Why Cremation is Preferred

Cremation has been a part of the human experience for a very long time and is the preferred method of caring for a loved one in many parts of the world.

People choose cremation because they believe it to be the right choice for them. It’s a deeply personal decision and is usually based on:

• Financial Reasons. The cost of cremation is often a fraction of the cost of a traditional burial. This simple fact is often all it takes for a family to make the cremation decision.
   
• The Desire for Simplicity. Cremation is a simple process; the body is transferred straight to the crematory and everything is done within hours of completing the necessary paperwork.
   
• The Need for Flexibility. A memorial service after a cremation can be arranged at a time that's convenient for family members. There is no rush to put together a ceremony that family and friends would not be able to attend due to geographical or financial constraints.
   
• The Intention to More Fully Commemorate a Loved One. A service can be planned for weeks, even months, after the cremation. This means more people can plan to be involved and there’s plenty of time to gather meaningful scriptural passages, poetry, literary quotes, music, photos and/or videos.

If any of these reasons ring true for you and your family, then cremation may be the most ideal alternative for your loved one.

Quoting the findings of the 2006 Wirthlin Report, CANA (the Cremation Association of North America) listed five major reasons why people choose cremation:

• It Saves Money – 30% of all respondents chose the reason that (on average) the cost of cremation is one-third the cost of traditional burial.
• It Saves Land – 13% considered the prime motivating factor to be that it takes close to one-tenth of the land to bury two sets of cremated remains as it does to bury the casketed remains of these same two individuals.
• It's Simpler – 8% of respondents thought the convenience of cremation, fewer decisions required, and relative ease of completing all required paperwork were the primary reasons for selecting this cremation option.
• The Body Will Not be in the Earth – 6% of those who responded claimed environmental reasons or simply that they didn't like the idea of a casketed burial.
• Personal Preference–Another 6% of respondents believed their cremation decision was based on very personal, unidentified (and maybe as yet unrecognized) reasons.

Decisions You Must Make When Choosing Cremation

• Who will perform the cremation?
• Should you purchase an urn?
• What will you do with the cremated remains?
• What kind of remembrance ceremony would you like to have and when?

You may wish to keep the remains at your home until you feel ready to let go of them or when all family members can be present for a scattering ceremony.

Our professional staff can advise you on unique ways to memorialize a loved one using the cremated remains, including the creation of art glass objects. We also offer a wide selection of cremation keepsake jewelry.

We can also recommend firms in the area that specialize in scattering the cremated remains at sea or in the air.

Contact us today to explore cremation options and the many creative ways you can memorialize a loved one.