One of the first things to decide when planning a funeral is whether to have a burial or cremation funeral. There is no right answer, and not knowing the differences between the two types can add confusion to an already stressful situation. You’ve already realized there’s more to planning a respectful service than what meets the eye, and taking the time to review the main differences between the services will help relieve some of that pressure.

What You Need to Consider Before Choosing a Burial or Cremation Funeral

1. Service Options & Flexibility

The logistics of having a casket and the requirements of burial limit both where and how a service is held. This usually results in a regimented event lacking personalization, but this also makes planning easier and cuts back on costs. With cremation, there’s the option to host the service nearly anywhere. Everything is more flexible in terms of what can be done and when.

2. Final Resting Alternatives

With a burial, the funeral always ends with interment. If you choose a cremation funeral, however, there are other options. Urns can be placed in the ground in the same manner as caskets or in a columbarium—a shared mausoleum with separate niches for the storage of cremated remains. There is also the option to spread the ashes or keep the urn among an individual’s personal possessions.

3. Ways to Grieve

A cemetery is meant to be a place where lost loved ones are memorialized. Friends and family visit the spot to express their grief, and feeling close to a person can be a beneficial part of the healing process. Cremation can offer this same comfort but in a different way. Depending on what the family decides to do with the ashes, there may not be a physical place to visit and grieve. Instead, many families choose to express their grief in more personal ways in areas where they feel most connected with their lost loved one.

Both burials and cremation funerals offer a different kind of ambiance and underlying feeling to the service. The funeral director at Frederick Funeral Home will be happy to discuss the options with you in an open and honest way. They’ve been a part of the Cincinnati, OH, community since 1932, and they’ve arranged both types of services. Call them today at (513) 522-3700 or visit their website for more information.