Do More People Choose Cremation or Burial Today?

Since the turn of the century, how Americans respond to death has changed. Previously, it was common to have a traditional funeral and burial. Only a small fraction of people chose to be cremated. But in recent years, this trend has shifted. According to the National Funeral Directors Association (NFDA), in 2005, 61.4 percent of people were buried while only 32.3 percent were cremated. By 2015, projections showed that 45.4 percent of people were buried and 48.5 percent were cremated. Estimates for 2017 are 42.3 percent and 51.6 percent respectively. By 2030, the NFDA estimates that cremation will rise to around 71 percent, while burials drop to around 23 percent.

As data shows, cremation has significantly increased in popularity. This is due to a variety of reasons:

• Religious views have changed. Certain religions have become more accepting of cremation and an acceptable option.

• Cremation can be less expensive than burial because it does not require embalming, caskets, or burial plots.

• Cremated remains are movable. Families can take their loved ones with them and pass them down from one generation to the next.

• Cremated remains can be stored in an urn or other container, turned into jewelry or memorabilia or scattered at a memorable location (with permission).

• Cremation allows for more time to plan a memorial service and remains can be easily transported to any location.

Families nowadays are less likely to stay in their hometown, so family burial sites don’t always make sense. However, there are still those who choose burial, and cremated remains can also be interred in a burial plot, columbarium, or urn garden. It is really up to the family and the individual to decide. Funeral directors can assist with planning a customized service whether burial or cremation is chosen and support the family throughout the process.

If you have a question about funerals, please email me at: AskTripp@BradshawCarter.com

BRADSHAW CARTER MEMORIAL & FUNERAL SERVICES 1734 W Alabama • Houston • 713.521.0066 www.BradshawCarter.com