Should You Choose a Burial or Cremation?

Cremation Trends for 2018

Cremation, over the years, has grown in popularity for many reasons. This trend is expected to continue well into the future. The top 2018 cremation trends include:

  • Scattering Ceremonies. Following a cremation, loved ones gather to celebrate their loved one’s life and release their ashes in a celebratory ceremonial – often at a location of some significance to the family.
  • Water Cremations. As opposed to traditional, flame-based cremations, water cremations are both better for the environment and mimic the body’s natural decay process.
  • Precious Jewels. You can transform your loved one’s ashes into high-end jewelry or art. People from across the globe are sending their loved one’s ashes to be pressed into diamonds that can then be set into jewelry as a family heirloom. Cremated ashes have also been used in sculpting materials to create unique vases and home items that can be given to family members.

Both traditional burial and cremation are chosen for end-of-life services in the U.S., the latter increasing in popularity. For example, cremation was the preferred choice for 60 percent for California end-of-life services in 2011, according to the Cremation Association of North America (CANA).

There are good reasons for choosing a burial as well as a cremation, and you should consider the following factors carefully before making a decision for yourself or a loved one.

Price of Cremations and Burials

A big factor for many people is price. Burial comes with a higher price tag, requiring a cemetery plot, casket, embalming services, ceremony, burial fee, headstone, and vault. Cremations save money, costing as little as one-third the price of burial. Those planning to combine a ceremony, cremation, and burial of remains have the cost of cremation, but eliminate the cost of a burial casket, embalming, and, possibly, the vault.

Traditions and Wishes of Family Members

Follow the religious or cultural traditions of the deceased loved one. In the case where end-of-life services have not been pre-planned, the wishes of family members should be taken into account when deciding between a funeral and cremation. Will it be upsetting to family members if you don’t have a funeral ceremony and/or burial? Do you want a burial after cremation so that family and friends can visit a grave? Or will you have an urn? Where will it stay?

Process of Cremation vs. Process of Burial

With burial

  • The process typically involves embalming, preserving the body before burial.
  • A casket is used
  • A funeral and burial occurs on the family’s schedule shortly following death
  • Burial is arranged in advance so the cemetery can prepare the plot by digging the space and inserting the vault
  • Following burial, the family and cemetery maintain the plot.

With cremation:

  • Embalming is unnecessary when cremation occurs in a timely manner.
  • A casket is used IF you are having a viewing or funeral prior to cremation.
  • Cremation takes place up to 48 hours after death because a medical examiner must ensure the body is ready for cremation.
  • A memorial service takes place at the family’s convenience
  • Cremation takes a few hours.
  • Following a cremation, the remains are either placed in an urn or shipped to the family in a small container.

Benefits of Cremation vs. Benefits of Burials

Aside from the cost benefit, cremations give family members the flexibility of choosing:

  • keeping cremated remains
  • scattering the ashes
  • scatter at sea services
  • burial of cremated remains.

Kept ashes are stored in decorative urns, memorial jewelry, and keepsakes. Some people choose to mix the ashes into cement and create decorative tiles for their house or garden. Cremations are an eco-friendly choice, as they don’t require the use of embalming chemicals, or take up space in the earth. In contrast, burials give mourners a physical location where they can visit and grieve. It may be comforting to family or friends to be able to visit a gravestone often.

Cremation is often chosen for its:

  • low cost
  • flexibility
  • and eco-friendliness.

For more information on cremation or the price of cremation in your area, please call us at (503) 402-2578.

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Published On: March 4th, 2014Categories: Articles