At Bartolomeo & Perotto Funeral Home, we’ve served the Rochester community for generations. Over the years, we’ve witnessed how cremation has become a more common and accepted choice among families. But despite its growing popularity, many myths and misunderstandings still surround cremation. We believe in empowering families with accurate, honest information so they can make the choices that feel right for them. That’s why we’re taking the time to set the record straight by addressing some of the most common myths about cremation services.
Cremation Means No Funeral or Service
The reality is, cremation doesn’t limit your ability to hold a meaningful ceremony. One of the biggest misconceptions we hear is that choosing cremation means skipping a funeral or memorial service. Cremation is simply a method of disposition, just like burial. It doesn’t determine how you choose to remember and honor a loved one. Many families who choose cremation still hold traditional services, complete with visitations, readings, and eulogies. Some prefer a more casual celebration of life held at our funeral home, a favorite park, or even at home. Others may plan a memorial gathering weeks or months later to give family and friends time to travel.
At Bartolomeo & Perotto, we help families design personalized services before or after cremation because the ceremony matters just as much as the choice of disposition. Many families who choose cremation still hold traditional services, complete with visitations, readings, and eulogies. In fact, according to the NFDA’s 2023 Cremation and Burial Report, over 35% of families who choose cremation also choose to have a funeral, memorial, or viewing. That number continues to grow as more people realize cremation doesn’t limit their options, it expands them.
Cremation Is Impersonal or Less Respectful
In actuality, cremation is carried out with the same dignity and care as burial. Some people worry that cremation might feel less personal or reverent than burial. However, cremation can be just as meaningful and it offers unique ways to honor a loved one’s life. Our team treats every person in our care with dignity, regardless of the choice between burial or cremation.
From the moment your loved one enters our facility to the moment their remains are returned, we follow strict protocols to ensure respect, security, and transparency. Cremation also allows for personal touches such as custom urns, memorial jewelry, keepsakes, or dedicated remembrance services. We help families create tributes that reflect their loved one’s values, personality, and legacy.
You Can’t Have a Viewing if You Choose Cremation
The truth is, viewings and visitations are possible before cremation takes place. Some assume that cremation eliminates the option for a viewing. But that’s simply not true. If a family wishes to have a visitation or traditional open-casket farewell, this can absolutely take place before the cremation.
Our team at Bartolomeo & Perotto offers full preparation and embalming services for those who want a traditional viewing. This gives loved ones the chance to say goodbye, gather together, and start the healing process. Alternatively, some families choose a private farewell, offering a more intimate final moment before cremation. We’re here to support either choice, always with care and compassion.
Cremation Is the ‘Cheap’ Option
Cremation can be affordable, but that doesn’t mean it’s less meaningful. Cremation is often more cost-effective than traditional burial, especially when cemetery plots, vaults, and caskets aren’t involved. But labeling it as cheap misses the point and underestimates its emotional significance. Families choose cremation for many reasons such as flexibility, spiritual beliefs, simplicity, or environmental concerns.
Regardless of budget, every family we serve receives the same level of care and professionalism. At Bartolomeo & Perotto, we offer a wide range of cremation packages from simple direct cremation to full-service options with memorial ceremonies. Every option is designed to be meaningful, respectful, and personal.
Ashes Don’t Matter, They’re Just Dust
Reality is, cremated remains carry deep emotional and symbolic meaning. It’s easy to refer to cremated remains as ashes, but they represent much more than that. They’re a physical connection to someone you loved, and many families find great comfort in deciding how to care for them.
Some choose to keep the remains at home in an urn. Others scatter them in a meaningful location or place them in a cemetery niche or burial plot. Some families choose keepsake urns or memorial jewelry, allowing multiple family members to keep a small portion close by. We provide guidance and support for all of these choices. Cremation doesn’t end the journey, it opens the door to many meaningful ways to remember.
Religious People Can’t Choose Cremation
However, many faiths now allow cremation and offer guidance for it. For years, cremation was seen as incompatible with certain religious beliefs, but that has changed. Today, most major religions either permit cremation or have updated their views on the practice.
The Catholic Church, for example, allows cremation as long as the remains are treated with reverence and placed in a sacred location. Many Protestant faiths fully support cremation, while others, such as Buddhism and Hinduism, actually encourage it. Some branches of Judaism have also become more accepting. We encourage families to talk with their spiritual leaders, and we’re happy to coordinate with clergy to ensure services respect both faith and family traditions.
Funeral Homes Aren’t Necessary for Cremation
Funeral homes provide essential support and expertise especially with cremation. Some believe cremation is so simple it can be done without a funeral home. While it may seem like a straightforward process, cremation still involves legal paperwork, transportation, proper care of the deceased, and most importantly, support for the grieving family.
At Bartolomeo & Perotto, we not only manage the cremation itself at our own on-site crematory, but we also handle all the necessary documentation, offer guidance on urn selection, and help plan meaningful services. We ensure your loved one never leaves our care and that the process is as smooth and respectful as possible. Working with a trusted funeral home ensures peace of mind, compassion, and professionalism throughout.
Cremation Closes the Door on Future Memorials
However, cremation gives you flexibility for future remembrance. One of the benefits of cremation is that it doesn’t tie you to a specific timeline. Memorials, celebrations of life, or scattering ceremonies can take place weeks, months, or even years after the cremation.
This flexibility can be especially comforting to families spread across the country or those who want to take time to plan a unique and personalized tribute. We’ve helped families organize beachside scatterings, tree-planting ceremonies, private home gatherings, and church services long after cremation. Your remembrance, your way, on your schedule.
Our Promise: Compassion, Clarity, and Care
At Bartolomeo & Perotto Funeral Home, we believe that every life deserves to be honored with compassion and respect no matter what form that takes. Cremation is not a lesser choice, just a different one. And when handled with care, it can offer a deeply personal, meaningful path to remembrance.
Our decades of experience have taught us that no two families are the same. That’s why we take time to listen, to educate, and to walk beside you through every decision. If you’re considering cremation or have questions about the process, we’re always here to talk with no pressure, just support.
Have questions about cremation? Want to understand your options? Whether you’re preplanning for yourself or making decisions for a loved one, we’re here to guide you with compassion and transparency. Call us, visit us in Rochester, or browse our resources online. At Bartolomeo & Perotto Funeral Home, we’re more than a provider, we’re your partner in honoring life.