Traditional Burial vs. Cremation: Important Things to Know

A critical part of funeral planning is deciding what type of disposition to have. This is a very personal and important choice, with many factors involved, such as family tradition, cost, and personal beliefs. There are obvious differences between cremation and traditional burials, but also some details that aren’t readily apparent.

Cremation

Cremation is an alternative to a standard burial in a casket. The remains of the deceased are incinerated in a special furnace called a cremation chamber, or retort. The furnace reaches nearly 2000 degrees and reduces the body to coarse ash fragments and minerals. Finally, these fragments are processed and reduced to fine ashes to be placed in an urn.

Many people think of cremation as the cheaper option. The reality is, depending on the services and products, the cost of cremation and standard burials can be relatively close.

Selection and financial considerations must be made for the urn, and in some cases a vault or crypt will be chosen to hold the urn. Additionally, viewings must be considered, and whether to have a memorial or traditional funeral service. The body may still be present at any of these visitations, but the cremation is just a different way of handling the disposition afterward.

Traditional Burials

As with cremation, the choice to have a traditional burial is personal and depends on several factors.

One of the main advantages is that loved ones always have a physical gravesite to visit in a more personal setting, compared to an urn in a vault. This makes traditional burials more familiar and comfortable for many people.

Depending on the services and products, traditional burials can be more expensive than cremation, but the family can personalize every aspect, including the casket, headstone, and gravesite.

For more information on burials or cremation, please visit thejonesfh.com or call 815-288-2241.

Jones Funeral Home

204 S Ottawa Ave

Dixon, IL 61021