Why do some people bury their dead and others cremate?
All through history humans have looked for honorable ways to dispose and to memorialize their loved ones. Interment or burials have remained the most commonly used method of disposition. As a modern, technological and mobile culture, we are less “grounded” than our great grandparents’ and grandparents’ generations and cremation suits this cultural change. Back then it made more sense in most places to bury the dead. Now that is not so much the rule. Our sense of “home” changes many times in a lifetime. So like living, which has become more transient and portable, cremation also make the deaceased more transient and portable. Typically, cremations may cost less than burials. Though the difference is most often in the hundreds, not the thousands of dollars – primarily because crematory fees are most often less than grave opening charges. Still, when the cost of urns, nitches, or cemetery space for the ashes is added, the cost differences may be very little.
