Funerals or cremation services Mentor, OH, among the least discussed topics. Only 26% of Americans talk about funerals with friends or family. No wonder, online platforms are inundated with questions – often left unanswered – about whether a cremation should be preferred or a burial.
Even though organizing a funeral is a highly personal decision involving faith, culture, and family, many factors should be considered before finalizing a decision. There is a significant difference between cremation and burial and this article will help you assess the pros and cons of each – and choose one accordingly.
Understanding the Terminology
Both cremation and burial take place immediately after death. In case of cremation, the body is incinerated into ashes. The remains are handed over to the family to scatter, bury in the ground, or keep as a memory. Contrarily, the burial process includes an entombing body in the ground or mausoleum.
Let’s discuss the pros and cons of each to give help you decide what’s best for your lost loved one.
Pros of Cremation
- Its cost-effective and can be arranged at any place.
- The family has the possession of the remains and can keep them.
- You still can organize a burial service after the cremation.
- It’s time-efficient and involves fewer decisions compared to that of a burial process.
- It’s considered environmentally friendly contrary to that of burial – including the casket.
Cremation Cons
- You cannot organize cremation at every locality. Some neighborhoods don’t provide cremation services.
- The body cannot be exhumed.
Pros of Burial
- Provides a permanent mausoleum or gravesite that you can visit whenever you want. For many people, it’s an important component of the healing process.
- Almost everyone is comfortable with a funeral – eliminating the chances of disagreement and confusion.
- The body can be exhumed – if need be.
Burial Cons
- It’s often more expensive
- Sometimes cemeteries have rules contradicting your wishes or decisions – and limit your choices.
Having expounded the basic pros and cons of cremation and burial, let’s discuss some important factors and statistics concerning each.
Religious Considerations
Cremation is often seen as opposed to many religions. For instance, the Jewish faith forbids cremation – with some exceptions. And Muslims never practice cremation under any circumstances. Similarly, Cremation was banned in the Catholic church until the 1960s. Now, Christians can cremate the body as long as they bury the remains. On the other hand, religions such as Hinduism and Buddhism require cremations.
Which is Best – Statistical Analysis
In America, Cremation is increasingly becoming a preferred choice. According to the National Funeral Directors Association (NFDA), the number of cremation services surpassed that of burial in 2019 and the trend will likely only increase in the coming years. The projection shows that the cremation rate will reach 80% until 2040.
Now that you understand what’s involved in both decisions, it’s time to make a choice. Whatever you decide to do, you don’t have a lot of time. Cremation services Mentor, OH, or funeral services must be planned soon after the deceased’s passing.