Are you curious about the various kinds of funeral and cremation services that might be available in your local area? Do you have questions about how to arrange for an advanced funeral and cremation service for yourself or a loved one? Many people are surprised to learn that there are many options available and that it is easier to find affordable cremation and burial services than they imagined.
As more and more people are opting for cremation as opposed to traditional casket burials, these services are becoming more common and more readily available. You can contact a funeral home in your area and talk to the funeral directors on-site to see what cremation arrangements they can manage and what options you have.
You can check local business directories to find what funeral homes are in your area to get some contact information for your search. You can also use your computer to check online for any listings and services in your surrounding areas. And finally, you can tell your smartphone or other devices to ‘find cremation packages near me’ and begin your search from there. The best cremation and funeral services are out there, you just need to know where to look!
Cremation is not necessarily the most pleasant topic. A lot of people do not like thinking about death, particularly the death of a loved one. However, the truth is that it is a reality in life. Most of us are going to have to lose someone dear to us at some point, and in some cases, we are going to have to decide what to do with the remains.
If you do not know a lot about and do not have a lot of experience with cremation, you might have many questions about it. For example, you might wonder, what are the pet cremation services that are available if I have lost a beloved pet? What should I know about ashes and urns? What exactly is a cremation forest? Is cremation respectful to the deceased? How can I learn more about jewelry that can hold ashes? A professional who works a lot with cremation will likely be able to answer your questions or point you in the direction of someone who can. It might also be a good idea for you to do some research on your own, so that you can learn more about this process and whether you feel it is right for you.
Despite the high costs of traditional burial funerals, Americans still prefer to bury their departed in caskets rather than choose cremation or other burial options. In 2009, only 37% of deceased Americans were cremated in the United States’ 2,100 crematories. Even though the Cremation Association of North America reports that there has been a 20% increase in cremations in the last 10 years, burial funerals are still much more common. Why do burial funerals remain the most popular choice?
Every year, Americans bury over one million tons of non-biodegradable steel caskets and almost 900,000 gallons of toxic embalming fluid in traditional burial funerals. The environmental cost of these burials is taking its toll on America?s environment, and the financial costs are staggering as well. The average burial funeral costs over $10,000, while cremation and memorial services cost only $3,100 on average. If the costs of burial funerals sound too high, then the cremation options below are for you:
- Mourning Jewelry
People have been wearing ash cremation jewelry containing their loved ones? remains since the 16th century. This became especially popular during the Victorian Era, when mourners began wearing metal ash keepsakes or ash cremation pendants containing small amounts of loved ones? ashes. Today, elegant memorial keepsakes such as wearable gold or silver urn pendants can be purchased from many memorial service providers and crematories. These urn pendants can be worn anywhere, and passed down through generations, to ensure your loved ones will always be close to your heart. Urn pendants also make unique sympathy gifts.
- Temporary Receptacles
For those who want to go out with a bang, there are many high-flying or explosive options for memorializing cremated remains, ranging from helium balloons to bullets, fireworks, even rockets sent into space. There are even edible choices for more gourmet-minded loved ones, including ashes blended into wines or foods.
- Green Burial
Some people want to leave as little ecological footprint as possible, even in death. The US-based Green Burial Council reports that there are over 300 green burial service providers in America today. These burials can not only produce 50% less carbon emissions than standard burial funerals, but also cost only $2,500 on average. There are many different options today, including having ashes incorporated into plantable trees, coral reefs, or biodegradable glass. The options for green burials are many, and even crematory options like the urn pendants above are a much greener choice than traditional burial funerals.
These are just some of the alternatives for memorializing the departed. Whatever option your choose, remember the important thing is to ensure your loved one?s memory is kept alive.
