Is Cremation Right for You?

While many of us are good at making decisions in life, we often falter when it comes to planning our final chapter, including choices about cremation.

The majority of Americans don’t make plans for their health care, funeral arrangements, or the distribution of their estate before they die. In one study, it was found that while about 62 percent of people felt talking about their funeral plans was important, only about 21 percent had done so.

So if you are reading this now, congratulations! You are thinking about how you’d like your final plans to go and doing some research. We applaud you. We hope by providing you information, we can help make your decision-making a little easier. And if you are planning for someone else, we know that can be hard. We want to make it as easy as we can by providing useful information.

Cremation Considerations: Religious, Financial, and Personal Factors

There are many factors to consider when deciding if cremation is a better choice than burial or another alternative method. For example, some religions do not support the practice. Additionally, many people take their budget into account, as cremation is generally less expensive than burial.

Here is a checklist that may give you food for thought as you consider cremation vs. burial.

• Does my religion allow cremation?
• Will cremation be a better fit for my budget than burial?
• Do I have a family tradition of burial or family plot to use?
• Do I have a special place I’m interested in having ashes scattered?
• Do I have a special place I’d like to be buried?
• Do I want a traditional funeral and burial?
• Would a celebration of life be a better fit for me and my family?

Once you have considered this list and questions of your own, you can more deeply investigate your options.

Cremation and Religion: Can They Co-Exist?

Many religions, including most Protestant denominations, Reform Judaism, and Catholicism approve of cremation with some guidelines and restrictions. For example, the Catholic Church requires that ashes be placed in a sacred place. Muslims do not believe in cremation, while Buddhists and Hindus have a long history with the practice. Because faiths can have a range of opinions on cremation, it is best to check with your religious leader.

Is Cremation Cheaper than Burial?

Though the end result is the same, there are a variety of price points and options when you choose cremation, but generally speaking, cremation is less expensive than burial. The most affordable cremation option is usually “direct cremation” which is a cremation that happens “directly,” before there is any celebration, memorial, or funeral. Some families prefer cremation combined with a memorial and other services. This is called “traditional cremation,” since it follows many of the traditional elements for casketed burial. The big difference is the cost of cremation:

• The national median price for a direct cremation is $2,645 but can vary depending on the funeral provider and the region. 
• A full-service traditional cremation is about $6,000 on average. 
• A traditional burial with viewing is about $7,800 on average, not including the gravesite. 
• Add-ons, such as embalming, caskets for viewing, and other optional items, add to the final cost.

Just like planning a wedding, funeral arrangements can get very detailed and more expensive as you add on items. However, just like any type of event planning, you can choose what’s most meaningful to you and skip what doesn’t matter. You can also always have friends and family pitch in with their own DIY talents.

Making Informed Choices: Cremation vs. Burial

In burial, after a funeral, the body is placed (usually) in a casket and then buried. According to the National Funeral Directors Association, the cost of a traditional funeral and burial was $7,848 (with viewing and burial) while a cremation was $6,971 with similar services.

For burials, some cemeteries may require additional measures to maintain the uniform appearance of the landscaping. These vaults and liners can add an additional cost to your spending. Also, with burial, if you would like to have a funeral with a body present, you may need to choose embalming, which will preserve the body until the ceremony can be held. If you are on a budget and don’t require a funeral right away, you might choose cremation and avoid funeral extras like embalming.

Cremation vs. Composing: Alternatives to Cremation

A new trend has emerged in the last few years that’s called natural organic reduction, more commonly called human composting. The practice uses a machine filled with natural materials like straw and wood chips to reduce human bodies into a compost that can be used in gardens. It is not legal in the majority of states but has gained in popularity. According to one of the leading companies in organic reduction, the price tag is about $7,000. Other families sometimes consider donating a body for scientific research, some choose an eco-burial where a body is buried without embalming, vaults, or expensive caskets. Also available in a handful of states is the process of water cremation also known as alkaline hydrolysis which uses liquid chemicals to break down the body into solid and liquid components.

What’s the Difference Between a Celebration of Life and Funeral?

Though many people use the terms "memorial" and "funeral" interchangeably, a funeral typically refers to a religious or secular ceremony with the body present, while a memorial or celebration of life is held without the body (no casket, no open casket, or urn). Memorials are often less somber and can take place at any time.

Sometimes a celebration of life may feature people wearing bright colors or a favorite team jersey in honor of the person who has died. They can be held in less formal settings like a park, community hall, or at home. Whether you are planning for yourself or someone else, it is important to think about whether the gathering should be religious, somber, happen right away or later, and how many people should be invited. Sometimes families will have a smaller ceremony with a reception that follows or a larger celebration of life that takes place later in the day or even at another date. It is an individual choice that should be made in consideration of your values, religion, family history, and traditions.

This aspect of end-of-life planning matters because your provider will help ensure that the gathering for friends and family aligns with your choice of cremation or burial. A full-service funeral home can assist with both planning a traditional funeral and arranging a direct cremation. However, some businesses specialize only in direct cremation and do not provide support for memorial services.There is no right way to celebrate a loved one. Choose what works for you.

If I Choose Cremation, Where Should My Ashes Go?

Some people choose to have ashes scattered in a sentimental place like a national park or a special landmark. Others may want an alternative method like an ash tattoo or a vinyl record. If you are trying to weigh the decision of cremation vs. burial, but know that you want to have a permanent resting place, keep in mind that cremated remains can also be placed in a cemetery. There are many permanent memorial options available. Your loved ones might want to keep a portion of your remains (or if you are making plans for someone else, you may want to do the same) to use in jewelry or other memorial items. And there are more creative memorial and alternative “out of the box” ideas than we can count including firework displays and space.

If your family has a family plot or there is a cemetery with other loved ones you are considering, have a conversation with the cemetery staff to see what your options are for both burial and cremation if you’d like to use that as your final resting place.

If I Choose Cremation, What Paperwork Do I Need?

Regulations about funeral care vary by state, but regardless of where you live, it's important to document your wishes so your loved ones know your preferences. You can also visit a funeral provider to plan your chosen method and consider prepaying if it makes financial sense for you. Most states require a cremation authorization. You can fill out the forms ahead of time or name someone in legally-binding paperwork to be your agent. If you don’t leave the proper paperwork behind, likely you’ll be relying on your next of kin to make decisions. Depending on which state the death takes place in, there are a number of complexities that can happen. For example, sometimes a majority of children or siblings must agree to the plans. To avoid these headaches, plan ahead and leave clear instructions that are separate from your will. This is true whether you want burial, cremation, or another method. 

How Will My Loved Ones Know It Is Me?

The funeral industry is regulated on local, state, and federal levels and the utmost care is taken to make sure that you or your loved one is properly handled from beginning to end. There are a series of checks that take place during the cremation process where paperwork and metal discs are checked and checked again to verify the identity of the body.

Why Should I Choose Cremation or Burial Now?

All too often, people die unexpectedly. In the funeral business, we know these are the hardest deaths to grapple with. But for those people that had loved ones who planned ahead, the burden is a little easier. 

One of the first decisions to make while considering this choice is between burial vs. cremation. It is a highly personal decision and based on your own values, budget, and traditions.

When you don’t choose and don’t plan, you leave your family members wondering if they’d done the right thing. Cremation is a permanent procedure, so all involved want to make sure it aligns with what the person would have wanted. 

Who Should I Tell About Choosing Cremation?

Ideally, you will write down what your choices are for your end-of-life arrangements and even better, make and pay for your plans with a funeral provider. However, a conversation with your family or spouse can be a great first step. Make sure you talk to the people most likely to be making decisions for you, for example, your next of kin. Talking about death can be a delicate topic, but these difficult conversations are crucial for you to represent your wishes after you can no longer speak for yourself. If you choose burial instead of cremation, then be sure to specify how elaborate you would like the plans to be, where you might want to be buried, and any other details. If you choose cremation, you’ll want to think about what kind of memorial or celebration you’d like, if any and where you’d like your ashes to be placed or scattered. Sharing these details with your loved one will help them devote their energies to remembering you, not in lots of planning and red tape.

Where Can I Learn More About Cremation?

There are many good resources for learning about cremation including the Cremation Association of North America (CANA). The Funeral Consumers Alliance is a good resource for consumer tips as is the Federal Trade Commission’s Funeral Rule website. Armed with good information about cremation and thinking about some of the things that matter to you, we hope you’ll find a plan that gives you peace of mind for yourself or a loved one.

For more information, we invite you to explore our other articles on Tips for Planning an Ash Scattering and Creative Ideas for Ashes. If you have any questions or need a helping hand, find a local provider who can assist you with compassion and care.