How do you choose between cremation vs. burial? Not sure what you prefer? Here are some things to consider to help you make the best decision.
Advantages of Cremation
The cremation rate in the U.S. has almost doubled in the past 15 years, according to a report by the Cremation Association of North America (CANA). The cremation rate in the U.S. has risen from 25% in 2009 to 45.1% in 2015 and is expected to exceed 70% by 2030, according to the National Funeral Directors Association (NFDA). The reasons for the rise? Multiple factors are influencing this change, including:
- Cost: Cremation is typically less expensive than burial. The average cost for a traditional funeral is between $7,100 and $10,000, which includes services in a funeral home, a casket and a vault, and burial in a cemetery, according to the NFDA. Compare that to cremation with a basic memorial service through a funeral home, which averages between $2,000-$4,000. Check out our cremation options here.
- Environmental Footprint: Cremation is considered to be more environmentally friendly by some. Cremation uses fewer resources than other forms of disposition. Traditional cremation is the reduction of the body to bone fragments through the application of intense heat. The fragments are then finely processed to be placed in an urn for final disposition.
- You Can Take it with You: The remains can be transported easily if you move.
- Flexibility: Since no time constraints exist, families have more options for personalizing a memorial service, which can be arranged conveniently for friends and family. The family has time to plan for scattering at a meaningful site or creating keepsakes by incorporating some of the ashes into jewelry or other items. The NFDA attributes the move toward personalizing to the Baby Boomers, who desire to make their memorials more meaningful. Receive a free Cremation Guide.
Advantages of Burial
Ground burial has been around for centuries and is the most traditional form of end-of-life arrangement. Ground burial provides:
- Permanent Place for Future Generations to Visit: Visiting a grave can be a way to remain connected to those who’ve died, according to grief expert and author Shelly Beach. Family members and loved ones often derive a significant amount of comfort from having a specific place to go to remember the deceased. They can arrange gatherings for special dates, including holidays, birthdays, and anniversaries. Learn more about cemetery options here.
- Personalized Memorial or Monument: A headstone or other type of memorial can be crucial to survivors, mainly if it is located in a family plot near others close to the deceased.
- Place for Family Members to be Buried Next To Each Other: The wish to remain near family members is why people purchase family plots, spaces in a cemetery containing multiple spaces “reserved” just for family members.
- Community mausoleums also provide a form of burial in an above-ground building, away from the elements of the earth. Once a choice available only to the rich and famous, mausoleums are now surprisingly affordable. More information about mausoleums can be found here.
The choice between cremation, burial, or mausoleum is personal, no matter what anyone else is doing or the trends, so make the choice that best suits you or your loved ones.
by Jamie Hollander, Blog Contributor