Considering Cremation? Here's What You Need To Know

Posted on: 14 January 2015

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When you consider the right funeral home for your final memorial or funeral services, you might also take a moment to consider where your body will go when you die. While you might think that most people prefer to be buried, that statistic is about to change. If you have thought about getting cremated instead, you are most definitely not alone. Here are a few ideas to help you start along this path.

Cremation On the Rise

The fact is that more and more Americans choose to be cremated when they die. Where only a few people out of a hundred preferred cremation in the 1950s, almost half plan for cremation now, according to The Huffington Post. Cremation used to be little more than a running gag on the mantel of many sitcoms. But within the next few years, cremation will be the preferred form of treating the body after death. People have different reasons for selecting cremation over a traditional burial, including:

  • lower costs
  • no need for a burial plot
  • the ability to dispose of ashes in novel locations

Cremation's increase in popularity means that when you choose ashes, you have a lot of options available to you. So, if you long to have your ashes scattered over the Grand Canyon, or even converted into a series of Christmas ornaments for your loved ones, you might be surprised to learn that these preferences are absolutely open to you.

Religious Considerations

Some people worry that their religion will not permit them to receive religious rites if they are cremated. And, although The Huffington Post notes that cremation's rising popularity is partly due to people's decreased dedication to religious authority, many major religions have bended to modern pressure. For example, the Roman Catholic Church permits faithful members to have a church burial, even if they are cremated. And, many rabbis from the Reform and Orthodox sects of Judaism will now perform burial ceremonies for Jewish people who have been cremated.

Handling Remains

All these options and concessions still land you with a decent amount of responsibility regarding your ashes and their final resting place, however. As a general rule, you cannot have your ashes scattered just anywhere. Many national parks are more than happy to have your loved ones bury or scatter your ashes there, so long as you avoid public walkways and water sources. You might only need a simple permit. You can even drop your ashes on the beach in California, so long as the person doing it walks at least 500 feet into the water. But, if you decide that you want to give your ashes to someone, you can take your pick of hundreds of urns in a variety of shapes and sizes.

As you plan for your funeral services, what you really want to know is that your remains have been treated with the proper care and courtesy. And, whether you choose a burial or the newly popular cremation, you now know that you can get it. Talk to your funeral director, such as Friedrichs Funeral Home, for more information.