When we think about our final disposition method, many of us immediately turn to traditional burial. However, more and more people are choosing cremation as a final disposition method. There are many factors that have attributed to the rise in cremation from cost to claustrophobia, from religious considerations to the increasing personalization of funerals. Below are some of the more common reasons people choose cremation.
EXPENSE. Cremation generally costs 40-50% less than a traditional ground burial overall. Cremation does not require a grave or headstone. Cremation urns are generally cheaper than caskets and many families skip embalming. Viewing and transportation expense are usually eliminated as well. This makes cremation a very viable options for families who need to keep expenses down.
SIMPLICITY and FLEXIBILITY. Cremation can remove the need for the more elaborateground burial ceremony involving casket, viewings, pall bearers, etc. An urn is smaller and therefore much easier to handle than a full-sized casket making it very easy to transport and/or store at home. This increases the options for where and when a funeral or memorial service is held. With cremation, you remove time constraints because you can hold on to the remains indefinitely until you and your family arrange burial, scattering, or some other method of disposition for the remains.
ENVIRONMENTALLY CONSCIOUS. Traditional burial takes up space in the earth and the embalming of the body involves heavy doses of chemicals. Cremation does takeits toll with carbon emissions, but as equipment and technology improves the impact on the environment is lessening. There is some debate, but generally cremation is considered more “green” and eco-friendly.
PERSONAL TOUCH. While family and religious traditions are still very important to people, there is a growing trend away from traditionalism. Instead of tradition for the sake of tradition, families prefer to celebrate the individual in a unique and personal way. Cremation offers the flexibility for loved ones to design a completely unique and personal one of a kind memorial and disposition. Scattering ashes is a popular choice. This can be done in a myriad of ways including at sea, in your backyard, from a helicopter, planted as a memorial tree, shot off in fireworks, and so on.Thornton’s Funeral Home is proud to offer cremation as one of our many services. We are happy to discuss this option with you in greater detail.
