Cremation is on the rise in the U.S. In fact, by 2040, the National Funeral Directors Association (NFDA) predicts that 78% of all final dispositions will be cremations.
As this trend continues, the NFDA report suggests that, “Many consumers are still unaware of the full spectrum of choices available for end-of-life services.”
Our memorial specialists often hear the same thing, as most families are unsure of the options that come with cremation: How much will it cost? Can an urn be buried? Does cremation limit memorialization options?
In response to changing consumer preferences, it’s important for families to know what is and isn’t true about the general process, costs and services associated with cremation.
To help you understand your options better, we debunk common cremation myths below.
Many people believe that the overall cost of cremation is cheaper than burial, but the truth is, the costs are comparable when configuring the products and services selected.
The NFDA suggests the average cost of a funeral with a viewing and burial in 2019 was $7,640, compared to $6,645 for a funeral with a viewing and a cremation casket and urn.
Some factors that may influence the final dollar amount of a cremation include:
Therefore, it’s hard to deem cremation cheaper than burial and vice versa. After all, the price of any final arrangements comes down to your family's personal budget.
Contrary to popular belief, cremation does not limit the ability to memorialize the deceased. You can honor and celebrate a cremated loved one in the same way someone who was buried can.
There are three general cremation memorialization options:
If you choose to memorialize the cremated remains in a permanent resting place, there are a nearly infinite number of personalization options, including:
When choosing an urn to hold the remains, you'll want to consider the following:
As you can see, with cremation, there is nearly no limit to how you can honor and celebrate the individual.
>>> To learn more about the extensive options available for honoring and celebrated a loved one who chooses cremation, take a look at The Comprehensive Guide to Cremation Memorialization.
Many people believe that you can’t have a funeral with cremation, but that’s simply not the case.
Cremation offers the same options as burial. The only difference is that these services may occur before or after the cremation, and may or may not have the body or cremains present.
Some common cremation services include:
When you choose cremation, there are many options for commemorating a loved one.
Are you looking for a unique and meaningful way to memorialize your loved one’s cremated remains? Contact us today to learn about the many cremation memorials and monuments we offer.
Our comprehensive guide walks you through the cremation memorialization options available for honoring and celebrating a loved one.
Editor's note: This blog post was originally published in 2018. We updated it in November 2020 to be more comprehensive and current.