Regardless of what walk of life you come from, death is an aspect that follows us regardless of views. An occupation that has stood the test of time is one of the morticians. Death whether it be one of a family member, close friend, or coworker is an uncomfortable experience that is quite avoided in our society. For the death industry, this is their everyday reality, undertakers having the difficult task of giving solace to loved ones during a time of grief by making the deceased transition to the afterlife one that is comfortable. It can not be denied that this process is also extremely profitable, with many funeral directors sounding similar to that of a retail sales associate. In recent years there has been a rise in cremation. This shift in practice regarding bodies after death signifies a change in views on traditional burial practices.
History of Funeral Services
The business of death has been around since the beginning of time but took a surge in popularity during the Civil War when a demand to bring deceased soldiers home and honor their fight was in need. This sparked the emergence of numerous funeral homes passed down in the family from generation to generation. The act of having an open casket and burial funeral can cost up to $10-100,000 depending on the location, casket, and service. With the marketing being to make saying goodbye to a loved one a more comfortable one the price of a traditional burial service leaves many families in debt.
Why Cremation Services are Becoming a Trend
Cremation services have overtaken the funeral market in popularity due to its affordability and adaptability. Rather than having to go through the extensive planning of getting a casket, finding a location to host a wake, finding a location to have a burial, and all the loans that come along with that, the cremation process cuts a lot of that hassle. The process reduces the body into ashes removing the need for embalming, transportation, choosing a coffin for storage, and other processes that may be desired for an efficient funeral service. Cremation allows flexibility when it comes to what it does with the person’s remains, many opting to put it in jewelry, earn, or sprinkle it in the person’s desired location. The price for cremation is around $1000-8000, which is almost 10-100 times cheaper than a burial. Many modern Americans prefer to have a gathering to honor life at their own homes or locations rather than rent out churches and public facilities.
Although cost is the main reason for people turning to cremation services is its cost, another factor that pushes the rise is its environmental friendliness and change in societal religious attitudes. Less land and chemicals are required for the process than traditional burials. In an age where many are concerned about their carbon footprint, this concern follows some ever after death. Religion has been behind the idea of funeral rituals for centuries. However, with religions outside of the nation’s dominant becoming more accepted so have other ideas when it comes to funeral preferences. The need for many to have a burial service has waned.
Summarizing The Rise of Cremation
Due to the services’ environmental friendliness, affordability, flexibility, and no ties to religion, a desire for cremation services over traditional burial services will continue to rise in popularity. It is estimated that with a rise of 15% in deaths in the United States, 59% of the nation utilized cremation, making it the counted majority for the deceased. Whether through burial or cremation, the goal of honoring and remembering the lives of those we have lost remains the same.
