Choosing between burial or cremation can be tough for many people. And because it can be a complicated issue, many people do not fully explore their options. So, with final wishes often left unsettled, many families face uncertainty and difficult decisions in their time of grief. To help make the alternatives clearer, we at Stillinger Family Funeral Home in Greenfield, Indiana, want you to know some of the factors to consider:
Burial or cremation? Let’s keep this simple by presenting the positive attributes of each alternative.
You might want to choose burial if…
- You want a more traditional alternative. Burial has deep roots in religious and societal customs. In fact, it was the unquestioned favored choice for generations. Only in recent years has cremation surpassed burial nationally as the most common choice; however, traditional burial is more common among the services we provide at Stillinger Family Funeral Home.
- Your religion frowns on cremation. Some religions still have not accepted cremation as a proper alternative. Again, perhaps this position is based on long-held beliefs and customs. Nonetheless, many faiths are adapting their rules. For example, in the Catholic Church, burial is still preferred, although cremation is now an acceptable option with certain restrictions.
- You want a final resting place your friends and family can visit. While memories of lives well-lived are an essential part of honoring the departed, many people need a physical place to visit so they can pay their respects. Burial in a cemetery provides this opportunity. What’s more, having a gravestone or grave marker can make the reality of the loss more tangible. And when the body of the deceased is placed in a family plot, the location can be a gathering place where the living can connect with multiple family members who have passed on. (Of course, it is true that burial of cremated remains is also common, and many cemeteries allow multiple cremains in a family plot.)
You might want to choose cremation if…
- Your budget calls for fewer services. Cremation can be more economical than burial; however, the cost savings often come from doing without service aspects most families find valuable. With cremation, there might be no need for body preservation in many cases, and no need for a burial casket, burial vault or cemetery plot. Nonetheless, many families find it important to retain the vital services of having a funeral home calling or viewing with the body present. These can be essential in the grieving process and giving loved ones the opportunity to properly say goodbye.
- You are concerned about the environment. Cremation is often considered the “green” choice. While emissions from the cremation chamber can be pollutants, cremation is often seen as the environmentally-friendly choice because there is no need for a casket to be manufactured. (If holding a viewing prior to cremation, a casket can be rented for body presentation at the funeral home.) And many people simply don’t want to further deplete the finite resource of the earth with full burial.
- You want more convenient and personal options for disposing of your remains. Cremation allows you to choose (within certain restrictions, of course) where your remains will be scattered. It is easier for your family to travel with your remains than to transport an intact body for distant burial. And because cremated remains have less volume, they can be carried to special places – perhaps even to mountaintops!
Whichever option you choose, Stillinger Family Funeral Home in Greenfield, Indiana can provide burial or cremation assistance according to your needs. And don’t forget the benefits of funeral preplanning. Making your wishes known beforehand and pre-planning arrangements can make your wishes clear and make a challenging time a little easier on your family.
If you have questions about burial or cremation, or if you would like to begin preplanning a funeral, contact us today at (317) 462-5536.
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