My brother's wife died in hospice in Westchester County this past April. Since he and I are both Physicians, we understood what was happening but we hated watching her ilness reduce her to a skeleton of her former self. We have a family plot in a cemetery on Nantucket but he informed me it was not only her wish to be cremated, but with everything she had gone thru during chemo, an earth burial would be like pouring salt in his Wife's wounds. While Frank's children weren't hot on the idea, they conceded this was the best way to go. The Funeral Director at City Funeral Service in Yonkers guided us through the steps of a direct cremation and let us know what to expect before and after Paula passed. He personally came to Hospice in the middle of the night (in the rain) to pick my sister in law up and a few days later returned the ashes to Frank's Home in Somers. I can't remember the last time my family used a Funeral Home but even some of my staff said that level of service is beyond what most homes do for their clients especially if they want a direct cremation. We're planning to bury Paula's Ashes at our Family Plot over the July 4th holiday and Peter from City Funeral Service made those arrangements with the Cemetery as well. Frank found them from a google search on my iPhone in the Hospice Room so I guess the internet IS useful after all. I suggest this type of service to anyone and cremation will definitely be my final wish as well.
Pros: Excellent people on the phone
Cons: My family, not the funeral home
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