Did you know that the National Funeral Directors Association is predicting that in 20 years, 80% of people in the United States will have their bodies cremated instead of buried?
But why is cremation becoming such a common way to do away with a body instead of burial, the most traditional of methods? It all has to do with the cost of cremation compared to the cost of having a burial.
For the last few decades, the price of burials has been climbing up and up. When someone dies and you have to plan a funeral and pay for it, it can cause some serious monetary strain. On the other hand, when you choose cremation, you will find that the price tends to be cheaper by several thousand dollars.
But what is the average cost of cremation anyway, and is the price really worth choosing it over burying the body? Keep reading and learn more about cremation prices below.
Most people know that when it comes to cremation, it involves turning a body into ashes, but is it really that simple? Not necessarily. If it were that simple, the price of cremation would be even cheaper than it already is.
When someone dies and has decided to have their body cremated, the body is brought to a crematorium. The crematorium will have a cremation chamber available which is actually an industrial furnace. This furnace can reach extremely hot temperatures that are able to break down the body into what is known as cremains.
These cremains are mostly ash, gas, and minerals. Cremains are safe to handle and are usually stored in an urn. If you don’t want to spend a lot of money, the crematorium will store the ashes in a special box instead of an urn, which would be more expensive.
When a body begins the cremation process, it will take around 3 hours to complete. However, the relatives of the deceased will not receive the ashes so quickly, as it still takes time to process the ashes after cremating the body. You also don’t have to worry too much about your loved one’s ashes being mixed with the ashes of someone else.
By law, a crematorium can only cremate one person at one time. After the cremation process, the crematory workers will clean out any extra ashes from the furnace before introducing the next body. After a body is cremated, the cremains mostly consist of fragments rather than ashes.
To turn the fragments of minerals and bones into ashes, they will need to go through a special processor. After being processed, the cremains will consist of fine and powdery ash. This ash is ideal for scattering or storing in an urn.
If you want to compare prices for body disposition options, you should know that direct cremation is the cheapest form of cremation available. So, whether you’re on a tight budget or don’t want to spend a lot of money, direct cremation may be the best option for you. Often, when a person dies, the body will be embalmed and there will be an opportunity to view the body one final time before it goes through the cremation process.
However, direct cremation does not involve these extra steps. There is no viewing or embalming involved. Because embalming can be an inexpensive process, you can save several hundred dollars and even more by skipping this step. With direct cremation, the body will go through the cremation process soon after death.
The main fees you will need to pay when opting for direct cremation include fees to transport the body, fees to burn the body, and fees for documents such as death certificates. Does this mean that if you choose direct cremation, you won’t be able to have a memorial service for your loved one? Not at all.
Once you receive the ashes, you will then be able to put a memorial service together. If you don’t want to have a memorial service, you can also choose a dispersal service. A dispersal service involves scattering the ashes at a certain location.
Direct cremation costs between $700 and $900. As mentioned before, this is one of the cheapest options for disposing of a body. Ordinary cremation tends to be a few thousand dollars. The cost of a funeral and burial, on the other hand, can cost several thousand dollars.
Some burials can cost as much as $10,000, if not more, especially when the service is very large.
If you don’t like the idea of direct cremation, you can always choose traditional cremation instead. The main difference between the two is that with traditional cremation, you and your family will first view the body and have a memorial service before the body goes through the cremation process. With direct cremation, on the other hand, you don’t have this opportunity since the body will go through the crematory’s industrial furnace as soon as possible.
Because traditional cremation requires a few extra steps in comparison to direct cremation, it tends to be a bit more expensive. However, it is still not as expensive as a traditional burial. For that reason, cremation (no matter what type it is) still tends to be much more affordable for those on a tight budget than a burial.
For example, you will need to pay for the body to go through the embalming process when you choose traditional cremation. Embalming the body is necessary to view it. Otherwise, the body will start to decay.
After the viewing, you will then have the chance to cremate the body.
Once you receive the ashes, you will then be able to put together the funeral service. The price of the funeral service will depend on what you want the service to be like. For example, special bouquets, urns, and so on, can all cost you extra money.
As for the cost of traditional cremation itself, you typically won’t spend more than $1,200. While this is slightly more than the cost of direct cremation, it still is very affordable for most people. You even have a chance to view the body before it goes through the cremation process.
This is important because it can give you and your family closure.
Unsurprisingly, one of the most common reasons why people choose cremation is because it is so affordable. When someone important in your life passes away, you will already be under a lot of emotional strain and stress. The last thing you want to think about is all the money you have to spend putting together a way to dispose of the body and plan a memorial service.
This is especially true if you are already experiencing financial difficulties. Cremation can take a lot of the stress off of your shoulders. That way, you can start to relax and focus more on the memorial service and remembering your loved one. But money isn’t the only reason why cremation is becoming more and more popular.
Cremation is also a much more flexible option compared to traditional burial. When it comes to burial, you can only deposit the body into a specified plot that is paid for. When it comes to cremated remains, on the other hand, you don’t always need to pay for a plot of land.
Instead, you might prefer to keep the urn at home to remember your loved one. Or, if your loved one preferred it, you could scatter the ashes somewhere outside. Many people like to scatter their family member’s ashes out into the ocean or in a forest.
Whatever the case, the ability to choose what to do with your loved one’s remains can be very freeing. This is not to mention that the funeral arrangements will be much simpler compared to the arrangements of a burial. Instead of having to think about the casket, carrying the casket, the burial plot, and so on, you can focus more on what you want to do with the cremated remains.
When it comes to the cost of cremation, you will find that it is much more affordable compared to the average cost of a burial. The cost of cremation may also vary depending on what kind of cremation service you choose. For example, direct cremation tends to be less than a thousand dollars.
On the other hand, traditional cremation may be slightly more than a thousand dollars. To learn more about cremation in Fort Worth, don’t hesitate to contact us here.
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