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Cremation is becoming more common than burials. The more familiar people become with the idea of cremation, the less hesitant they feel and the more impressed they are by its versatility. By 2016, the preferred method of honoring a loved one was cremation instead of burial. It is expected that cremations will be used in 89% of deaths. Cremation is versatile and you have many options for honoring your loved one.. Since the body is cremated rather than buried, the memorial service will simply involve a ceremony in celebration of your loved one's life. Not having a burial sometimes makes people think that the funeral will be less sacred but you can structure the ceremony in a way that your loved one deserves. For the past 10 years, iMortuary has helped families plan funerals and ceremonies after the passing of their loved ones. When it comes to funerals and ceremonies, stress levels can skyrocket but iMortuary does everything in its power to make the process more manageable for you.
Though the first cremation took place around 3000 B.C., the type of cremation that is still used today is only about 100 years in the making The first crematory came about in 1876 and there were approximately twenty crematories in operation by the year 1900. In 1876 the U.S. legalized cremation and the first crematory was built. According to research, people who elect cremation over burials do not own homes, have less religious affiliations, live more transient lives, and finished higher levels of education. In 2016, for the very first time in recorded history, cremations were more common than traditional burials overall. The financial recession, as well as an increase in population, contributed to the increase in cremations.
Not only is losing a loved one very difficult, but planning a funeral while mourning your loss is quite a burden. Planning a funeral is a painful process and choosing cremation helps to alleviate some of the stress. Cost-effectiveness is just the beginning of the long list of benefits of cremation.
Cremation is the most cost-effective choice when it comes to funerals. Cremation ranges in price from $600 to $3,000 depending on factors such as the provider you choose and where you live. Items like urns, headstones, or ceremonial items can be added for additional charges. Despite the optional add-ons, cremation is still a less expensive alternative to funerals.
With burials there is a sense of urgency, pushing families to bury their loved ones within a week or so of death. Cremations are less time-sensitive, reducing the pressure families face to plan a funeral so soon after their loved one's death. A ceremony can take place at leisure, rather than being forced to take place as soon as possible, when cremation is the chosen form of caring for the body. Having the luxury of time is a great benefit of cremation, but when it comes to grieving, it is better to hold a memorial service as soon as you are able.
The idea that a funeral cannot take place without a burial is a widespread belief about funerals. This understanding of how funerals work is misguided. Whether a loved one is cremated or buried is irrelevant when choosing to plan a funeral. Cremations are a bit more convenient because they give you the comfort of time while planning your traditional funeral. If you elect to work with a funeral home, they will walk you through the process of planning a funeral. Funeral homes are great but they can be a bit limiting and often very costly. For a cremation, you can find any location that works for you and you can hold a beautiful and traditional ceremony.
When someone is buried, chemicals are used to embalm and preserve the body but the use of chemicals doesn't end there; the cemetery is watered, mowed, and treated with pesticides forever, too. Once land is treated with chemicals like graveyards are, they cannot be used to any other purpose. When people are buried, they take continue to take up space and this is seen as wasteful for people who know the world is quickly becoming overcrowded. Cremation is by far the greener approach to funerals.
After your loved one has been cremated, you have plenty of options as to what to do with their ashes. Scatter them in a beloved location, put them on display in an urn in your house, or bury them beneath a headstone. Lately, memorial jewelry has taken off as a popular way of distributing ashes of your loved one. Memorial jewelry is made by pressing the ashes into a gemstone and turning it into a necklace, bracelet, ring, or whatever your heart desires. There is no real sense of urgency with cremations so you have all the time in the world to decide what to do with their ashes.
When your loved one dies, there is no right or wrong way to remember them. The family gets to decide how they mourn their loss, whether it be through a burial or a cremation. There are positives and negatives to each. Cost tends to be the deciding factor. Overall, cremation is less expensive than traditional burials. If you add on too many additional features to the cremation, however, the expenses can rise so be wary of that. Before you make your decision, think your options through completely. Cremation is an irreversible process. You cannot exhume a body later on once cremation has taken place. According to a few studies, cremation makes it harder for families to fully mourn the loss of their loved one. Cremation is not accepted by all religions either. Religion is not for everyone, but if the deceased person was a person of deep faith, respecting their beliefs is highly encouraged.
From religious beliefs to environmental concerns, the list of reasons to choose cremation goes on for miles. Another reason to choose cremation is financial. Burials cost much more than cremations.
Costs for cremation go towards many things:
Not all aspects involved in cremation are necessary, and since it is a case-by-case basis, most places allow you to customize your cremation plan. By keeping your ceremony small and providing your own urn, you can keep your costs down. Keep in mind that monuments or headstones placed in memoriam increase the total cost of the cremation, to the point of potentially outweighing the cost of a traditional burial. The average cost of cremation, according to the National Funeral Directors Association, is around $1,100. According to the same source, the average funeral costs about $11,000.
Cremation costs vary greatly from state to state. Factors like city, state, and service provider influence the cost of a cremation. The lowest costs for cremation are around $600 to $1300, but some states average as high as $1300 and sometimes even $3000. Major cities charge higher rates for cremation and burials alike. Opting for a direct cremation is your most cost-effective option because you bypass the funeral home altogether and save money by doing so. With direct cremations, the body is cremated and the ashes are given to the family afterwards. When it comes to funeral services, not much assistance is currently available for low-income families. Families who are tight on money have a few options available to them. To find out if you qualify for funeral assistance, reach out to social services near you. Here at iMortuary, we can help locate services for you and find providers in your area. We stand behind our database of providers and we personally screened them all. By choosing one of the providers in our database, you will speak to reputable and knowledgeable individuals who have nothing but your best interest in mind. Before you even talk to a provider, we can answer questions that might be make-or-break. This way, we can answer questions right away and you can choose whether or not to proceed with the service provider in discussion.
For funerals commemorating service members whose lives were lost in battle, the VA covers upwards of $2000 of expenses. For service members who passed away but not while in the line of duty, the VA will pay for about $762 of funeral costs.
After the death of a loved one, your first step is to decide which method you want to use. The team at iMortuary can help you with this process. Grief is not easy and loss is hard, but iMortuary is here to support you every step of the way. We have assisted over 15,000 families since 2007. Our staff can talk you through the process of planning for a funeral and/or a cremation. Three reasons to pre-plan a funeral:
The NFDA conducted a study in which they found that about 7% of people do not plan a ceremony when their loved one is cremated. After the cremation happens, it is entirely up to you whether or not you host a ceremony in honor of your loved one. Traditional services can be planned for friends and family to attend at either your home or a venue of your choice. You can also travel abroad to a sentimental place and scatter the ashes of your loved ones there. Having jewelry made with their ashes is another way of honoring the ones you love who have passed away. Since there are so many options with cremation, we have no doubt that you'd be able to find something that works best for you and your family. How you choose to honor your loved one is a decision for you to make and no matter what you decide it is sure to be beautiful.
Compared to traditional burials, cremation is a greener option. Since plots of land are not necessary and remains are placed in urns that the families often hold onto, chemicals are not involved in cremations. Though cremations release some gases into the environment, it is not as intense as those emitted by traditional burials. Consider the green options near you to protect the environment.
No matter which route you choose, iMortuary can help you plan for burials or cremation. You can rely on us to provide you with vetted, pre-screened information so that you don't have to spend any time researching yourself. Planning an event celebrating the life of your loved one can quickly become a heartbreaking stressor. We want nothing more than to ease your stress. We have helped over 14,000 families with the planning process since starting our business in 2007. You can find out more here. Get to know our business, services, and resources through our website. We are here to help you and your family make it through the unfortunate circumstance of losing a loved one.
Zip codes that we work in include: 98006, 98027, 98029, 98075.
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Source: Homesteaders Life Company
* Based on NFDA 2009 data for average funeral costs and represents only basic funeral services.