HOW TO DECIDE WHETHER TO CREMATE OR BURY?
There are many difficult decisions that must be made after a loved one has passed away. These range from the type of funeral service they will have to the flowers, music and even catering that may be involved.
If the deceased has not already specified what you should do with their body, you may also have to decide between cremation and burial. There are many things to consider when making this decision, including religious beliefs, financial costs, methods used, and personal preference.
In this article, we take a closer look at your choices in order to help you make a more informed decision.
About Burials
From a religious perspective, many Christians prefer a traditional burial because they believe that their bodies cannot be resurrected if they are burned.
Traditional Jewish law considers cremation as the destruction of property and therefore favours burial while Muslims forbid cremation, also favouring a traditional burial.
Generally speaking, burials are more widely accepted. They give the deceased’s loved ones a place to visit and find comfort and many families choose to place a headstone in the family plot. In this way, they can visit, memorialise, mourn and celebrate the lives of all their relatives.
Practically speaking, burials are far more expensive than cremation. The plot, coffin, time and labour involved all render the traditional method a more costly option. In addition, many cemetery rules are restrictive. They may forbid the type of monument you wish to choose and restrict visiting hours, flower placement and other seemingly common practices. Some Jewish cemeteries do not allow you to be buried there if you have tattoos.
Understanding Cremation
The Hindu and Buddhist religions most commonly accept and promote cremation. Traditionally for Hindus, cremations took place on the Ganges River in India and the family would stand around the burning pyre until the body is entirely burned. Buddhists have a similar ceremony, after which the family may choose to keep the remains, enshrine them, or throw them into the sea.
In Australia, many people choose cremation because it is far less expensive. There is no coffin, burial, monument or plot to consider. Instead, you only have to pay for the service and the urn if you choose one. Cremations are also more flexible. You can take more time to plan a cremation ceremony than a funeral and ashes are portable. You can take them with you if you relocate or divide the ashes among family members who may live in different parts of the country or world. Cremations aren’t restricted to cemeteries. You can distribute the ashes almost anywhere.
Cremation services are not offered by every funeral home and not every family member will necessarily agree on cremation. It is worth considering these factors depending on your family, your religious beliefs and your location.
Whichever ceremony you choose, Hetherington Funerals in Perth can assist you. For assistance with funeral pre-planning or funeral planning, please contact us today.