Even though cremation is growing in popularity, there are still a lot of misconceptions surrounding the practice. If you are trying to decide between burial and cremation, it can help to learn as much as you can.
There is no right or wrong choice when it comes to cremation versus burial. The right choice is what you are comfortable with and which method is compatible with your personal customs and traditions. To help you consider your options, here are ten things you might now know about cremation.
1. You can still have a funeral.
It is a common misconception that if you are cremated, you can’t have a funeral. Not true. While many people who choose cremation prefer to have a memorial service (no body present), there is no reason why you can’t have a funeral before the cremation.
2. You will never be cremated with other people.
It is illegal for multiple human bodies to be cremated together. Animals, however, may be cremated in a communal arrangement along with other pets.
3. You should shop around.
Prices for cremation can vary by location and by the specific options you choose. You may be able to save money by shopping around. Funeral homes are required to give you pricing by phone if you ask for it. The terms funeral homes use for different services may vary so make sure you know what you are buying.
4. You can be religious and be cremated.
There was a time when many religions forbid the use of cremation. These days most religions permit cremation. Some religions do, however, have special requirements for how the remains are handled after cremation. If complying with religious practices is important to you should consult with your pastor or spiritual advisor.
5. You can skip the funeral home.
It is possible to make arrangements for cremation without ever entering a funeral home. In some cities, an advisor will come to you. You can also make arrangements online or over the phone.
6. You can request that someone witness the cremation.
Many crematories are arranged so that the cremation can be observed. Usually, this will need to be arranged for in advance and space may be limited.
7. You can save money by preplanning.
The best argument for buying your cremation in advance is that you can lock in today’s prices. An even better argument is that you can shop around and make your purchases without the emotions that can be associated when buying end-of-life services following a death.
8. You have more options for personalization.
In addition to traditional choices such as burying the remains or placing an urn in a niche or columbarium, options for creating memorials from cremated remains are practically unlimited. From creating jewelry to artwork to using remains in tattoo ink, options are varied and creative.
9. You can skip embalming.
If you choose to have a viewing before cremation, you may need to purchase embalming, but if you opt for a memorial service, you won’t need to incur this cost.
10. You can take it with you.
We grow more mobile every day. That’s why portability is seen as an advantage when it comes to cremation. An urn can easily travel with you, and the remains can be divided among loved ones if you desire.
Whether you decide on in-ground burial or cremation, you can have the type of ceremony or memorial service that you want. There are many options, all of them good.
- For more on cremation visit our Cremation Services Page.
- For more on designing a funeral or memorial service visit our Celebrations of Life Page.
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- You can still have a funeral.
It is a common misconception that if you are cremated, you can’t have a funeral. Not true. While many people who choose cremation prefer to have a memorial service (no body present), there is no reason why you can’t have a funeral before the cremation. - You will never be cremated with other people.
It is illegal for multiple human bodies to be cremated together. Animals, however, may be cremated in a communal arrangement along with other pets. - You should shop around.
Prices for cremation can vary by location and by the specific options you choose. You may be able to save money by shopping around. Funeral homes are required to give you pricing by phone if you ask for it. The terms funeral homes use for different services may vary so make sure you know what you are buying. - You can be religious and be cremated.
There was a time when many religions forbid the use of cremation. These days most religions permit cremation. Some religions do, however, have special requirements for how the remains are handled after cremation. If complying with religious practices is important to you should consult with your pastor or spiritual advisor. - You can skip the funeral home.
It is possible to make arrangements for cremation without ever entering a funeral home. In some cities, an advisor will come to you. You can also make arrangements online or over the phone. - You can request that someone witness the cremation.
Many crematories are arranged so that the cremation can be observed. Usually, this will need to be arranged for in advance and space may be limited. - You can save money by preplanning.
The best argument for buying your cremation in advance is that you can lock in today’s prices. An even better argument is that you can shop around and make your purchases without the emotions that can be associated when buying end-of-life services following a death. - You have more options for personalization.
In addition to traditional choices such as burying the remains or placing an urn in a niche or columbarium, options for creating memorials from cremated remains are practically unlimited. From creating jewelry to artwork to using remains in tattoo ink, options are varied and creative. - You can skip embalming.
If you choose to have a viewing before cremation, you may need to purchase embalming, but if you opt for a memorial service, you won’t need to incur this cost. - You can take it with you.
We grow more mobile every day. That’s why portability is seen as an advantage when it comes to cremation. An urn can easily travel with you, and the remains can be divided among loved ones if you desire.
Carmen
What are the cost of burying an urn in an already existing & used family burial plot and what documents are needed to proceed?
Jennifer Lane
Hi Carmen, You will need to contact the cemetery where you want to bury the urn in an existing grave. See our answer to a similar question here: https://www.funeralwise.com/forums/topic/can-ashes-be-buried-in-the-same-grave/
Sariah Meagle
It’s a relief to know that I can still have a funeral if I have a cremation done when I pass. I suppose that if I won’t be cremated along with other people, my body should be safe. If I can be religious and be cremated at the same time, I’ll be sure to get a plan because it does not say in my religion that it’s not allowed to do so.
Adrian Jones
It’s great you talked about how cremation can be synonymous with a funeral since a lot of people have misconceptions about how cremations normally would go, like how being in a certain religion would forbid you from getting your remains cremated. At the same time, you can actually skip the funeral home and arrange for the services to be done at home, even–as long as you book for the cremation rites to be done at a funeral parlor. While I haven’t pre-planned for the inevitable yet, at least it’s good to know that you have the option of being cremated should you choose for it.
Tyler Johnson
That’s good to know that it’s illegal to cremate more than one person at a time. I wouldn’t want my ashes to get mixed together with someone else’s. I feel like that would not make anyone happy with that outcome.
Bree Ward
The portability concept fo cremation is one of the best features that make cremation abetter choice. As you’ve said, an urn can travel with you anywhere you go. If ever that I get to plan my own funeral, I will definitely choose cremations o that my family can take me wherever state they can to go since my family loves to move from one state to another.
Diane
I have a question about cremation.
If a parent dies and there are 2 children
Do both have to sign paper for the cremation.
Jennifer Lane
Yes – both children will need to sign the authorization for cremation.