4 Questions To Ask Yourself Before Deciding On Traditional Burial Over Cremation

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One of the biggest decisions you will be faced with when it comes to funeral pre-planning is whether you wish to be cremated or buried, which is an idea that may require more thought than what you anticipate. You may be quick to choose traditional burial for a lot of reasons (whether it is what the rest of your family has chosen or just seems like the more common choice), but cremation could be the better option. Here are a few quick questions you should ask yourself before you choose traditional burial over cremation.

Are you okay with your remains being permanently stationary?

Society in general is much more transitory than what it once was. Family members who surround you now in your location could easily be living in other places down the road. Going with traditional burial means that your remains will always stay in one place, which may not be ideal if all of your relatives are eventually scattered across the country. 

Are you prepared to spend more money?

It is no big secret that being cremated is much cheaper than paying for a traditional burial, but most people have no idea how much more expensive a traditional burial really is. If you go with a traditional burial, you could be facing:

  • burial vault costs between $795 on the low end and $14,000 on the high end
  • casket costs as high as $12,000
  • up to $1,000 for grave opening and closing 

Do you live in an area far from where you are originally from?

If life has taken you to a place now that is miles from where you originated from, opting for a traditional burial may not be the best option. Your final resting spot could be in an area where your family will hardly ever visit if you choose to be buried in your current location. Plus, paying to have your body transported miles away once you pass away to be buried close to your hometown can be a costly endeavor. On the other hand, being cremated means that your remains will be completely portable and your can leave instructions to have your remains buried wherever you like. 

Would you prefer to have something creative done with your remains?

There are few ways that a traditional burial can be creative. You may have the choice to be buried in various types of caskets and vaults or even get an out-of-the-ordinary headstone. However, being cremated opens up an entirely different world when it comes to creative options for your remains. You can have your ashen remains transformed into gemstones to be implemented into jewelry, planted with a tree on your property, or even incorporated with fireworks to hold an awe-inspiring show at your memorial party. 

Contact a local service, such as American Cremation Society, for further assistance.  

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3 June 2016

Planning Your Loved One’s Funeral

A couple of weeks ago, one of my dear family friend’s suffered the loss of her husband. After a brief illness, he passed away at a local hospital. Immediately after his passing, she started planning the funeral arrangements. She didn’t want his funeral to be a sad occasion. Instead, she wanted the service to celebrate his amazing life. She worked tirelessly with the professional staff at a local funeral home in order to plan the order and type of service for the funeral. On this blog, you will discover tips for planning a funeral service that will celebrate the life of your deceased loved one.