Burial or cremation

Deciding between cremation and burial will affect everything to do with the funeral.

Many families have conventions about burial or cremation which will determine the decision.

For others, cost and the advice of the appointed funeral director will help them make the choice beteween burial or cremation.

However, rather than leave it to others, individuals should make their own decision based on several factors. Your funeral is, after all, your final big event, so be in control of it.

One of the greatest considerations is the increasing popularity of Green funerals and woodland burials.

Cremation

Cremation is chosen by 72 per cent of the British population and the greatest majority of the funerals take place in the crematorium chapel, whilst others go to their church first before a short service of committal at the crematorium.

There are some 275 crematoria in the UK, so in most cases a crematorium will be reasonably easy to reach.

You should consider whether to have the cremation where the deceased was born and brought up, or at the same place as parents and or siblings.

Alternatively, you can organise for the cremation to be where the deceased lived for many years or where is most convenient for the mourners and then have the ashes taken back to the family crematorium, cemetery or churchyard.

Cremation is not environmentally friendly. Energy is used to cremate the body and coffin and toxins are released into the environment.

Burial

Burial is chosen by 28 per cent of the UK population, using church yards and council owned cemeteries.

If you have been a regular at your church, you may be able to be buried in the churchyard, unless it is closed to new burials which many are due to lack of space. 

When a churchyard is full, existing graves may be opened for additional interments of the same family. An alternative is to bury cremated remains.

Some parishes allow any who lived in the parish to be buried in the churchyard, or attendant cemetery, but this is dependent on local rules and available space. Your funeral director will know, or contact the local minister.

Increasingly, Woodland Burial cemeteries are being chosen and conventional cemeteries are also opening 'green areas'. 

Although burial is more environmentally friendly than cremation, conventional burials at cemeteries and churchyards are not eco-friendly unless specifically planned as 'green' funerals.

Whilst there are specific cemeteries for particular religions, and they will be glad to explain their regulations and ritual, there are no crems linked to specific religions that practice cremation.

However, every crem understands the necessity to provide the right facilities for all religions, as well as for the non-religious.

Cost difference

So, apart from the obvious difference between burial and cremation - what is the difference?

In a word: Money. Burial is more expensive. The reasons are that manpower is involved to prepare the grave (even if dug mechanically, rather than by hand) and the occupation of ‘real estate’.

Maintenance of the grave also increases the cost of burial over that of cremation. See grave tending.

The main procedural difference when arranging the cremation is that after the death certificate is obtained and the death registered, the funeral company will obtain a second doctor’s certificate from an independent medical practitioner as a further check against unlawful killing.

Making the decision

The reasons for choosing one method over the other are usually linked to what your family or community normally does, cost, and individual’s ’gut feelings’ about the processes. One does not really have any advantage over another.

Cremation is more modern, and can still be part of a religious service.

Cremation is a quicker process than burial which is the committal or interment of the coffin into the ground and the brief ceremony that accompanies this.

Making the final closure a quick event can be a benefit, or it can make people think the final event happens too quickly.

Burials are more traditional, and often the choice of those wanting a religious funeral.

Burials are more likely to be emotional events, given the longer time they take and as some people are upset as they watch the coffin entering the ground.

Woodland burials are now increasingly the choice of those wanting a ’green’ funeral or an alternative funeral.

If you are thinking of 'grave goods', items to go with you in your coffin, there are more restrictions if you are cremated.

Choosing for yourself

If you don't choose burial or cremation for your funeral, your family will make the decision.

Take control of your own funeral by making it one of the funeral instructions you put in your Lifebox to be read by your executor immediately after your death. (SA)