5 Reasons Why Families Are Choosing Cremation

The trend of people choosing cremation services in Allentown, PA instead of traditional burial as a final disposition method is on the rise. In 2018, the cremation rate in the US stood at 53% which is projected to reach 59% in 2023. 

The manifold increase in cremation rate can be attributed to the changed outlook of the people towards death and end-of-life celebrations. While many factors are at play for this change, below are five broad-brush reasons why people choose cremation. 

1. Cremation is Cost-Effective 

Direct cremation often costs significantly lower than that of a burial. With cremation, you don’t need a casket, cement vault, opening and closing of the grave, headstone, etc. Many families also skip embalming when they have to cremate the body. 

You may have to spend on an urn and cremating the body. However, expenses can vary depending on the services you choose for the lost loved one including wake, visitation, or a religious or a secular ceremony. But on average, they can cost 40-50% lower than burials. 

2. Cremation is Environmentally Friendly 

Lately, people are becoming more environmentally conscious and are preferring cremation to burial as the former is eco-friendlier. Unlike burials, there’s no need for a casket or heavy cement vaults to be buried in soil or using harmful chemicals to preserve the body. 

Also, cremation doesn’t take up any green space’ even if one decides to bury the urn, it occupies far less space as a coffin does. Cremation, however, does take a toll in terms of carbon emission, but that can be minimized using modern technology. 

3. Flexibility and Ease in Planning 

Cremations are much easier to plan compared to burial. The bereaved family doesn’t need to fill in hectic paperwork and shop for a plethora of services. All it takes to buy an urn of your choosing, select a cremation site, and cremate the body. 

Also, it frees up the time frame and you get to hold on to the ashes indefinitely. You have enough timeframe to decide about scattering, burial, or any other disposition method as per the wishes of the deceased.   

4. Offers More Creativity 

There’s a little room for creativity in the case of traditional burials , but when it comes to cremation, the family has a myriad of options to honor the lost loved one. 

Today, people who are considering cremation are opting to more personalize and customize the scattering or burying of loved one’s ashes to commemorate their life and death. You can turn it into jewelry, pieces of art, or bury them in the sea or a special place, and disperse them into the sky, to mention a few. The choices are virtually countless and you can do with ashes whatever gives you peace of mind.   

5. Convenience for the Family to Attend 

After the cremation, you can hold up the memorial or burial services until your family members living abroad or far apart across the country are available. You can wait for weeks, even months, since the ashes remain intact indefinitely.   

It becomes useful especially when bad weather or unexpected situations make it impossible for some family and friends to attend the cremation services on short notice.