Losing a loved one doesn’t come with a step-by-step plan.
When your life is going along as normal as ever and suddenly comes to a screeching halt, you may find yourself yearning for just a little simplicity. The right send-off varies from family to family, religion to religion, but one of the more preferred methods of saying goodbye in the United States is through affordable cremation services. Low-cost and flexible, these are one way of helping you and your family move on without the added stress of elaborate funeral arrangements. If you’re still unsure how to go about planning a funeral, consider reading the list below.
A low cost cremation can help put you on the path toward finally moving forward.
What Is The Most Common Funeral Arrangement In America?
The United States is a vast, diverse country. For hundreds of years it’s flourished as a nation that thrives on differences in approach. While the traditional perspective of a funeral is the casket and burial, cremation has slowly risen in favor among multiple demographics. A 2017 study found the American cremation rate to be remaining steady at 50%. By the time 2022 arrives this figure will near 60%. More Americans are preferring the understated and quiet method of cremation when losing a loved one, allowing them to forgo the often stressful process of looking at caskets.
How Does Religion Play Into A Funeral?
There are many reasons why an individual or family would want to look into cremation over burial. Religion remains one of the biggest foundations, particularly in the United States where many practices are seen. A recent study revealed around 40% of Americans feel religion to be an important part of their funeral arrangements, up to and including a low cost cremation service or an elaborate burial. While cremation may seem widespread now, it hasn’t always been due to changing religious laws and perspectives on the function.
What Is Cremation?
One of the most preferred methods of sending off a loved one’s memory was once deemed against the law. The United States labeled cremation to be illegal up until the late 1800’s. By the time 2016 arrived it was deemed the most selected option in North America. That same year saw cremations performed more than any other type of burial. While some families prefer to keep their loved one’s ashes in the safety of their home, others follow the wishes of the deceased, such as scattering their ashes into the ocean or burying the jar beneath a tree.
Where Did Cremation First Originate?
North America has had a fluctuating relationship with cremation and the significance it provides families losing a loved one. Historians have concluded cremation to have first been brought into the public eye in Europe from an Italian professor during the 1800’s, eventually spread throughout the West as an alternative to burial. The National Funeral Directors Association’s Consumer Awareness And Preferences Study revealed nearly 65% of consumers stating it’s very important to communicate their funeral plans and wishes to family members before death.
Who Can Help Me Plan The Funeral?
Reaching out for help is one of the best things you can do when losing a loved one. Cremation services are fully aware of the difficulty that comes with setting up meetings, compiling memorabilia and searching for a casket, able to provide you a low cost alternative that’s no less meaningful. They can help you look over a will, if any, and provide a private viewing with close family and friends for a proper send-off. Additional details, such as the length of the viewing and paperwork, can be discussed during the planning.
Simplicity can seem far away, but the only way to move forward is to take that first step. Reach out to San Diego funeral homes and ask how they can help you get started.
