Choosing Burial

choosing burial

The Importance of Choosing the Right Burial Option

Choosing a burial option is a deeply personal decision that reflects one’s cultural, religious, and personal beliefs. It is a choice that requires careful consideration, not just for oneself but also for the loved ones left behind. The burial process can provide a sense of closure and comfort to the bereaved, and thus, selecting the right option is crucial. Traditional in-ground burial, cremation, natural or green burial, and above-ground entombment in a mausoleum are some of the common choices available. Each option has its own set of benefits, costs, and emotional impacts, making it important for individuals and families to explore all possibilities before making a decision that aligns with their values, wishes, and financial capabilities.

Understanding the Costs and Logistics

Cost is one of the most significant factors to consider when choosing a burial option. Traditional burials, which typically include a casket, burial plot, headstone, and memorial service, tend to be the most expensive. The cost of a traditional burial can easily range from $7,000 to $12,000 or more, depending on the services and materials chosen. Cremation, on the other hand, can be a more affordable option, with average costs ranging from $1,500 to $4,000. Natural or green burials, which avoid embalming and use biodegradable materials, can also be a cost-effective and environmentally friendly alternative. Beyond the financial aspect, it’s essential to consider the logistics involved in each option, such as location, accessibility for family visits, and any additional services required, like transportation or memorial arrangements.

Cultural and Religious Considerations

Cultural and religious beliefs play a pivotal role in burial decisions. Different cultures and religions have specific traditions and rituals surrounding death and burial, which can significantly influence the choice. For instance, traditional Christian burials often involve in-ground burial in a cemetery, while some Buddhist practices may prefer cremation. Jewish and Islamic traditions typically require burials to occur within a day or two of death, without cremation, aligning with their respective religious doctrines. Understanding and respecting these cultural and religious norms is important for ensuring that the burial aligns with the deceased’s beliefs and the family’s expectations, providing a meaningful and respectful farewell.

Personal Preferences and Environmental Impact

In recent years, more individuals are considering the environmental impact of their burial choices. Green burials, which avoid the use of embalming chemicals and opt for biodegradable caskets or shrouds, have gained popularity among those who wish to minimize their ecological footprint even after death. Additionally, personal preferences, such as the desire for a specific resting place, the type of memorial service, or the wish to have ashes scattered in a meaningful location, are critical factors in making a burial decision. Engaging in open discussions with family members about these preferences can ensure that the chosen burial option honors the individual’s wishes and provides a lasting, positive legacy. Whether for environmental, spiritual, or personal reasons, choosing the right burial method is a decision that requires thoughtful consideration and communication.

This should be decided at the initial funeral planning stages as most decisions thereafter will be determined on this choice. Most people have a tendency towards burial even though there are additional expenses related to this method.

 Some additional expenses for choosing earth burials are:

  • Body embalming
  • You will have to purchase a funeral casket or burial box
  • For earth burial, you will need to purchase a vault of a grave liner
  • Purchase a cemetery plot or mausoleum space
  • There are additional fees for opening (digging the hole for the coffin) and closing (restoring the earth on top of the buried casket) of the grave
  • Purchase a headstone or grave marker
  • You will need to pay for annual care of the gravesite (depending on the cemetery)

The main reasons people choose burial today is that ground burial is traditional within the family or religious denomination. They also do not like the idea of being "burned" (body cremation) and prefer to have the body return to the elements. Some people also want to erect a monument on the grave and be able to visit the grave in the future and a graveyard, may be more appealing to go to than a columbarium (the place for the respectful and usually public storage of urns holding a deceased's cremated remains). 

Whatever you decide to do, the body will eventually return it its natural elements. Decomposition of the body in the earth is a slow oxidation of the body tissues. You should take into consideration the deceased's verbal or written request and feelings of the immediate family members when making the decision on whether to be buried in the earth or undergo cremation.

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