Monday, November 29, 2010

Expense of Funerals Driving People to Cremation, Natural Burial

Nov 28, 2010 Velma Southerland

Glasnevin Cemetery Is a Traditional Burial Site - Photo Courtesy of infomatique William Murphy

Glasnevin Cemetery Is a Traditional Burial Site - Photo Courtesy of infomatique William Murphy

In the United States, burial in consecrated ground has long been the "proper" way for grieving family members to care for their loved ones' final remains.

As the world moves further into the 21st century, though, Americans are looking at a final resting place for family members in a different way for several reasons.

Traditional Burial Is Expensive

The positive benefits of the traditional burial are that tradition is often not just comforting but conforms to a loved one's spiritual beliefs; people have a location to visit to commune with their loved one if they desire; and grandchildren and great-grandchildren and beyond can be taken to family burial grounds and feel a connection that is lost with cremation and the scattering of cremains.

The negatives of burial are often the exorbitant cost of traditional services that are in the neighborhood of $10,000 plus the burial plot.

People who have had the foresight to arrange a prepaid funeral have helped their families enormously, because many, many families simply can't afford to spend the money a traditional funeral now costs.

In addition, as people now move away from their family homes and live far away, the process of returning a body for burial is complicated and expensive.

Cremation Is Convenient -- In Some Ways

Cremation, which reduces a person to about five pounds of ash, relieves several of the problems of modern burial.

Cremation is certainly less expensive.

If a person dies miles from where internment is to be, a body can be cremated then interred at a later, more convenient date.

In addition, cremation is now being hailed as the "green" or environmentally friendly way to dispose of the dead.

It is true that ground is saved and will not need to be maintained in perpetuity, but certain gases are emitted during the cremation process. Required technology to prevent the release of these gases is raising the cost of simple cremations.

Burial is so traditional, that visiting a loved on at a cemetery is meaningful to many people. With cremation, where Grandma and Grandpa are on someone's mantel or in a closet somewhere seems disrespectful Therefore, ashes are often scattered in a beautiful spot. This leaves nowhere to visit a loved one.

That depends on where the cremains were scattered. A friend solved that situation by having a very small granite stone engraved. She took the stone and tucked it under a rhododendron bush where she could locate it, but no one else would ever see it. So, on Memorial Day, she takes flowers to the mountain meadow where her husband's ashes were scattered. And, she locates the stone to be sure it is still there.

Donation To Science

When a person donates a body to science, all final expenses are eliminated, but the grieving is often made worse for the loved ones left behind. There is no remaining connection.

Sometimes there is not even a memorial service and no saying good-bye to a loved one.

However, whole body donation is often meaningful to the family because they feel that the loved one's organs and remains are continuing to help other people

In "Anatomical Gift whole Body Donation Guide," Regina Lee wrote, "No medical schools or state anatomical boards in the United States are permitted by law to purchase bodies from families or estates.

"Physical condition of the body, and not age, is the important factor in body donation. There is usually no upper age limit in donation of a human body to medical science.

Natural Burial

Natural burial , which started in the United Kingdom in 1993, is an eco-friendly burial that is a lesser known way to dispose of the dearly departed.

Because it is less expensive than a regular funeral home burial and it is truly "green" for the environmentally conscious, natural burial is gaining in popularity.

Plus, a "natural burial" means that families still have a grave site to visit.

"Natural burial" uses simple coffins that are biodegradable and allow the unembalmed body to return to dust.

Burial is in a "preserve" or "woodland" where families are encouraged to plant bushes or shrubs as markers. Engraved native stones can be placed. These natural preserves are few in number across the United States and often not conveniently located.

However, before a family gives up on a natural burial, check with local cemeteries. Some cemeteries do require a vault and offer one that is sometimes less expensive than those offered by funeral homes. Also, check with your own preferred cemetery to see just what its requirements are.

If burial is selected for a loved one, the family knows where a loved ones remains are. However, if cremation is chosen, then what?

Smart Cremation has started a campaign looking for the best places to scatter ashes.

The company is "hoping to collect enough suggestions so that people in every state will have a selection of choices,” said Jill Larson, vice president.

“Many Smart Cremation clients tell us all the time about the most unbelievable experiences they have had releasing ashes over beautiful areas in America. They experience a very peaceful sensation knowing that the person they loved is now resting in paradise.”

Isn't that the goal, regardless of the process the dearly departed or the family has chosen?

But the time to prepare and check costs is before a death, even while everyone is healthy. Then, costly decisions don't have to be made in the middle of grief.

Copyright Velma Southerland. Contact the author to obtain permission for republication.

  • Glasnevin Cemetery Is a Traditional Burial Site - Photo Courtesy of infomatique William Murphy

    Glasnevin Cemetery Is a Traditional Burial Site - Photo Courtesy of infomatique William Murphy

  • Low Cost Cremations Store Ashes in Boxes - Photo Courtesy of Ben Sutherland

    Low Cost Cremations Store Ashes in Boxes - Photo Courtesy of Ben Sutherland

  • Oakfield Wood in England Is a Woodland Burial Park - Photo Courtesy Glyn Baker

    Oakfield Wood in England Is a Woodland Burial Park - Photo Courtesy Glyn Baker

  • Wicker Is One Material Used in Natural Burials - Photo Courtesy jaydoubleyougee Justin Garland

    Wicker Is One Material Used in Natural Burials - Photo Courtesy jaydoubleyougee Justin Garland

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