Choosing Burial or Cremation

When it comes to funerals, most of us are used to traditional burial, because that is the type of funeral most people choose. Traditional burial is still the most common method of human remains disposal. However, cremation has been a rapidly growing choice for years now.

According to the Cremation Association of North America (CANA), the U.S. cremation rate was 45.3% in 2013, and is expected to reach 50.6% by 2018.

Why Choose Burial?

There are many reasons why people choose burial for themselves and their loved ones. Many people don’t even consider cremation if nobody else in their family has been cremated. Other reasons for choosing burial include:

  • It’s not at all uncommon for religions to frown upon or downright forbid cremation, and burial is the only choice.
  • Tradition. Oftentimes, big families will have planned out and purchased burial plots decades in advance to make sure all family members are buried near each other on the same plot.
  • Misconceptions about viewings. Many people still believe that you can’t have a casket viewing at a funeral home if you choose cremation. But this is simply not the case. A body can be both viewed at a funeral and cremated – you can rent a casket for the viewing.
  • Loved one’s wishes. People often choose burial for no other reason than it’s simply what they wish – and they pre-plan their funerals to make sure their wishes are met.

Why Choose Cremation?

While some religions and cultures frown at cremation, others view cremation with respect and reverence. Other reasons people choose cremation include:

  • Plain and simple – cremation costs less than burial. When you calculate the cost of a funeral, it’s easy to see that everything involved with burial adds numbers to the invoice.
  • Loved one’s wishes. Lots of people cannot stand the thought of having their body put in a casket and buried. They prefer cremation, and the idea of being able stay at the family home, and not a cemetery.
  • Environmental consequences. While the demand for “green” burials is growing, many people believe that things like embalming fluid and casket materials bring harm to the environment when they are buried. Choosing cremation for “green” reasons is becoming more and more common.

The Cremation Process: What to Expect

The cremation process is basically simple. Often, loved ones of the deceased make arrangements to transport the body directly to the crematorium once they have a death certificate and any other needed paperwork.

Note: Some crematoriums only work through funeral homes. This is another thing to consider when you are planning what type of funeral is needed.

When a body is ready to be cremated, it is placed in a container or shroud before being transported to the crematorium. You do not need to buy a coffin, but some states require some kind of alternative container, often little more than a simple cardboard box — your cremation service provider will inform you of your options.

At the crematorium:

  • The provider removes items that should not be cremated, like jewelry, pacemakers or gifts from the memorial. (These types of items can be a safety hazard.)
  • The body is properly tagged to make sure the deceased’s family gets the correct cremated ashes.
  • The body is then placed in the crematorium furnace and is incinerated at temperatures of 1400°F to 2000°F over the course of about two to three hours.

Cremation Urns & Memory Chests

Cremated remains need to be kept safe in a cremation urn or a memory chest – and these days, urns and memory chests can take the form of almost anything, from simple metal urns, intricate artistic carved stone and detailed wooden boxes to sculpted busts, superhero action figures and stunning one-of-a-kind blown glass creations.

Obviously, with so many options, be sure to work the urn or memory chest cost into your budget when calculating funeral costs. It’s also something to think about when you’re planning and choosing the type of funeral you want.

Where to Buy Urns & Memory Chests

Many people still depend on their funeral provider for everything, including either purchasing the urn through the funeral provider or one its business partners. H

However, these days, one can buy an urn from a variety of different places, including funeral specialty shops, online shops, artisans who handcraft special requests and even big-box retail stores. When pre-planning, it’s best to enlist the help of some funeral-planning experts to aid you in finding exactly the right shop for the urn or memory chest you need.

Burial Urns

If you need to choose a burial urn, note that there are two types: Permanent & Biodegradable.

Permanent Burial Urns

If you wish for the burial urn to stand the test of time against Mother Nature, a permanent burial urn is your only choice. They usually come in bronze, marble, ceramic, cloisonné or metal. It’s recommended that burial urns be placed in a burial vault before interment.

Biodegradable Burial Urns

Increasing in popularity year after year, biodegradable burial urns decompose over time, so the cremated remains are gradually released into the soil. The material from the urn leaves no trace, giving people a more environmentally friendly solution for burial. Many environmentalists make sure they pre-plan for the biodegradable burial urn option to leave a legacy of preservation.

Whatever you choose – and whatever your circumstances – make sure you know enough to make the right decisions for your family and your loved one. Get help from funeral planning experts and make difficult decisions a little easier.