Talking Cremation with J.P. DiTroia
J.P. Di Troia knows cremation. He is President of U.S. Columbarium and Fresh Pond Crematory in Middle Village, Queens, NY and has worked there since 1967. Fresh Pond Crematory was first built in 1884. It’s the oldest continually operating crematory in the United States. He recently spoke with Gail Rubin, The Doyenne of Death®, pioneering death educator and the coordinator of the Before I Die NM Festival.
These two short video conversations cover the rising cremation rate and related issues. The first video includes a short history of cremation in the United States; the challenge of arranging funerals in the New York City area during the peak of the pandemic in spring of 2020; the importance of giving cremated remains a permanent final resting place; the need to honor stillborn babies and other babies that die; and the Missing In America Project, which takes the unclaimed cremated remains of veterans and gives them a permanent placement in veterans’ cemeteries.
Interview One
Interview Two
In the second part of the conversation, J.P. talks about the FEMA funeral assistance funds available for families with loved ones who died of COVID-19 and how to apply for reimbursement of up to $9,000; reiterating the importance of giving cremated remains a permanent final resting place, either by burial, placement in a columbarium niche, or scattering (keepsakes of part of the remains are always an option); the 9/11 Memorial they are creating at Fresh Pond; and why it’s a good idea to have a gathering or wake, so you don’t have to re-live a loss with multiple people over the course of days and weeks.
Visit Fresh Pond’s Facebook Page
Learn more about Fresh Pond Crematory, see photos and videos and read articles at their Facebook page: https://www.facebook.com/freshpondcrematory/
Cremation Urns, Jewelry and Keepsakes
Need a cremation urn, cremation jewelry, or keepsake urns? Check out A Good Goodbye’s Urn Store. At this online shopping site, you’ll find a wide selection of quality products, the same ones that funeral homes purchase. You can place your order through the secure site, or call 888-317-3099 and speak with a live person.
There are urns of brass, wood, ceramics, marble, and biodegradable options. The jewelry includes options in gold, sterling silver, stainless steel, and glass. There are lovely handmade urns and jewelry, and fingerprint jewelry that can preserve the unique patterns of people and pets in silver or gold. The site also features The Life Chest, beautiful memento storage boxes in a range of styles.
The online store is run by UPD Urns, a respected company with a long track record of providing cremation products to funeral homes. The public can now browse and directly buy the same products carried by funeral homes. The FTC Funeral Rule allows the public to bring their own cremation containers to a funeral home, which must accept it without charging a fee.
You can choose your products and place your order online through the secure site, which accepts payment by Visa, Master Card, Discover, American Express and PayPal. If you prefer, call 888-317-3099 and speak with a live person.