After the death of a friend or family member, the deceased’s loved ones must decide what to do with his or her body, if there were no instructions left behind in a will or other estate planning document. It is important for you to carefully analyze all of the available options to make sure you are making the right decision, both for the deceased and for yourself.
As monument makers in Walterboro, SC, we’ve seen that cremation is an increasingly popular option in the United States for a variety of reasons. Here are some of the biggest benefits associated with cremation versus a traditional in-ground burial:
- Portability: One of the biggest considerations people take into account when choosing cremation is the portability of the remains. The cremation process allows for a person’s remains to be taken with the loved one back to their home or to any location on the planet. It can be comforting to loved ones to have the deceased’s remains close by to them, no matter where they live.
- Options for disposition: The portability of the remains also allows for many more options for disposition of those remains. You can place them at a location that is significant to your loved one or to your entire family, place the ashes in an urn inside your family home or arrange to have those ashes spread out in other places of significance (so long as you follow the area’s rules for ash spreading). There are limitless options available.
- Affordability: Perhaps the single largest factor associated with the increase of cremation in the United States is how much more affordable it is than a standard burial. You don’t have to pay for a coffin, monument or burial plot. All costs considered, you will likely end up spending less than one-sixth the amount of money you’d spend on a full burial, and that’s not to mention all the extra expenses such as flowers or memorial costs.
- Less rush: Burial services need to happen faster due to the condition of the deceased’s body, especially if there is to be an open-casket visitation. There is much less need to rush the funeral or memorial service when you cremate the body, meaning you and your family can take the time you need to grieve your loss and plan the ceremony according to your wishes and your loved one’s instructions.
To make matters easier, it is highly recommended that you talk over your loved one’s wishes with them before they pass away to avoid any potential family disagreements over what should be done with the body and the funeral service. Encourage your loved one to lay out their wishes in their estate plan as clearly as possible.
If you’re interested in learning more about cremation and its benefits, including why so many people are choosing cremation today versus standard burials, we encourage you to contact the team at Steedley Monument Works. Our monument makers in Walterboro, SC will be happy to answer any questions you have for us about the process or anything else related to funerals.