When you take a look at the rising costs of traditional burial services, it is easy to see why so many are choosing to have their remains cremated. In 2012, the average cost of a funeral that involved a casket and vault was right at $8,343. Whether you are considering planning your own funeral arrangements or you are left making decisions for a deceased family member, it is likely you have a few questions about cremation in general.
Here are the answers to a few of those most common questions:
Do you have to visit a special funeral home if you choose cremation?
The majority of funeral homes do offer crematorium services for their clients. If not, they often work closely with one in the area to give you the option if it is what you choose. For example, if you have a family funeral home where your relatives have always been given service, but they do not offer cremation, they can arrange for the remains to be cremated at a different location.
Why is the cost of cremation so much cheaper than traditional burial?
Cremation can be dramatically cheaper for several different reasons. For one, body preparation is not as lengthy and does not involve embalming. Furthermore, cremation will not require an expensive casket, a vault, or even a burial plot in a cemetery or a headstone grave marker. In some cases, there is no lengthy funeral or visitation, which reduces the costs associated with using the funeral home facility.
How common is cremation in the United States?
For many years, traditional burial did not involve cremation. However, in the modern age, at least 20 percent of funerals involve cremation. In general, this type of final preparation has become much more socially acceptable and is even the norm in some states in the country.
What are some of the options for the ashen remains after cremation?
Part of what continues to drive up the popularity of cremation is the fact that the ashen remains are transportable and flexible. The ashes can be turned into gemstones, planted with a tree, or simply kept in an urn for the family to keep. Further, the ashes can be taken to just about any location of your choosing, such as the ocean, on personal property, or even buried in the ground with another family member.
If you are considering cremation as an alternative burial method, be sure to talk to the funeral home director about any questions you have. Make your arrangements known to your family members to ensure your wishes are carried out in the end. To learn more, contact a company like Marine Park Funeral Home Inc. with any questions or concerns you have.
Share11 March 2015
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