alternative compromise. A portion of the cremated remains, usually a half of a cup full, can be permanently placed in our “ossuary”, an in-ground scattering receptacle. This would allow the family to have a permanent location to come and visit the memory of their loved one while giving them the time needed to make the best decision for the final resting place. The name of your loved one can be placed on a small bronze plaque and installed near the ossuary, or carved into a natural stone at the site to memorialize their life.
Your funeral professional will discuss these and other options with you to determine what may be best for your needs.
Glass Front Niches
Traditional does not necessarily mean impersonal. Glass front niches afford families the opportunity to express the life lived in a truly unique fashion. Mementos of love, family photos, and urns can be displayed for all to see.
Custom Tributes
Many cemeteries now offer you a more personal choice in memorialization. Pictured on this page are examples of customized memorial tributes. These special features will truly display the love and self-expression of a family for their loved one. This stunning memorial will be left to tell the story of a life lived and celebrated.
Memorial Bench
What makes this feature unique is in the comforting tradition of in-ground burial by offering the memorialization of your loved by inscribing on an up-right memorial bench. This option is offered for those families that choose cremation, but desire the reverence of a time-honored tradition by memorialization on an upright marker.
Cumberland Trails
Cumberland Trails (pictured left) is a carefully planned cremation garden that off ers a natural setting for memorials, inurnment or scattering to families seeking a permanent place for remembrance. Nature’s timeless yet ever-changing beauty creates a living memorial to your loved one at Cumberland Trails.
Located in the northeast corner of Washington Park East Cemetery and intertwined with native plantings of Indiana, Cumberland Trails is a two acre wooded area in the midst of the city. As you pass through its granite and limestone entry way, a curving path paved with crushed granite, invites you to wander among the trees and natural rock landscaping.
Permanet placement of cremains is available within selected stones (example at top right), in the earth, or in the entry way columbarium and central memorial structure. Scattering is always an option in our ossuary or in the ground.
"Unconditional love, deserves uncompromising service."
As pet owners ourselves, we understand the bond that develops between pets and their owners. The loss of a pet can be devastating. Our goal is to help ease the pain while providing you with choices for memorializing your pet.
Our experienced staff will work with you to select the best means of providing a farewell to your pet.
Your loving pet will receive the same quality of care it received when alive. Your deceased companion will be treated with the utmost respect, just as you would expect from a family fi rm that has provided funeral options to central Indiana for over 125 years.
We serve all pets- Your pet will be handled by a caring professional
- Individual cremations will be performed
- Cremation certificates are provided
- We are available to pick up your pet 24 hours a day, every day, at your home or a pet hospital or veterinarian’s offi ce within the Indianapolis metro area
- Nationwide shipping is available
- You may also wish to bring your pet to any Flanner and Buchanan location
- Service rooms are available at our Funeral and Community Centers or at
- location of your choice
- We offer “make it meaningful” selection of urns and other memorial products
If you are considering a burial of your beloved pat, please consider Forever Friends Pet Cemetery, located adjacent to Oaklawn Memorial Gardens.
Frequently Asked Questions
Is cremation a substitution for a funeral?
No. Cremation is simply a method of preparing human remains for final disposition.
Can you have a funeral service with cremation?
Yes. It is a matter of family preference. It will depend on how you wish to celebrate the life of your loved one. One of the advantages of cremation is that it provides you with increased fl exibility when scheduling your funeral arrangement. You can choose to:
- Have a visitation and funeral service prior to the cremation
- Have a memorial service with or without the urn present
- Have a committal service for the disposition of the cremated remains
There are many options available to celebrate a life lived. Ask any member of our staff and they will be glad to assist you.
Is embalming necessary for cremation?
No. It is your choice. This decision will depend on factors such as whether the family wants to have a public viewing of the body with an open casket, or to enhance the deceased’s appearance for a private family viewing.
Is a casket required for cremation?
If there were going to be a public viewing or showing, then a casket would be required. Any casket made of combustible material (wood or wood products) can be used. If the deceased will not be shown, a casket is not required. However, the crematory requires a decedent be placed in an acceptable rigid container. This container must be combustible and strong enough to assure the protection of the deceased and the health and safety of the crematory operator. These containers are made of pressed board and cardboard.
What can be done with the cremains?
With cremation, there are many creative and personalized options for final disposition. The cremated remains can be:
- Placed in a cemetery. Cremated remains can be buried, placed in a memorial bench or in a granite or glass front niche. Personal items can also be placed with the remains. Some cemeteries provide lakeside scattering as an option, while others off er cremation gardens. All cemeteries off er you the ability to permanently memorialize your loved one.
- Scattered. All or part of the cremated remains can be scattered on private property or on a place that was signifi cant to the deceased, as long as permission is obtained from the property owner. Regardless of where one chooses to place the cremated remains, most families understand the importance of having a place of memory – a place where future generations can visit, honor and remember.
Can a casket be rented instead of purchased when choosing cremation?
Yes. We off er a hardwood ceremonial casket for viewing or funeral services prior to cremation. The ceremonial (or rental) casket is specifi cally designed to provide a very aesthetically pleasing, aff ordable and environmentally prudent alternative to purchasing a casket for a cremation service.
Do you have your own crematory?
Yes. Flanner and Buchanan owns and operates its own crematory. This state-of-the-art facility is located in downtown Indianapolis at Cremation Center of Indiana. For your peace of mind this center is used for the sole purpose of serving Flanner and Buchanan families. We also have a seperate crematory for pets.
If I am cremated, can I be buried with my spouse even if he or she was in a casket?
Yes. Depending upon the cemetery’s policy, you may be able to have your cremated remains buried on top of the casketed remains of your spouse, or utilize the space provided next to him/her.