Benefits and Drawbacks of Direct Cremation
As many who have been through the death of a friend or loved one in the past will know, there are generally two options for the remains of the departed: Burial or cremation. These two broad options have varying potential benefits and drawbacks depending on the needs and desires of the surviving family and friends.
At Lindquist Mortuaries, we can help you understand all the options available to you for both standard burial and cremation if you’re considering it. Within the realm of cremation, there are actually a couple specific options that might be available to you, one of which is called direct cremation – let’s look at the difference between this and standard cremation formats, plus some possible plusses and negatives of this choice.
Defining Direct Cremation
During most cremation scenarios, the body of the departed is left intact for some period of time directly following death. This is for various purposes, but mostly to give family, friends and acquaintances a chance to arrange a viewing or other ceremonies that may be desired.
In cases of direct cremation, however, this process is sped up. Rather than waiting on the cremation process, the remains are cremated within the days immediately following the passing of the departed. Most such situations will involve no service or visitation, except in some cases by only direct family members. Many families who opt for direct cremation choose to spread or memorialize the remains of their loved one.
Benefits of Direct Cremation
There are a few benefits of direct cremation that many families consider:
- Cost: Especially when compared to traditional burial formats, but even when compared to other forms of cremation, direct cremation has a very limited cost. There are no costs for caskets or monuments, embalming, services or visitations, or other similar expenses. For this reason, direct cremation often costs a fraction of these other options.
- Mobile remains: Cremation turns your loved one’s remains into ashes, which means you can take the remains with you if you move for any reason. This is important for many people.
- Environment: Direct cremation does not impact the earth or environment in any negative way.
Possible Downsides of Direct Cremation
There are a few reasons why some families opt against direct cremation, however:
- No life celebration: In many cases, friends, family and others who knew and loved the departed want a chance to come together and celebrate their life in a traditional service.
- Grieving: In turn, this can make the grieving process difficult for some.
- No site to visit: In addition, some surviving family members or friends want a physical place that serves as a lasting memory of the departed, such as a burial site and headstone. These are not part of the process with direct cremation.
For more on direct cremation, or to learn about any of our funeral planning or mortuary services, speak to the caring staff at Lindquist Mortuaries today.
The post Benefits and Drawbacks of Direct Cremation appeared first on Funeral Services in Utah Blog | Lindquist Mortuaries and Cemeteries.
