Singapore Direct Cremation Services: How It Works & What You Must Know
In Singapore, there are two main ways to say farewell to your loved one, by burial or cremation. But due to Singapore’s small land mass, cremation is often the more popular choice because it is also often cheaper.
By cremation, there is a wider range of options for your loved one’s final resting place. There are limited cemeteries in Singapore and the burial periods are restricted to 15 years before the graves get exhumed.
However, with cremation, you can choose to store the ashes right at home, in a columbarium or be scattered at sea. You will gain the flexibility to easily decide on their final resting place with peace of mind.
How A Cremation Works In Singapore & What You Must Know
1. What Happens During A Cremation
During the cremation, the body is placed into a container, often made out of wood, before being moved into the cremation chamber where the body gets cremated after 1 to 3 hours.
Before the cremation takes place, family members will be able to say their final farewells and prayers. After the cremation, the cremation can be grounded into a finger consistency before they are presented to the family.
2. Where Is The Cremation Done?
There are several options when it comes to choosing the location for the cremation. You can choose between a government-run crematorium or a private option.
The government option is the Mandai Crematorium and Columbarium Complex at 300 Mandai road and is often the cheaper option at only S$100. Please be aware there are various rules and regulations that must be followed.
Remember to bring along key documentation including:
- Digital death certificate of the deceased
- Permit to cremate
- NRIC of the applicant and next-of-kin
There are two other private crematoria at the Kong Meng San Phor Kark See Monastery at 88 Bright Hill Drive and Tse Toh Aum Temple at 601 Sin Ming Drive. These are mainly for Buddhist and Taoists and might be a better option if you have certain religious needs.
3. Is There A Service Before The Cremation Or After?
Most of the time, in the crematoria, there will be a service room where family members can gather and say their final farewells and pay respect. This can also be done at a private event such as in a funeral parlour.
Alternatively, a memorial service can also be helded after the cremation with the remains in an urn. It will depend on the family of the loved one to make additional arrangements.
4. Storing Ashes In A Columbarium
After the cremation process, the ashes of the deceased are given to the family and this is where you can choose what to do with it.
For many, they choose to store the ashes in a columbarium. You can assign your funeral director to help you book a niche at a columbarium.
While there is a government-run columbarium such as at the Mandai Crematorium and Columbarium Complex or at Choa Chu Kang Columbarium, there are many other private options around Singapore.
The costs will depend on the location of the niche and the type of columbarium. Please remember to bring along your NRIC and the departed’s death certificate to book a niche.
Plus, you can also take on a gemstone service where the ashes of your loved one are forever memorialised in a gemstone that you can wear or preserve at home.
5. Scatter Ashes At Sea Or At The Garden Of Peace
Sometimes there are unique wishes of your loved one to fulfil, this can include scattering them at sea or at the Garden of Peace at Choa Chu Kang.
For scattering ashes at sea, it is best left to your funeral provider to arrange the logistics as it normally will require you to hire a boat to take you out to sea and hire a professional or arrange religious assistance to help you with the ash scattering.
For scattering at the Garden of Peace, it will cost you S$320 to scatter ashes there, but it is much more accessible for most families.
Let Us Assist You With The Funeral Arrangements
At Simplicity Casket, we offer a wide range of affordable funeral services and funeral packages for families to ensure they give their loved one a heartfelt and dignified farewell.
Our funeral directors have the experience to help you to choose the right casket from our wide range of selections for an affordable, respectable and dignified burial.
In addition, we can help prepare, arrange and conduct funeral wakes and handle every aspect of the funeral as well – from tentage and embalming to hearse and transportation as well as parlour hall bookings.
Do not hesitate to get in touch with us or call us at +65 6456 7423. We are open 7 days a week and 24 hours a day.
Leave a Reply