Choosing Between Cremation and Burial Services
Cremation has become more popular over the years but choosing one option over the others is an incredibly personal decision. Most of the time, the deceased will leave instructions on matters related to their passing and you will be able to carry out their will. Otherwise, the family can decide together which option is right.
You have to understand the differences between the two options to decide which is best for your situation. During cremation, the body is incinerated and ashes will be left at the end. The body is intact when it comes to a burial. You can have a funeral service or a memorial service prior to this so you can remember the family member or friend with loved ones. Once the body is cremated, the ashes can be kept by the family in an urn or it can be scattered at a special location. The ashes can be displayed at home and you can take it wherever you go; this can be a comfort to some people. You can also bury the ashes in the ground. In cremation, the body will be turned to ash in several hours while in the burial process, the decomposition process is much slower. Both options allow you to be respectful of the deceased, but you have to consider which is acceptable to your family. Some might prefer cremation services as they don’t want to think of their loved one’s remains decaying underground while others want to preserve the body.
The decision to cremate or bury will also be affected by cultural and religious beliefs. Many cultures include viewing the body as part of the funeral process. This is possible with both options. You can have a viewing and a memorial before cremation can take place. When it comes to religious beliefs, different religions view cremation and burial in different ways. Some religions such as Judaism or Islam avoid cremation. There are also some religions that view cremation in a positive light such as Hinduism and Buddhism. The economic considerations are also important. Direct cremation is more cost-effective than burials. This is because it doesn’t require embalming. Also, you will not need to keep the body in a coffin. This is also a much simpler method as you are not taking up space in the ground as in a burial. Cremation has come a long way with technological advancements so that now the human body can be reduced to the basic elements with modern cremation.
You can also make a decision based on how it will impact the environment. It all depends on your priorities. If you and the deceased consider preserving the natural environment takes precedence, you can choose what you perceive to be the more environmentally friendly choice. If you select burial, you have to think about how to use biodegradable materials for the casket. The embalming fluids used can be quite toxic and therefore, cremation could be the greener choice. However, you need to consider the emissions produced during cremation. You can also consider natural burials where embalming fluids are not used.