At Bean Funeral Homes & Cremation Services, Inc., we understand the importance of providing support and care in a difficult life experience. It is hard to say goodbye to someone you love, which is why you need to lean on the services offered for funeral and cremation planning in Reading, PA.

Whether you prefer traditional funeral services or you are looking to design a  unique funeral plan, our team at Bean Funeral Homes & Cremation Services, Inc. is here to assist. We offer a listening ear and personalized planning services to ensure that every detail of the event matches the needs of the family.

What Makes Bean Funeral Homes & Cremation Services, Inc. Unique?

Why should you choose our team instead of other services in the area? We’re focused and dedicated to the satisfaction of your family. You can rest assured knowing your loved one is in good hands because they never leave our care.

In addition to standard  funeral services, we provide unique solutions to make it easier than ever to plan a dignified, respectful service for your loved one. These services include:

• On-Site Crematory: Our  private crematory was designed to give your family peace of mind. There’s no need to send the remains to another provider. We have state-of-the-art facilities and equipment to perform respectful cremations at our location. You can choose a standalone cremation if desired, or pair this choice with other funeral services that are offered.
• Cremation with Confidence Guarantee: We are so confident in the cremation process that we exclusively offer the Cremation with Confidence Guarantee. This 10-step cremation process is designed, so your loved one never leaves our care. Rest assured knowing the cremated remains returned to your family are those of the deceased. Not only do we promise the highest levels of respect and dignity, but we also safeguard the personal identity and use a unique tracking system to oversee every phase of the cremation process.
• Celebration of Life Tribute Packages: What is the best way that you can show respect for your loved one? A celebration can be designed to reflect both the lifestyle and personality of the deceased. We will help you incorporate unique stories, experiences, and songs that define the individual, highlighting the memories that can be cherished for years to come. We offer a library of resources available to add personal touches with ceremonies, music, readings, and more.
• Certified Celebrants: A certified celebrant is more than an industry professional trained in funeral services. We are trained to meet the needs of families in their time of loss. At Bean Funeral Homes & Cremation Services, Inc. we’ll help you design a personalized tribute service that honors the memory of your loved one.

When to Start Funeral and Cremation Planning in Reading, PA

When is the right time to reach out to an experienced funeral home for assistance? At  Bean Funeral Homes & Cremation Services, Inc. we offer immediate support when the funeral services are unexpected. You should contact us as soon as possible so we can offer guidance and support for the transportation and coordination required for the deceased.

But there is no reason why you should procrastinate your planning for funeral and cremation services in Reading, PA. Instead of leaving these decisions to the last minute, consider the benefits of working with our team for  preplanning services. We are just a phone call away and can help you get started with this process at your convenience.

Preplanning allows you to reduce the burden and stress left on your family when it is time to schedule the funeral. Your loved ones won’t need to face the most difficult decisions regarding end-of-life services. Instead, your funeral plan will already be in place because you coordinated these services in advance.

What are your preferences for funeral services? Share your desired details with our team, which will give you the assurance that your wishes and desires will be respected after you are gone. We will keep this information on file until it is time to schedule the event.

Customizing Funeral Services

Maintaining respect in the funeral planning process doesn’t mean that you have to stick with a traditional funeral service. Instead, you must design an event that matches the preferences of the deceased. Our team is here to assist with this process, ensuring optimal results for your family.

The Cremation Process

How Does the Cremation Process Work?

The cremation process is often a mystery to people because they do not get the opportunity to see what’s happening behind closed doors. This lack of understanding can lead some individuals into feeling anxious about how it works and whether or not their final wishes will be followed correctly. While we may not know all the details of how a traditional burial works, it’s easy enough for most people to imagine what happens with them. Understanding why that is can help ease some anxieties surrounding cremation since understanding more will give us peace of mind knowing exactly where our loved one has gone off to once their time here has come to an end.

Modern crematories are highly advanced with industrial furnaces that burn bodies in just 2-3 hours. Along the way, they make sure to do such things as:

• Before cremation, proper identification of the deceased is necessary to complete their transition into death. It’s important to make sure that we know our loved one by their proper identification before they are cremated so as not to have any mix-ups once all parties involved start making funeral arrangements.
• The operator is safe during the cremation process, with only a minimal chance of injury. The experience and training that goes into becoming an expert in this profession will make sure you are kept protected from any danger when operating the furnace.
• Funeral homes take care of and respect the deceased when cremating them. Cremations are given great attention to detail so as not to disrespect or mishandle the dearly departed person being disposed of during this sacred ritual observance.

Some cremation facilities allow the family of the deceased to witness the cremation process. Be sure to inquire about how many people can attend before making plans.

How is a Body Prepared for Cremation?

A Step by Step Guide to the Cremation Process

Cremation is the process by which a body’s decomposing flesh and bone are reduced to their essential elements. This often takes place in open flames, intense heat, and evaporation inside of specially designed furnaces called crematories or retorts. Many crematoriums require containers for bodies such as caskets appropriate for cremating or rigid cardboard boxes that can withstand extreme temperatures so they do not burn up during the process.

Cremation is an incineration process that produces 3 to 9 pounds of bones depending on the size and shape of the human body as well as what kind of container they were placed in before burning them. When cremating a body, any bits and pieces of wood or other materials in the container will also burn away along with incidental by-products from the incineration process such as ash residue and often called “cremation ashes or cremains”. The cremated remains of a body are not always ashes, but rather bone fragments which are then grounded up by a cremulator.

5 Steps to Cremation Procedures are as Follows:

1. The first is identifying and obtaining proper authorization for a deceased loved one.
2. After this identification has been completed, they can then be prepared by wrapping them in cloth or placing them into an appropriate container.
3. Next, their container will need to go through the “retort” (or incinerator) where it’s heated up so that nothing but ashes remain after everything else burns away.
4. Finally, these remaining ashes should have any metal removed before being ground down fine enough until all we’re left with are finely cremation ashes.
5. The ashes of the deceased are transferred to an urn that is either provided by their family or requested in advance.

We offer everything that you need for funeral and cremation planning in Reading, PA. Bean Funeral Homes & Cremation Services, Inc. offers two convenient locations. Visit the Hampden Heights funeral home at 1605 Rockland St., Reading, PA 19604. Call this location to schedule an appointment: (610) 376-0985. Or, Bean Funeral Homes & Crematory, Inc. is located in Exeter Township at 6 Fairlane Rd, Reading, PA 19606. Call to learn more about this location: (610) 779-2800

Funeral & Cremation FAQs

How pre-arranged funeral service works?

A pre-arranged or prepaid funeral plan is an arrangement between an individual or a family member in which the funeral home prepares layouts everything connected to funeral service before the client’s death and prepaying the funeral home.

What are the advantages of pre-arranged funeral services? 

• Keeps you fixed from the rising cost of funeral services
• Planning ahead will make all your wishes fulfilled
• It covers all memorial service, burial, cremation, and other funeral expenses
• It takes away the financial and emotional pressure from the bereaved family

Why choose Bean Funeral Homes & Crematory Inc?

• Distinguished veteran services
• Celebration of life tribute packages
• Celebration of life ceremony
• Memorial and graveside services
• Learn more