Have you ever thought about cremation? Nowadays, a large number of individuals have changed their attitude towards burials and decide to be cremated.
This decision is influenced by numerous factors, such as finances, ecological awareness, and one’s religious beliefs. Cremation practiced in Rome and Ancient Greece is believed to be more affordable, time-efficient, environmentally friendly, and creative.
When choosing a cremation services provider, you will be provided with either direct or prepaid cremation services.
These are some of the essential benefits of selecting this practice over burial.
A funeral isn’t ruled out
Cremation services don’t eliminate the possibility of a funeral, as individuals can pre-plan a funeral service if their loved ones wish to perform this religious ritual. The funeral service is a ceremony that’s performed in honor of the deceased in order to celebrate his/her life. There’s a possibility for the body of the deceased to be cremated following the service.
Once the ceremony is over, the body can be cremated immediately afterward. Also, some people choose to be both cremated and buried. They can purchase a plot in the cemetery where the cremated remains will be buried.
It’s more affordable
Another benefit of opting for cremation instead of burial is the lower cost of the service. The average costs for a funeral are at least $10,000, which is a high cost for individuals on a budget. In contrast, the price of cremation is between forty and fifty percent lower than burial. You won’t have to purchase a headstone or a casket, which significantly increases the cost.
For instance, high-quality caskets are usually sold at prices ranging from as little as $900 to as much as $10,000. Metal caskets are much more affordable than those made of wood, whose starting price is more than $4,000. Conversely, the price of having your body cremated costs at least $2,000. Find out more about the types of urns.
Time efficiency
Another reason to choose cremation over a burial is the time efficiency of this decision. When a person is cremated, his/her loved ones aren’t in a rush to hold a memorial service as soon as possible but plan it weeks or months following the cremation of the remains. Consequently, the family is provided with enough time to grieve, planning a service to celebrate the life of their loved ones.
Keep in mind that the period after the death of a dear person is emotionally overwhelming. During the time of loss, your family isn’t supposed to be burdened with lots of decisions waiting for them to make. By stating your preference for cremation prior to your death, your closest relatives will fulfill this wish after leaving themselves some time to grieve properly.
An eco-friendly solution
An often neglected reason for considering cremation is the eco-friendliness of this choice. There are plenty of environmental concerns when it comes to burials, as the bodies are embalmed before being buried. The embalming fluid used in this process contains harmful chemicals, which find their way into the earth and cause pollution. Also, cemetery management requires both water and land, thus taking a great toll on the environment.
In addition, the largest number of caskets is made of wood, which accounts for approximately four million forest acres on an annual basis. Conversely, cremation is thought to be a much greener alternative due to the lower environmental impact. Even individuals who wish for their ashes to be buried in the ground can opt for biodegradable instead of traditional urns.
Furthermore, biodegradable urns are made of completely natural materials, such as bark, sand, leaves, paper, etc. These materials biodegrade gradually until no trace of the urn is left. They are absorbed into the ground and cause no pollution of the environment. Follow this URL, https://www.thebalancesmb.com/what-does-biodegradable-mean-2538213, to learn what biodegradable really means.
Flexibility
An incredible benefit of cremation services over burials is flexibility, as families choose what to do with the remains. Most families have them stored in an urn; some wear urn pendants, while others scatter the ashes at a meaningful location. In some cases, the deceased leaves instructions while still alive to his/her loved ones to tell them how to handle the ashes.
Additionally, ashes are portable, meaning your family can carry them around if moving house a lot. Burial plots, on the other hand, cannot be relocated. Ashes can also be divided between several people who can store them in memorial urn pendants. Parents with multiple children often decide to have their ashes divided, especially if knowing their graves would be too far for them to visit.
Reduced cemetery availability
It has become common for cemeteries to have fewer plots and turn into overcrowded burial spots. These spaces are getting incredibly limited, especially in urban environments, which in turn increases the cost of burial plots. Nevertheless, by opting for cremation, you won’t have to worry whether there will be a free burial spot in your local area.
A creative ceremony
As far as ceremonies are concerned, cremation allows individuals to be creative. There is no particular reason for following traditions, which is why people, who wish to be cremated when they die, instruct their loved one to scatter their ashes at their favorite location or create jewelry out of them.
The bottom line
This type of decision should be encouraged by your personal religious beliefs, not only by its affordability and eco-friendliness.
Leave a Reply