Cremation or Burial—Which Is Best For You?

Up until the 1960s, cremation was all but unheard of in America. Now, more than half of Americans are opting for cremation over burial. How did cremation become so popular in just a couple of generations? With millions making the choice, you might even wonder, why choose cremation over burial?

Cremation or Burial?

The choice between cremation or burial depends on a wide range of factors, such as life perspective, finances, living situation, religion, and the wishes of the loved one who has passed on. Both options have their own sets of pros and cons, so it’s ultimately a personal decision as to which route to take.

While burial has been the more common option throughout our country’s history, many families find the costs and restrictions associated with burial to be overwhelming. When a person is buried in a cemetery, there are many rules surrounding the process of preparing the body for burial, the timeline of burial, how the casket can be made, etc.

Family members are also tied to one location whenever they want to visit or pay respects to their loved one. This can be very challenging for family members who aren’t able to travel to the funeral or visit the cemetery regularly.

Because of the many difficult aspects of burial, cremation is on the rise in America. Many people simply feel that cremation affords them a more comfortable pathway toward final closure that’s most harmonious with their lifestyle.

Why Choose Cremation Over Burial?

The cremation rate in the United States was 54.6 percent in 2019, growing from a mere 5.69% in 1975. And that number is expected to grow to 79.1% by 2035. Clearly, many families are opting for cremation because it’s more cost-effective, convenient, and flexible.

Some religions that previously did not allow cremation have adopted a more open policy. In fact, the Catholic church banned cremation up until 1963, but it didn’t take long for many Catholics and members of other Christian religions to embrace cremation as a welcome alternative to burial. Here are a few reasons many families are choosing cremation over burial.

1. Affordability

Anyone who has experienced the death of a loved one knows funeral expenses add up quickly. It’s incredibly stressful to have financial worries added to an already trying time, and many families are looking for a more affordable solution.

Fortunately, cremation costs far less than burial, with no need to pay for a gravesite, headstone, hearse, and many of the other expenses associated with traditional burial. Total cost for cremation starts at $895, which is much less than the cost of just a coffin. In fact, when considering funeral services, embalming, transportation, and funeral director fees, the average funeral costs in America are usually $8,000-$10,000.

2. Flexibility in Planning

Most families prefer for their loved one to be buried as soon as possible after death, usually scheduling the burial for less than a week or two later. This forces them to rush through the experience of planning the funeral services and burial. However, cremation is a very flexible option, relieving typical time constraints and giving families more time to plan services, arrange affairs on behalf of their loved one, and more.

3. Customization

There are countless opportunities for families to customize throughout the cremation process. This allows them to remember their loved one in a unique way that suits their beliefs and lifestyle, rather than following arbitrary “rules” that aren’t ideal for their situation.

Families can create custom urns or even get creative with what they choose to do with their loved one’s ashes. They might choose to scatter ashes in the ocean, send them to space, plant a tree with a biodegradable urn, or even turn ashes into a diamond or other jewelry.

4. Portability

In the past, many families settled close to where they grew up, then stayed there for the rest of their lives. This made it easy to visit the burial site of their loved ones at any time. But many of today’s families are spread all over the country or globe. They move frequently for jobs or spend time seeing the world, making it difficult to visit the remains of their loved ones.

Fortunately, cremation is completely portable, allowing families more flexibility when it comes to plans after the death of a loved one. Funeral services could be held anywhere in the world (or forgone and remains can be carried with the family if they move.

5. Eco-Friendly

Many families have growing concerns about burial and its effect on the environment. Traditional burial involves putting embalming chemicals, cement, steel, and other non-biodegradable elements into the earth. Since cremation doesn’t require putting anything into the earth, it’s often seen as a more eco-friendly alternative to burial.

6. Easy to Plan in Advance

Most of the planning surrounding a traditional burial happens after the person dies. But cremation arrangements can be made in advance, with payments processed and taken care of for whenever they’re needed. This could be days, months, years, or even decades before the person dies. Making arrangements ahead of time lessens the stress on the family during a time of grieving.

Learn More about Cremation Today

Are you interested in learning more about cremation? Contact All California Cremation today. We’re here to take away some of the stress of this difficult time and help answer any questions you might have about cremation. We offer cremation services all over Southern California and are available to talk 24 hours a day. Find out more about the cremation process or get started with cremation now.