Not much to say. We lost my elderly and much beloved mother on July 26. My parents had expressed their wish for direct cremation, so the Lyons Funeral Home handled the arrangements for us. Their cost for direct cremation was significantly less than their competitor, the Rockefeller Funeral Home, also in Rensselaer. Not to be crass, but when your loved one is gone, spending more money doesn't make the loss and grief any better. Direct cremation through Lyons cost approximately $1800. The paperwork is cut-and-dried; death certificates are issued through the funeral home. Caitlin Hicks at Lyons was sympathetic and nice on the phone to deal with. Thank you.