Traditionally, when a person is making their final arrangements or planning those of a loved one, burial and cremation have been the two options to choose from. Traditional burial has long been the more popular choice, especially in the United States. However, in recent years, cremation services near Evanston, IL, and across the country, have been gaining in popularity. There are many reasons contributing to this rise, and it’s not looking like things will change any time soon.

Cost Savings

One of the biggest ways that cremation benefits over traditional earth burial is the lower cost. When a person is to be buried, their family must purchase a casket, a burial plot, often pay for embalming, and more. All of these things put together can add up very quickly, and the price can be out of reach for many families. On the other hand, with cremation services, none of these purchases are necessary. You will still need to pay for the cremation itself, and any type of funeral or memorial services you wish to hold for your loved one, but many of the other high-priced items are not necessary with cremation. Even considering the urn or niche for interment, the cost can still be much lower. For this reason, many people are choosing cremation instead of burial.

Environmental Benefits

Another major benefit to cremation services is how much less it impacts the environment. These days, most people are paying more attention to how their actions can make a difference to the health of our planet, and this can even extend to the end of your life. Burial requires a significant plot of land, valuable resources to manufacture the casket, and it allows for harmful chemicals to enter the ground due to embalming. Cremation, on the other hand, contributes none of these harmful practices. While it isn’t perfect - because of the carbon dioxide that is released during the cremation process - it is still much less impactful than traditional burial.

Freedom to Memorialize

Many people who have their family member cremated choose to hold a memorial service after the fact. This actually contributes to much less stress for the family, because you are not rushed into making arrangements within days after their passing. You can wait until a time that is more convenient for far-away family, or you can wait for better weather during the summer months. Additionally, there are so many different ways to memorialize a loved one with their ashes, such as with jewelry, keepsake urns, interment at a columbarium, scattering their ashes, and more. You can create a very unique way to memorialize your loved one, and make it more personal to their memory.

These are some of the main reasons that cremation services near Evanston, IL, have been gaining in popularity in recent years. The environmental aspect, the ease of planning, and the significantly lower cost are attractive features to many people. When you are getting ready to preplan for your final arrangements, consider cremation services. Your family and your planet with thank you.