Whether you’re making funeral pre-arrangements for yourself or planning a service for a loved one, you’ll have to decide whether to opt for burial or cremation services. Both come with their own unique features and benefits. Recognizing the personal nature of this decision, Cannon-Cleveland Funeral Directors in McDonough, GA, encourages individuals to consider the pros and cons of each option and discuss them with family. 

How Cremation Services Differ From Burials

Process

With burial, the deceased is laid to rest inside of a casket where they will naturally decompose. A cremation, on the other hand, takes place at a crematory where the body is placed inside of a chamber set to incinerate at incredibly high temperatures. Within a few hours, the body is reduced to ash and bone fragments, which are carefully collected and distributed back to the responsible party.

While the options produce very different results, it’s important to recognize that both are safe and can accommodate a family’s wishes for viewing. For example, you can arrange to have a visitation or viewing along with the funeral services before burial or cremation takes place. In some cases, select family members can briefly see a body before it is cremated.

Interment

How remains are interred, or laid to rest, may also influence your decision. With burial, the deceased may be buried in a cemetery at a standard plot or entombed in a mausoleum or crypt. This also applies to cremation, but much less space is required to accommodate the urn.

While many choose to resign cremation urns to a permanent cemetery location, this method also allows for several alternative choices. For example, surviving family members may place an urn in their home or decide to inter it at a later date. Cremated remains can also be split between individuals and kept in separate urns or specialized jewelry. Others may choose to scatter the ashes at a safe, designated location, such as the ocean.   

Cost

If budget is a significant concern, it’s worth noting that cremation tends to be much more affordable than a burial service. Specifically, burial services also incur the cost of the cemetery land, casket, and grave marker. By contrast, cremation expenses may only be limited to the price of processing the remains and the vessel or urn that holds them.

Although deciding between burial and cremation services is a major decision, it’s not one you have to make alone. The compassionate team at Cannon-Cleveland Funeral Directors in McDonough, GA, can provide you with the guidance you need to explore these and other funeral arrangement options comfortably. To learn more about their commitment to personalized care, visit this funeral home online. Or, if you’d like to speak directly with a funeral director, call (770) 914-1414.