Understanding the Pros and Cons of Cremation

Are you confused about whether or not to choose cremation services in Allentown, PA, as the final disposition method for your loved one? Or are you wondering why increasingly number of people are choosing cremation as an alternative to traditional burial funerals. 

Read this article to learn about the pros and cons of cremation and make your decision accordingly. 

Advantages of Cremation 

Below are the common reasons that encourage bereaved families to prefer cremation. 

1. A Cost-Friendly Alternative to Burial Funeral 

The biggest advantage of cremation is its cost-efficiency. While the price varies significantly depending on your individual preferences and the services you choose, but on average, a direct cremation costs almost half of that of a traditional burial.   

In some cases, the cost is even reduced to one-fourth of what you pay for a burial funeral. This cost evaluation is one of the biggest reasons why families to choose cremation for the lost loved ones.   

2. It’s Environmentally Friendly 

Another highlighted advantage of cremation is that it’s much more environmentally friendly than burial. As climate change has started taking its toll on the environment, people are becoming more environment-conscious – both in their lives and during their final service. 

Cremation doesn’t need embalming chemicals, caskets, or swatches of land for burying as in the case of burials, which reduce the environmental tolls associated with it.   

3. Quick and Simple Procedure 

Arranging a cremation service is quite simple and involves just a few decisions. It offers the bereaved family much more relief and flexibility to mourn the deceased in peace. 

A burial funeral, on the flip side, requires you to make dozens of decisions within a couple of days that can be overwhelming for the bereaved family. 

4. It Can Easily Be Personalized 

Cremation offers a range of non-traditional offers to honor the loved one just like they would have wanted such as memorial service after cremation. The bereaved family can scatter the ashes in creative and unique ways such as planting a tree or cremation jewelry. 

Disadvantages of Cremation 

Here are some of the reasons that may convince you not to choose cremation: 

• The biggest obstacle to choosing cremation comes from religious and cultural restrictions. Many cultures discourage the notion of burning the bodies while some religions, such as Judaism and Islam outrightly bar the followers from practicing cremation. However, religions like Hinduism mandates cremation in any case. 

• It marks the finality of disposition. That is, the body cannot be exhumed for legal purposes or otherwise after cremation.   

• In most cases, the ashes are dispersed in the air or buried in the sea and there’s no headstone or a particular place for the families to visit the deceased and offer their tribute. However, many people choose to bury the cremated remains in their backyards or specific mausoleums. 

In the end, cremation is a personal choice and there are many factors to consider when making this decision. Whether or not cremation is right for you, it’s important to be aware of both the pros and cons so that you can make an informed choice.