While no one wants to take the time to think about something as unpleasant as death, it is the natural course of things. Have you decided whether you want to be buried or cremated? Or did you recently have a loved one die who did not specify? While burial and cremation each have their own merits, there are a few reasons why cremation may be the better option. Included here are a few reasons to choose cremation for yourself or a loved one.
Lower Cost
The cost of funerals has become astronomical in recent years. By choosing to cremate your loved one, you can avoid the cost of the gravesite, casket, cemetery fee and headstone. Many times, when cremating, you will have the option to do a small service before the cremation to allow loved ones to say goodbye.
Environmentally Friendly
You may be shocked to hear that funeral services are not very environmentally friendly, but when you take into account the great trouble they cause, it makes sense. Think of the fuel being spent on the backhoe to dig the grave, all family members first driving to the funeral and then to the graveside and then the land that is disturbed by the burial. It is much more eco-friendly to be cremated than to have a full burial site designated to your casket and headstone.
Portability
Have you considered the fact that people tend to move away after a loved one is lost? It is impossible to take a grave with you to visit after you leave an area and flying back can be high-cost. By putting the cremated remains in a nice urn, you can bring your loved one with you as you relocate. It is also possible to place the remains in a few small urns, so each family member can have a memory.
Plethora of Potential “Burial” Sites
Do you remember the scene from The Big Lebowski when Donny’s ashes are released to the “bosom of the Pacific ocean?” Donny loved surfing, and bowling, and his friends attempted a proper burial by scattering the ashes on the coast. While you may hope for more reverence as your remains are scattered, you can see the options cremation gives you.
You, or your loved one, may have dreamed of visiting New Zealand, or Iceland, or the Mediterranean. By being cremated, those ashes can be scattered across the globe, giving the deceased a chance to seemingly visit those places and provide closure to the loved ones left behind. Or, like Donny, if you really just loved surfing, you could have your ashes scattered on your favorite beach and become a part of your favorite place.