When it comes to funeral planning, cremation has become a popular alternative to traditional burial services. This is because of the rising costs of caskets, land availability, as well as the increasing cost of burial lands. Cremation is a method of burning or combustion of the deceased, turning their remains to ashes.
Some people still have mixed feelings about cremation because of several factors. So in this article, we will take a closer look at the pros and cons of cremation.
The Pros of Cremation
More and more people choose cremations over funerals nowadays. This goes to show how widely accepted this type of internment is and how people feel about it. These advantages may help people understand cremation better.
• It’s More Affordable – If you add up the prices of a full burial service, you’ll find that cremation can be 40% – 50% cheaper than a traditional burial. This is because of the exclusion of burial land and headstone. With these savings, you can plan a better future for your loved ones. And if you are on a tight budget, you can even choose direct cremation, which has minimal ceremony.
• It’s Has More Options – With cremation, you can have more options than a funeral. In most cases, people still opt for the traditional funeral which requires coordinating with the funeral services and cemetery, arranging the viewing, adhering to a strict time frame, and more. When you choose cremation, you’ll have a ton of choices.
One of those choices is direct cremation. It is much simpler because there will be no ceremony after the incineration. This makes the process much faster and easier for the bereaved family.
• More Options for a Final Resting Place – Cremation can offer a multitude of different resting places for your loved one. Your family members can be buried underground, kept in a beautiful urn, have their ashes scattered, put them in your jewelry so you can carry them wherever you go, and many more. There are a lot of creative things that you can do to memorialize your loved one. You can ask a professional for more ideas on meaningful ways to remember your loved one.
• Cremated Remains Are Portable – Another benefit of cremation over a burial is that the deceased remains are portable and you can take it wherever you go. Unlike a gravesite, they’re not buried in a specific place. Moving to a new city, going out of town, or going on a vacation is no longer an obstacle because you can see them every day.
• You Can Still Bury Your Loved Ones – Cremation still offers the option of burying your loved ones underground if you change your mind about keeping the urn. However, you’ll have to buy a burial land for your loved one. The decision will depend entirely upon the family members.
The Cons of Cremation
There are notable disadvantages when it comes to cremation despite the low cost and practicality. Let’s take a look at some of them below.
• It’s Not Accepted by Other Religions – There are mixed opinions about cremation across different religions. For example, the Catholic church is opposed to cremation until the 1960s. They allowed to burn the deceased as long as they bury the remains. On top of this, Muslim religions also condone cremation. However, some eastern faiths allow it such as Hinduism and Buddhism.
• Family Disagreements – One of the biggest cons of cremation is the disagreements on where the remains of your loved one would be. One person would want to split up the ashes while others might want to keep their loved one intact. This can cause family tension if all of the family members are not on board with the decision.
Making Final Arrangements
It’s in your best interest that you discuss your final arrangements with your family. Instead of opting for a traditional funeral, choosing cremation can help you save money and have the time to arrange a ceremony for your loved ones. If you’re looking for cremation services in Chantilly, Virginia, you can call your local cremation service provider. You can get discounts as well as more information about this type of internment.
