Cremation is the most popular funeral option in Australia. It’s estimated that around 70 percent of people chose to be cremated. This number is likely to grow even further in the coming years. Here are some of the biggest reasons why people are choosing to be cremated instead of buried.
More Time To Prepare
Often, burials need to take place a few days after your loved one passes. This can be tough for families who have relatives out of town. Sometimes, they won’t be able to make it back in time to attend the funeral in person.
On the other hand, you might opt to have your loved one cremated shortly after their passing, then have the ceremony at a later date. This allows everyone to come together to say a final goodbye.
More Flexibility
Burials are typically associated with traditional ceremonies. Cremations, though, can allow for a more flexible approach. For example, if you want a simpler ceremony you don’t need to select pallbearers or organize a viewing. Some people opt to forgo the service altogether, preferring an informal gathering with friends and family to spread the ashes. The simplicity associated with cremation can help to ease the stress placed on family members when a loved one dies.
Better For The Environment
Increasingly, people are opting for funeral services that have a low impact on the environment. Cremation is better for the planet. You will be able to avoid the emissions associated with the maintenance of the grave site. Harmful chemicals used to prepare the body can leach into the soil, causing environmental damage. Furthermore, burial will take up valuable land.
Wide Range Of Ways To Remember Loved Ones
If you opt to bury a loved one, you will be able to visit the grave site to feel close to them. There are numerous ways that families can remember loved ones who have been cremated. For example, you might want to inter the urn in a columbarium niche in a cemetery. At other times, a funeral home can provide a memorial garden where the ashes can be scattered. Sometimes, families will opt to keep the urn at home.
There is a huge range of urns available, which can be customized to better suit your loved one. Furthermore, there is a wide range of ways that you can use the ashes. For example, some people might want to create jewellery. This will allow you to keep your loved ones close to you each day. At other times, the ashes have been mixed into tattoo ink. Or you can add ashes to paint and commission a portrait of your loved one. There are even people who have converted the ashes into a firework.
Lower Costs
Sadly, funerals can be quite expensive, particularly if you are organizing a burial. Cremation can allow you to minimize these expenses, for a more affordable goodbye. For example, you won’t need to pay for a burial site or headstone. This can end up saving hundreds of dollars.
Conclusion
Though both services provide families with a chance to say a heartfelt goodbye to loved ones, most Australians prefer to be cremated, rather than buried. This is because, when compared with a burial, cremation provides more simplicity and customizability. Though it’s a good idea to consider what you want your final farewell to look like, to find the best approach for you.
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