Transporting a dead body to another country?

This is from my own experience a few years ago. My father a German citizen came to visit me here in the US. He died of a heart attack. To take whole body back to Germany he would have to be embalmed and a lead casket to be used. Very very expensive . I had him cremated , did not like that at all. Then I needed several death certificates, a letter from the German consulate that it was indeed my father, my proof was passport, deathcertificate and airline ticket. Passport was cancelled, ashes had to be packaged a certain way for transport, check with airline, a funeral home did that once I had the instructions. Rules and laws have most likely changed by now.