Cremation has been an integral part of worldwide burial customs for thousands of years. Scholars today agree that cremation likely dates back to the early Stone Age in Europe, spreading across the continent and the rest of the Western world through the days of the Roman Empire. Today, cremation has started to regain much of its old popularity. There are many factors that go into making this decision, but cremation tends to stand out as an option for a variety of reasons:
On average, cremation costs 45-50% less than traditional burial. Choosing this option allows you to avoid some of the greatest costs associated with burial, such as a casket or a headstone. If costs are among your chief concerns when it comes to burial, choosing cremation can help you keep things more affordable.
With burial, you are either interred underground in a plot or above ground in a mausoleum. With cremation, you have many more options available to you. You can choose to be interred in a columbarium, but many people opt for more creative ideas for their ashes. You can choose to have your ashes scattered in a meaningful place, stored in an urn, made into memorial jewelry or sculptures, planted with a tree, or do many other creative things.
Plots at cemeteries are becoming more difficult to find as the years go by. With this recent scarcity comes exclusivity; many people find that their preferred cemetery does not have space for them when the time comes, while others find that a burial plot is well out of their budget. With cremation service, you don’t need to worry about taking the time or trouble of finding a plot. In fact, your loved ones don’t need to make any decisions about your ashes until they are ready.
Cremation is considered to be a more environmentally friendly option than burial. By choosing cremation services, you can avoid the use of harsh embalming chemicals; you will also avoid taking up land space as part of a burial plot. Crematories do release carbon emissions into the air, but new technology is helping to drastically reduce that impact.
The decision to choose cremation is a deeply personal one and is ultimately up to you. If you decide that you’d like to learn more about this service, a local funeral home can help. Philip J. Brendese Funeral Home offers comprehensive cremation services throughout the Albany, Troy, and Clifton Park, NY areas. Our experienced staff is always on hand and ready to help our clients. Give us a call today.