Whether pre-planning for oneself or planning for someone else’s final arrangements, there are a lot of details and decisions that have to be made. One of these is choosing between having a traditional burial or cremation. While this is ultimately a personal choice, factors such as cost and timing can influence an individual’s decision on how they want their bodies to be handled after they die.

Traditional Burial

Traditional burial puts the body inside a casket and vault and then buries it on the ground. Choosing burial means the bereaved family has a place to return to remember the deceased. Some of the decisions that have to be made in traditional burial are the type of casket, headstone, length of the viewing, etc.

Typically, the body will be treated with chemicals to slow down the process of decomposition. Embalming allows the family to view the body in a life-like state during the funeral.

The advantage of choosing a traditional burial is that it can give family and friends more closure by having a gravesite they can visit. They can also exhume the body if they decide to transfer the grave closer to where they live or to transfer it to a different cemetery.

However, burial costs typically more than cremation. Additionally, some cemeteries also have restrictions on leaving flowers or objects and visiting hours. Maintenance costs can also become burdensome as years pass by.

Cremation

Cremation is an alternative to burial where the body is reduced to its essential elements using heat and flame. The body will be put in a cremation container, then placed inside an industrial furnace where it will be subject to a temperature approximately at 1400°F to 1800°F. After a few hours, the remains will be carefully removed from the chamber processed into fine particulates called cremains.

Before bringing the cremains back to the family, they can decide whether to put the remains inside an urn or a particularcontainer. They can also choose to divide the cremains among family members. The family can choose between burying the urn on the ground, placing it inside a columbarium, or dispersing the ash at a special ceremony to honor the deceased.

Institutions providing affordable cremation services have been increasing for decades now. In contrast to burial, cremation is also quicker, making it less stressful, especially during a time of loss. Additionally, the family has more time to decide what to do with the ashes. If the family chooses to put the cremains in an urn, it is easier to transport them when moving to a different city or state.

But cremation is not acceptable to certain cultures or religions. Moreover, its fast proceedings may make it difficult for the family to mourn.

Get Guidance on Choosing Between Burial and Cremation

Planning a funeral is never an easy task. It is ideal for the family to get assistance, support, and guidance on making funeral arrangements with the many choices to make. At Sunset Hills Memorial Park & Mortuary in Apple Valley, CA, we are taking pride in helping our clients honor the lives of their loved ones, plan memorial services, and experience healing. We offer affordable cremation and burial services with professional counsel to help the family make more informed choices.

Visit Sunset Hills today to take a visual tour of our facility and have your end-of-life care questions answered.