Note: Most of this page is devoted to
crematories located within
Massachusetts (and one in New Hampshire), all of which presently
require
that arrangements be made through a funeral home,
rather than through the crematory itself.
At the
bottom of the page, see information on the Vermont-based
Eternal Blessings Cremation Service
which also serves Western
Massachusetts but does not require any
involvement by
a funeral home.
All three Western Massachusetts crematories are within cemeteries, and
all three normally require that the consumer utilize the services of a
funeral home to (minimally) pick up the body, complete the necessary
paperwork, and arrange for transport of the body to the crematory.
Even though all necessary arrangements can be made through the chosen
funeral home, the consumer may benefit by contacting the crematory
directly (and visiting it in person) to better understand what is
involved in cremation; to learn what options are available at the
crematory and cemetery; and to discuss any associated charges.
When dealing with the funeral home, consumers should be sure they know
whether the payment to the funeral home for arranging a cremation does
or, more often - does not,
include:
a. Medical Examiner Fee - presently $75 (the crematory will arrange for
the medical examiner who must view the body before it can be cremated);
and
b. Crematory and Cemetery Fees - cremation-related
charges and any additional options chosen for storing, burying, or
scattering the ashes at the cemetery.
Note: Unless you have made other
- optional - arrangements, the ashes are returned to the consumer. The
Massachusetts Department of Public Health imposes "no restriction as to
the disposition of ashes." The consumer is free to keep the ashes, to
bury the ashes, or to scatter the ashes anywhere (subject to the usual
laws prohibiting trespass on private property without permission or on
public properties so posted).
The consumer should be aware that,
for
cremation,
Massachusetts law does NOT require:
a. Embalming
Note: although embalming is not required
by state law, a
particular funeral home may require embalming if the consumer chooses
to have the funeral home arrange for a viewing of the body.
The consumer is always free to
contact other funeral homes to compare their policies on opportunities
for viewing the body (particularly by family members) without embalming.
b. Casket (an "alternative container"
often made of fiberboard and/or
pressed-wood is typically used instead),
c. Urn (a simple plastic or
cardboard container is often used
instead, particularly if the ashes are to be scattered).
Note:
a particular cemetery may require something stronger than
the basic plastic or cardboard container if the consumer chooses to
have the ashes buried.
The
consumer is always free to
contact other cemeteries to compare their policies on whether anything stronger
than
the basic plastic or cardboard container is required.
BEFORE VISITING A FUNERAL HOME FOR THE PURPOSE OF PLANNING A CREMATION,
we strongly recommend that consumers prepare for that visit just as
they would for a arranging a funeral. Please see our What you Need to Know Before You Go
section of our Providers Page.
Disclaimer: Our
listing of providers in no way represents an
endorsement of any listed provider by the Funeral Consumers Alliance of
Western Massachusetts. The funeral homes, crematories, and casket
retail outlets are listed solely for the purpose of facilitating
consumers' exploration of options and comparison shopping.
Please inform us of any
omissions or errors by e mail
List of Crematories located in
Western
Massachusetts
Springfield Cemetery &
Crematory
171 Maple St
Springfield, MA 01105
(413) 732-0712
Pittsfield Cemetery & Crematory
203 Wahconah Street
Pittsfield, MA 01201
(413) 447-7953
Hillcrest Cemetery Mausoleum and Crematory
895 Parker St
Springfield, MA 01129
(413) 782-2311
Crematories in Worcester, MA (may by used by some funeral
homes in the eastern part of Western Massachusetts).
All Faiths Cemetery and
Crematory
7 Island Road
Worcester, Massachusetts 01603
(508) 798-6644
Rural Cemetery
180 Grove Street
Worcester, Massachusetts 1605
(508) 754-1313
Crematory in New Hampshire (may
be used by some funeral homes)
Tri-State Crematory
23 Quarry Rd
Troy, NH 03465
(603) 242-3291
The
Vermont-based Eternal Blessings
Cremation Service which also
serves Western Massachusetts:
Note: The Eternal Blessings Cremation Service represents a recent
merger of Vermont
Blessings
and the Eternal
Flame Crematorium.
One major
difference between crematories in Western Massachusetts and
the Eternal Blessings Cremation Service is that this Vermont
service can
be contacted directly by phone to make
arrangements for a cremation that does not require
any funeral home
arrangements, services, or charges. Their services include
some that otherwise would be performed by a funeral home.
Another
difference is that Eternal Blessings
Cremation Service also
serves consumers who wish to plan
ahead to care for their own dead (to have family
and/or friends
do some or all of those things that would otherwise be done by a
funeral home). They will mail to the consumer a packet to
help in planning ahead to exercise this option. We recommend also
reading Guidelines
for the
Issuance of Burial Permits and Disposition of Human Remains - from the
Massachusetts Department of Public Health . This is a must
for anyone in Massachusetts who is considering caring
for their own dead. It is also an excellent source of basic information
about what must be done in Massachusetts from the time a death occurs
through the final disposition of a body or ashes.
Be aware
that sales practices, pre-planning, and pre-payment
contracts of Vermont crematories may not be subject to the same
consumer protection rules that Massachusetts funeral homes must follow
under the Massachusetts Board of Registration of Embalmers and Funeral
Directors. However, the
following statement has been
submitted to us by James Curley of the Eternal Blessings Cremation Service:
First,
we are subject to all the laws and
rules of the State of Vermont
and the Federal Trade Commission that apply to crematories.
Second, we do not take any money from clients in advance; we recommend
that clients set up a dedicated 'payable-at-death savings account if
they wish to set aside funds in advance; these funds can be placed in a
'funeral trust' at the bank and be excluded from consideration (up to a
certain amount) for Medicaid purposes. The client and client
families remain in control of those funds. Our feeling is the client is better off
not entering into pre-paid contracts with a funeral service provider
where the money goes to that provider in advance. And, in may cases,
are irrevocable.
Eternal Blessings Cremation Service
Gaines Farm on Route 5
6430 Coolidge Highway
Guilford, Vermont 05301
877-747-9443 (toll free for
Immediate Service or a Free Advance-Planning Packet)
802-254-3508 or 802-257-0969 (Office Telephone
Numbers)