Burials and Cremation

In addition to the kind of service to hold for your loved one, another key decision you'll need to make is regarding burial and cremation. The deceased may have indicated his or her wishes, but if not–and especially if family members are not in agreement on this point–Lensing's will help you to come to the most appropriate decision for you and your family.

In many Western traditions, burial, or interment of a body, has been the way in which people have paid tribute to their dead for thousands of years. For some families and traditions, cremation is a common and increasingly popular choice.

What is cremation? Although it is increasingly common, questions remain about cremation. Cremation is the act of exposing the body to extremely high heat within a crematorium, thus reducing it to gases and bone fragments. These fragments, which resemble gritty sand, can be buried in an urn or other container, scattered on property or in water in accordance with local law, or kept by the family.



Some people are curious about where cremations are done. All of our cremations are done on site at Lensing's Kirkwood Avenue location in our crematorium.

Does cremation preclude a ceremony?
Contrary to what most people believe, cremation does not limit one's choices, nor does cremation necessarily eliminate a funeral or memorial.  A funeral service followed by cremation need be no different than a funeral service followed by an earth burial.  Following the funeral service and cremation, the cremated remains are usually placed in an urn before being committed to a final resting place. The cremation urn may be interred in a family burial plot, interred in a special cremation section at a cemetery or placed in an indoor or outdoor cemetery columbarium.

Caskets, Vaults & Urns
We offer a variety of caskets, vaults, urns, keepsakes, and jewelry to the families we serve. These products come in different materials, including wood, stone, and metal, and can be customized to best fit the memory of your loved one. Please contact us to see the many options available.