Cremation vs Burial

Final wishes are never easy to discuss but are necessary in order to honor the individual's preferences. As uncomfortable as it may be, this can be discussed earlier in life in case of a missed opportunity.

 

Cremation was once shunned by the Catholic church but has been deemed acceptable since 1965. The negative stigma of cremation has been reduced because of family members communicating their wishes, creative ways to spread ashes of loved ones as well as space limitations for full plots in cemeteries. Another positive vote for cremation is that the ashes can be stored in an urn and saved by family members. Since the urn is sealed and hygienic, the ashes can be passed from generation to generation keeping the memory of a loved one alive.

 

If a body is cremated, it allows the family and friends to create unique ways to dispose of the ashes or to follow through with what their loved one requested. In 1997 the cremated remains of 24 people, among them Gene Roddenberry, the creator of "Star Trek", were rocketed into orbit. A man that spent his life enjoying boats and fishing could have his ashes spread out to sea or an avid hunter could have his ashes scattered in a favorite hunting spot. Families should always give great thought to where they will scatter the ashes in regards to future moves or spots that are forbidden. Once the ashes are scattered, they cannot be scooped back up and recovered. If a family may consider moving out of the area in the future, consider keeping the ashes contained at home until a permanent home is established.

 

One negative aspect of cremation is that families cannot view their lost loved one again before burial or scattering. Many people seek comfort and peace when they can see their friend at peace after fighting a battle with cancer. This allows loved ones to see a peaceful body before they are placed in their final resting place. Some individuals see cremation as a bad experience because they cannot accept that their loved one would be closed in a fiery oven until they are reduced to mere ashes.

 

Old tales of being buried alive have terrified people into choosing cremation but modern day advances have made this impossible. After an individual has died, a mortician drains any life sustaining fluids from the body and replaces it with embalming fluid. There is no possibility of a buried person coming back to life. A wonderful benefit of burial is the opportunity for loved ones to visit the gravesite often and to pay their respects. Fresh flowers and trinkets can be placed graveside to provide peace to the family. This also opens the possibility of family plots. It is comforting to know that family members will be near each other after death.

 

Something to keep in mind is that a cremation does not prevent a traditional funeral ceremony, or  even a burial in a plot with family, in fact many family's choose to cremate there remains and be buried together allowing them to share a single plot.