Discussing death can be incredibly uncomfortable for most people, a fact which often makes the topic taboo. There’s something about the finality of death which not only makes it difficult to discuss, but even think about at times. Despite this, death is very much a part of life; a destination at which we will all arrive someday. Caitlin Doughty, a 30-year old mortician, gets to experience this every day and says people should embrace death and learn to talk about it openly with their loved ones. In her recently published memoirs, Doughty also calls cremation “the American way of death,” noting the many options cremation offers people.

In her years as a licensed mortician, Doughty has learned that although death can be an uncomfortable topic, many people still have questions about what happens when we pass on. As a way to answer these questions, Doughty started a YouTube series entitled “Ask a Mortician” wherein she tackles topics such as what happens to hip, knee, and breast implants in cremation, the legality of viking funerals, and how to discuss death with children. Throughout these videos Doughty addresses issues which many people are curious about but may not know how or where to find the answers. She approaches each of these issues with candor and compassion, allowing for a discussion of these non-conventional topics. One message she often returns to is that of the rights families have when it comes to their loved ones. In interviews Doughty has repeated that families are legally allowed to treat the body how they’d like before sending it to the crematory or funeral home.

“The biggest misnomer is that funeral directors are uniquely qualified to take care of dead bodies the way a layperson isn’t,” said Doughty in an interview with CBS News.

“You have all the resources available to you. All you need is the ability to get over your own fears.”

Though state laws vary, Doughty says families are largely allowed to keep the bodies through wake ceremonies and the earliest days of grieving before calling the crematory. When death is approached this way, the family is given a wealth of options for grieving their loved one. Though licensed workers will ultimately be charged with handling the body, families are largely free to grieve how they want. Doughty even recalls a particularly moving personal story where a family accompanied her during the cremation process.

Doughty wants her memoirs to challenge the way many Americans approach death, especially when it occurs in their family. In doing so, she puts a finer point on the level of choice and flexibility allowed to those who choose cremation for themselves and their loved ones. Cremation hasn’t only become the popular choice in recent years, new technologies have also increased the amount of personalization a family can give memorial services. From 3D printed urns to special jewelry crafted from the ashes, cremation isn’t only a safe and respectable option, it allows families to remember their loved ones exactly as they lived.

Smart Cremation is the dignified and trusted alternative to the traditional funeral home. For years families have trusted us in their most vulnerable moments to compassionately handle their loved ones with care and dignity. Not only does cremation offer your family a wealth of choice for remembering your loved one, it’s also the affordable option and often costs as much as 44% less than traditional funeral services. Smart Cremation also offers preplanning packages for those who want to plan their final memorials and lessen the burden on their families. If you’d like to learn more about the flexibility and options made available by cremation, contact Smart Cremation today to speak with one of our compassionate, knowledgeable, and professional cremation experts.