Cremation Services

If your family has chosen cremation, we offer affordable services that help celebrate the life of your loved one while giving you several options for a public gathering, and a final resting place.

Direct Cremation $1295

A direct cremation includes the professional service of a funeral director and staff, removal/transfer of remains from the place of death within a 20 to 25 mile radius, arrangement fee, minimal preparations of remains (for identification purposed only), topical disinfection, dressing/casketing (optional; additional fee may be involved), alternative fiberboard container required by the crematory, transfer to the crematory, and procuring the necessary permits for cremation.

Why Cremation?

Cremation is a respectful and dignified method of final disposition in which a loved one’s body is carefully reduced to ashes through a controlled process in a retort at the crematory. This process is handled by professional certified technicians. It is a meaningful alternative to traditional burials and is often chosen for personal, spiritual, environmental, or financial reasons. Each body is placed in an approved alternative container or an approved casket of choice. For caskets that are approved and selected by the family, the family will be responsible for the additional fees that will apply.

Refrigeration and custodial care will be charged after 24hrs

After cremation, the remains, commonly referred to as “ashes”, are placed in an alternative container secured by the crematory, or an urn selected by the family.

It will be the families decision to then:

Keep the cremated remains in an urn in a special place
Bury the urn of cremated remains at a cemetery
Place the urn or alternative container of cremated remains in a niche or columbarium
Scatter the cremated remains using a special scattering receptacle at a cemetery, in a meaningful place, or at sea using a biodegradable urn or scattering tube (discussed further upon request)

Families often choose cremation because it allows for:

More personalization
Services can be designed around the life and legacy of your loved one with options for memorials before or after cremation
Flexibility in timing
Cremation allows you to plan a time and place that works best for you
Simplicity
For those who prefer a less formal or more intimate approach, cremation provides a streamlined operation without sacrificing dignity
Affordibility
Cremation can be more cost-effective, especially for families seeking meaningful services within a specific budget
Environmental Considerations
Many choose cremation as a way to reduce their environmental footprint

At Schenectady Direct Services, we understand that cremation is more than a process, it's a journey. We’re here to support you with care, compassion, and options that truly reflect your loved one’s life.

Other Cremation Service Options

Traditional Funeral Service followed by Cremation

Many families find meaning and beauty in a traditional funeral service. With a traditional service combined with cremation, you can still choose to have a final viewing, visitation or wake, and a funeral service. However instead of in-ground burial, the funeral will be followed by cremation. Depending on your wishes, the cremated remains may be either returned to your family for storage in an urn, scattered, or interred in a columbarium. This option will include fees for the funeral services as well as the fees associated with the cremation itself.

Memorial Service

The memorial service can be held in our chapel, a church, or any other venue the family chooses. We work with our families to design a service that honors their loved one with stories, music, or scripture. We also have life celebrants that lead services where clergy may not be chosen. Our celebrants are trained in creating experiences that help start the healing process.

Graveside Service

A graveside or committal service is typically held immediately following the funeral service but it can also be a small intimate gathering of those closest to you.