Frequently Asked Questions

It is a simple and complete service that does not involve any type of formal funeral ceremony. The deceased is brought into our care from the place of death and then transported to the crematory once all the necessary paperwork has been completed. After words, the family can arrange for a service at their convenience.

Absolutely not! From the time your loved one enters into our care to when the ashes are returned, the entire process is taken care of with compassion and respect by our knowledgeable and dedicated staff.

Solely selecting a cremation provider based on the lowest advertised price is sometimes not advantageous. Beware of hidden additional charges that are not included in their advertised price. Many times, the advertised price is a base price and additional transportation charges, administrative fees or costs associated with the required minimal cremation container are not included.

* Simplicity Cremation Care of NEPA total's cremation charge is either $1295.00 or $1495.00. The price is determined by the place of death. Additional charges include the county cremation permit fee and certified death certificates if requested. *  

Remember, not all cremation providers, especially online providers are the same. It's your loved one, so don't be afraid to ask questions before making a final decision on a provider. Here are some questions that should be asked:

1. Is the cremation provider local? This will become an important factor at the time of passing and your loved one needs to be removed from the place of death. Some online cremation providers are located out of state and employ third party funeral vendors to handle all of the details on their behalf. Many in-state low-cost cremation providers are located hours away and serve the entire state.

* Simplicity Cremation Care of NEPA is centrally located in our service area *  

2. Are the people handling your loved one’s cremation licensed? Pennsylvania law only allows licensed funeral directors and funeral homes to arrange for cremations to be performed. A crematory is not allowed to provide cremation services directly to the public since it is not licensed as a funeral home. You can verify a cremation provider’s licensure with the Pennsylvania State Board of Funeral Directors at: https://www.dos.pa.gov/ProfessionalLicensing/VerifyaProfessional/Pages/default.aspx  

* Simplicity Cremation Care of NEPA is family owned and operated by third generation funeral directors *  

3. Where is my loved one taken prior to cremation and where is the cremation performed? Some in-state cremation providers that serve the entire state use a third-party vendor to bring your loved one from the place of death to the vendor’s location. Your loved one will remain there until they can arrange transport to bring them to their central facility where the cremation will be performed. In some instances, the crematory that they use is located hours away in another part of the state.

* Simplicity Cremation Care of NEPA brings your loved one directly into our care at its clean and modern facility. Your loved one is kept in our climate controlled room until the cremation can be performed. The cremation is performed at a local 4th generation family owned crematory that only uses certified cremation technicians. Now that is peace of mind. *  

After a death, contact us as soon as possible. From there, we will help coordinate arrangements to bring your loved on into our care. 

If you request immediate assistance, yes. If the family wishes to spend a short time with the deceased to say goodbye, that's perfectly acceptable. Your funeral director will come when the time is right.

We require all services to be paid in full at the time of service. We accept cash, check, money orders and all major credit cards. Payment can also be made securely on our web site by clicking the make a payment tab.

We only ever cremate one person in the cremation chamber at a time and the ashes will only be of that person.

The Federal Trade Commission says, "Except in certain special cases, embalming is not required by law. Embalming may be necessary, however, if you select certain funeral arrangements, such as a funeral with viewing. If you do not want embalming, you usually have the right to choose an arrangement that does not require you to pay for it, such as direct cremation or immediate burial."

• Advance Directives - If the deceased left any written advance directives concerning the disposition of their remains and memorialization, you need to bring them with you. These instructions may be found in a will, or there may be a formally witnessed disposition directive, funeral prearrangement, or preneed contract.
• Military discharge papers (DD 214)
• Details on any cemetery property owned by the deceased or the family (grave plot, columbarium space, etc.)
• Recent photograph of the deceased and any personal effects that you wish to be included in the viewing or burial
• Specific information on the deceased, such as: 

1.     Full legal name
2.     Address
3.     Marital status
4.     Social Security number
5.     Date of birth
6.     Place of birth (city, province, country)
7.     Occupation or profession
8.     Parents' names, including mother's maiden name
9.     Next of kin and other survivors

Prearranging funeral services can be done regardless of the final disposition. Prearranging is simply recording your wishes with the funeral home and pre-funding, if you choose to do so.

With cremation, your options are numerous. The cremated remains can be interred in a cemetery plot (i.e., earth burial); retained by a family member, usually in an urn; or scattered on private property or at a place that was significant to the deceased. (It would always be advisable to check for local regulations regarding scattering in a public place. Your funeral director can help you with this.)

Today, there are many different types of memorial options available. Memorialization is a time-honored tradition that has been practiced for centuries. A memorial serves as a tribute to a life lived and provides a focal point for remembrance, as well as a record for future generations. The type of memorial you choose is a personal decision.

You might choose ground burial of the urn. If so, you may usually choose either a bronze memorial or monument. 

Cremation niches in columbariums are also available at many cemeteries. They offer the beauty of a mausoleum setting with the benefits of aboveground placement of remains. 

Many cemeteries also offer scattering gardens. This area of a cemetery offers the peacefulness of a serene garden where family and friends can come and reflect.

If you wish to have your ashes scattered somewhere, it is important to discuss your wishes ahead of time with the person or persons who will do the scattering, as they might want to let your funeral professional assist in the scattering ceremony. 

Funeral directors can also be very helpful in creating a meaningful and personal ash scattering ceremony that they will customize to fit your family's specific desires. The services can be as formal or informal as you like. 

Scattering services can also be public or private. Again, it is advisable to check for local regulations regarding scattering in a public place. Your funeral director can help you with this.

Yes. Depending upon the cemetery's policy, you may be able to save a grave space by having the cremated remains buried on top of the casketed remains of your spouse, or utilize the space provided next to him/her. Many cemeteries allow for multiple cremated remains to be interred in a single grave space.

A funeral or memorial service provides an opportunity for the living to show respect for the deceased and pay tribute to their life. It provides a framework to freely and openly express beliefs, feelings, and thoughts about the death of a loved one. It gives everyone permission to grieve, share in solidarity, and gain strength from others who are experiencing the same loss.

The four main types of funeral services include the traditional funeral service, the memorial service, the committal service, and the affirmation or celebration of life service.

Yes, cremation or burial is merely the disposition of the body. Funeral services are to honor and remember your loved one, regardless of disposition.

There are a number of options available, including:

• Determine if the deceased person qualifies for any entitlements. Check with the Social Security Administration, the Department of Veterans Affairs, and with your State Fund. Many people are entitled to get financial assistance with their funeral costs from these agencies, if they qualify.
• Review all insurance policies in the deceased's name, including life insurance. Some life insurance policies have coverage clauses for funeral-related costs.
• Find local charities providing financial help for funeral expenses. Search for non-profit organizations and churches in your area.
• Talk to your funeral director about cremation options. Cremation can be less expensive, depending on your choices.