Cremation

Decomposition of the body in the earth (after burial) is the slow oxidation of the body tissues. Cremation, on the other hand, provides rapid oxidation.

No casket is legally required for cremation, just a simple container, which is strong enough to hold the body. This could be a box of plywood, pressboard, or heavy cardboard.

Some crematories accept metal caskets; most require the container to be combustible.

Cremation Choices

• The remains can be stored by the family
• You may take the remains in the simple box supplied by the crematorium and distribute ("scatter") them over the land or water.
• The remains can be placed in a niche within a columbarium.
• The remains can be buried in the ground in a regular plot or in a smaller cremation plot.
• The remains can be entombed in a crypt within a mausoleum.

Reasons You Might Choose Cremation

• Many people believe that a cremated body becomes one with nature more quickly.
• Cremation is traditional in your family, religious group, or geographical area
• You prefer the body to be returned quickly and cleanly to the elements
• You have environmental concerns
• Perhaps you are worried about the use of valuable land for cemetery space
• You want to keep the costs down. However, selecting cremation does not necessarily mean that you will have an inexpensive funeral.  You might still choose a casket and/or a viewing, and/or decide to have the cremated remains buried in the ground or placed in a columbarium. These choices can bring your costs up to those of a traditional funeral.

Decisions You Must Make If You Choose Cremation

• Whether to use an urn or container
• What to do with the remains
• If you are distributing the remains. Some jurisdictions have laws prohibiting the scattering of remains; others require a permit. Ask your funeral director