What decision must be made before the family departs from the funeral home?

The decision regarding the final disposition of the cremated remains is critical and must be addressed before the family leaves the funeral home. This commitment ensures that the family understands and agrees on how the remains will be handled after the cremation process is completed.

This decision can include options such as keeping the cremated remains in an urn, scattering them in a meaningful location, or interring them in a cemetery or niche. It plays a significant role in the family's grieving and memorialization process, laying the groundwork for how they will honor their loved one going forward.

The other considerations, while important, do not have the same immediate necessity before the family's departure. For example, scheduling the memorial service can often be finalized later, as can the selection of the casket, which might involve additional decisions based on personal preferences and budget. The choice between burial and cremation is indeed significant, but once cremation is established as the method of final disposition, the focus shifts to what will be done with the remains. Therefore, the final disposition of the cremated remains is essential to clarify at this stage.