Cremation vs. Burial: Choosing What’s Right for You

Cremation has surpassed burial in recent years as the more popular choice during funeral planning, but there are still a lot of people who select a traditional burial. The choice you make is entirely up to your own personal preferences.

With this in mind, if you need a bit of assistance in determining what’s right for you, here is a quick overview of some of the pros and cons of cremation vs. burial in Phillipsburg, NJ.

Cremation

The biggest reason people select cremation is that it is significantly less expensive than burial. There is no need for an expensive casket or to reserve a plot of land. The cremation urn may be placed in a mausoleum, or the ashes may be taken home, transported elsewhere or scattered.

The flexibility of what can be done with the ashes is another benefit. You can have your ashes spread just about anywhere you want, so long as it is not against the law in the area. There is also the option for cremation jewelry to be made from the ashes.

Cremation takes up significantly less space than burial, which helps resolve some of the problems with cemetery overcrowding, and the lack of environmental contaminants associated with cremation makes it a more environmentally friendly option. You’re also still able to have a funeral service or custom memorial either before or after the burial.

The drawback associated with cremation is that this is a permanent decision—there is no possibility to exhume the body at any later date. Some people may find it more difficult to mourn the loss at a funeral without a body, and for others, cremation may be against their religion.

Burial

The primary advantage of a burial is that it provides a more physical connection and a gravesite for family and friends to visit, which may be comforting after a loss. Some might consider it a more natural method of disposing of the body, allowing it to decompose naturally. If necessary, it also allows the body to be exhumed at a later date. Some religions require a body to be buried, and some people find it offers them more closure.

The big drawback to burial is that it is much more expensive than cremation. Caskets can cost thousands of dollars in some cases, plus there’s the plot of land, the headstone or monument and the costs associated with preparing the body for visitation at the funeral. Those costs all add up quickly and can cut a good deal of money out of what you leave behind in your estate.

In addition, it can be difficult for loved ones who live far away to come and visit the gravesite. They may have feelings of guilt about not being able to come and pay their respects in person.

These are just a few examples of some of the biggest pros and cons associated with cremation vs. burial. For more information and tips as you make your decisions for end of life planning in Phillipsburg, NJ, we encourage you to contact Phillipsburg Memorial Company today.

Categorised in: Headstone