benefits of cremation

In recent years, more and more families have found themselves having the cremation vs burial debate. For hundreds of years, burial has been the traditional way to care for the remains after a loved one’s passing. Recently though, more families have begun to discover the benefits of cremation and are now opting for less traditional and more personalized services.
 
Choosing to be cremated is a deeply personal choice. Why one person chooses cremation may differ from someone else. Before making a decision on how to care for the remains, it’s important to understand cremation services and the advantages of this type of service. As we’ve said, there are many reasons to choose cremation. For some people, it comes down to practical reasons, others may have a fear of burial, and for some, it’s just the method of disposition they prefer.

What is Cremation?

Part of making funeral arrangements on behalf of a loved one involves choosing between burial of the body, or cremation. Certainly this is a big decision, based on any number of factors: religious or spiritual beliefs, finances, or ecological awareness are just some of the reasons we've heard for choosing cremation. Before you can make the choice, you need to know exactly what it is you're considering. You can learn the basics below, however, if the content here raises additional questions for you, please give us a call. One of our cremation specialists will address any of your inquiries or concerns.

Cremation Explained


The Cremation Association of North America describes cremation as, "The mechanical and/or thermal or other dissolution process that reduces human remains to bone fragments".  On our page, The Cremation Process, we offer a deeper look at the most common cremation process which uses extreme heat.

As we said earlier, people choose cremation over burial of casketed remains for any combination of reasons. Sometimes it's the simple fear of burial itself, which may stem directly from the Victorian phobia of being buried alive. 
why choose cremation two elderly people

Decisions You Must Make When Choosing Cremation

  • Who will perform the cremation?
  • Should you purchase an urn?
  • What kind of remembrance ceremony would you like to have?
  • What will you do with the cremated remains?
  • You may wish to keep the remains at your home for a time, until you feel ready to let go of them, or when all family members can be present for a scattering ceremony.
Our professional Funeral Directors can advise you on unique ways to memorialize a loved one using the cremated remains, including the creation of art glass objects. We also offer a wide selection of cremation keepsake jewelry.

We can also recommend firms in the area that specialize in scattering the cremated remains at sea, or in the air.

Why Choose Cremation?

A cremation service offers many advantages compared to a traditional burial. While there are many reasons that someone might prefer cremation vs burial, the decision often comes down to cost, simplicity, and flexibility. 

Cost
Before making a major purchase, it’s important to establish a budget and know what you can afford. In most cases, the cost of a cremation service is typically less than the cost of a burial. Because there is no need to purchase items like a headstone, grave space, or burial vault, the expenses are much less.  What many families will do is use these savings to offset the cost of a celebration of life or memorial service.

Simplicity
Another popular reason for families to select cremation is because of the simplicity it offers. In the 48 hours following a loved one’s passing, the family has up to 70 decisions to make regarding the funeral and burial service. By comparison, the arrangement process for a cremation is much simpler. Instead of spending time away from your family, a brief arrangement conference is all that is required. This means your family has more time to comfort one another and plan a meaningful service of remembrance.

Flexibility 
Flexibility is another benefit of cremation services. Because the remains are cared for immediately, your family has more time to plan a meaningful service of remembrance. It is actually quite common for families to hold a celebration of life or memorial service weeks or months after the remains have been cremated. Another benefit of flexibility is the ability to relocate. Should your family move in the future, they can bring the cremated remains with them. Unlike with a burial service, it is much easier to move an urn across the country.

If any of those reasons ring true for you and your family, then cremation may be the perfect alternative for your loved one.

We are proud to operate an on-site crematorium to better serve families.


There are many benefits to a funeral home having their own on-site crematory.

See the Benefits of an On-Site Crematorium

Are You Ready to Talk About Cremation?

We want you to know that no matter your reasons for choosing cremation, we're here to help you explore your options. When you're ready, call us to set an appointment or simply drop by our office. You can also send us an email via our online contact us form.
why choose cremation flower bouqet
Sources:
  1. What is Cremation, Cremation Association of North America
  2. Mathisen, Tyler, "Cremation is the Hottest Trend in the Funeral Industry"
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