How to Have a Cremation and Visitation

A common question by families seeking cremation services in Portland, ME, is if it’s possible to have a cremation and a visitation. The question is based on the misconception that having both is impossible. But you can, in more than one way. 

Before we explain your options, let’s clear up an important misunderstanding. Although often used interchangeably, there’s a difference between visitation and viewing. 

Viewing is about seeing and spending time with the body before it’s buried or cremated. A visitation is about spending time with the bereaved as a show of support. Hence, the deceased’s body is not required to be present, even if many families prefer it to be. 

Now, let’s see how you can have a cremation with a visitation. 

Visitation before Direct Cremation 

Many people who ask this question often do it in response to direct cremation. The immediacy of the process means there’s no room for traditional services like a wake or visitation. 

This can be a significant trade-off for low-income families who wish to take advantage of direct cremation’s affordability. But it doesn’t necessarily have to be. 

One, you can have a small gathering before the cremation provider arrives. Close family and friends can gather at the place of death—at home or hospital— before the provider transports the body to the crematorium. However, this requires family members to live nearby and act swiftly. 

Another option is to have the visitation at the cremation center. Witnessed cremation, an option that allows close family members to see their loved one before the process begins, is not part of a direct cremation. 

But the cremation industry continues to evolve, and some cremation providers allow families to view the body at the cremation center. 

The critical thing to know here is the body won’t be embalmed or specially dressed like an open-casket visitation. Most times, the body will still be dressed in the clothes the person was wearing at the time of death. 

But this option buys you a few more hours than a gathering at home since the window is open until the proper paperwork is completed. 

Traditional funeral with visitation 

A more convenient alternative is to have a traditional funeral and host a visitation before the body is cremated. This option is costlier, but you get all the extra time you need for family members and friends, far and near, to visit and view the body before the cremation. 

In a traditional funeral with cremation, the funeral home embalms, dresses the body, and places it in a full or half-couch casket, depending on your preference. You can purchase the casket or opt for a rental casket instead. 

The body is cremated after the visitation is complete and everyone has had the chance to say goodbye. 

These are the two main ways to have a visitation with a cremation. However, it’s necessary to remember that visitation does not require a body to be present. 



For extra convenience and to save costs, you can plan a visitation after the cremation with the urn and ashes present instead of the casket. 

Contact us if you have additional questions about this or other questions about cremation services in Portland, ME. Our professionals are available 24/7. Call us now to learn more about your options.