Benefits of Cremations

A popular on-going debate is cremation vs. burial and why cremation is better. The graph below depicts how the popularity in cremation has been on a steady rise in the United States over the past 50 years. In 2015, the cremation rate was higher than the burial rate for the first time. The forecast from the graph however, does not show the popularity in cremation slowing down. By 2035, it is predicted that more than 75% of Americans will choose cremation rather than burial. 

So why are people choosing cremation? Here are a few benefits of cremation that have led cremation’s increased popularity.

1) Cost

Cost is probably the biggest reason why cremation is being chosen by more people. On average, the cost of cremation is about 45-50% less than burial. This is because there is no need to purchase additional items like a headstone or casket.

2) Flexibility

With burial, you basically have two options – being buried underground or having your casket placed in a mausoleum. Cremation gives you much more flexibility in terms of what can be done with your loved one’s ashes. You can scatter the ashes at a special location, you can store them in a beautiful urn, you can keep a small portion in memorial jewelry, you can blast them as apart of fireworks, etc. There really are so many creative things you can do with cremated ashes. Ask one of our professionals to get more ideas on things you can do with your loved one’s ashes.

3) More Religions Have Relaxed their Stance on Cremation

Historically, many religions have been opposed to cremation. However, in recent years some religions have relaxed their opposition to the practice. For example, in 2016 the Vatican issued new guidelines on cremation. It touched on Catholics believing the soul is immortal and that it does not rely upon the physical body. Therefore, since cremation only impacts the physical body, the Vatican does not have any doctrinal objections to cremation. If you do choose cremation though, the ashes should not be scattered; they should be stored in a scared place (Bryner, 2016).

4) Environmental Concerns

Many view cremation as a more "green option” than burial. Burial often uses harsh chemicals to embalm the remains for a funeral service. This leads to concerns that the chemicals can contaminate the environment. Burial also takes up land space and the Earth is disturbed to bury a casket. While a crematory does release emissions, new equipment is constantly being developed to reduce the pollution and environmental impact.

5) Cemetery Availability

Cemetery plots across the United States are becoming scarce. As the supply of plots decreases, we have seen the price on burial plots increase. Cremation allows you to avoid the trouble of finding a burial plot and saves you the cost.

6) Simplicity

A cremation service can offer a much simpler process than a burial service. Generally, when people choose to bury their loved one, they choose to have a traditional funeral service along with the burial. In this case, you must coordinate things with the cemetery, organize pallbearers, plan a visitation, and much more. While some people still choose to hold a traditional funeral along with a cremation, a celebration of life or memorial service are the types of ceremonies that are more commonly associated with a cremation. These ceremonies do not require as much planning in the days immediately following the death when your family is still grieving and reacting to the news.

Download our Cremation eBook to learn more about the rise of cremation, benefits of cremation, and read about come cool things you can do with ashes.

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