Happy Birthday, America! On the 4th of July, we celebrate everything that’s truly American: apple pie, fireworks, baseball…and cremation! As it turns out, cremation has become more popular than ever in the U.S. Back in 1958, only one in every 28 Americans were cremated. Today, the number of Americans choosing cremation has skyrocketed to more than 43%! Some folks estimate that percentage will reach nearly 50% by 2017.
Why are so many Americans choosing cremation over traditional burial? Here are just 4 reasons:
- It’s more affordable.
These day, the average funeral will run you a whopping $6,500, including the casket (which usually has about a $2,000 price tag). If you tack on a burial vault, that price jumps to $7,700. On the other hand, cremation usually costs a third of that amount. Here at Georgia Cremation, our services range between $1,250 for a simple cremation to $3,650 for a cremation with a funeral. No wonder Americans are choosing this affordable option over those costly burials!
Plus, because we focus on simplicity here at Georgia Cremation, we’ve greatly reduced our overhead costs. As a result, our simple cremation charge is usually 40% less than what other funeral homes charge!
- It gives you countless memorial options.
When you choose cremation, the sky is the limit when it comes to final disposition options. Although urn placement used to be the standard, cremation options have come light years in recent decades. From scatterings at sea and cremation jewelry to underwater cremation reefs and space launches, there are countless cremation choices, ranging from remarkable to simply out of this world.
- Cremation is for Catholics, too.
For many centuries, the Catholic Church outlawed cremations. Then in 1963, the Catholic Church lifted the ban, and today many Catholics are choosing cremation. Here at Georgia Cremation, we offer Catholic cremation services to fit every family’s need and budget. The Catholic Church believes cremains are to be treated with the same respect as the body before cremation and should have a reverent disposition, including a grave burial or entombment in a mausoleum or columbarium. The Catholic Church also prefers that the loved one’s body or cremains are present for the funeral rite. As experts in Catholic cremation, we at Georgia Cremation can ensure your wishes are in sync with those of the Church.
- You can hold a meaningful service with a cremation.
In the past, many folks were under the misconception that you couldn’t have a personalized service with a cremation. But that’s just not true! Fortunately, more families are realizing that they can hold a memorial service before or after the cremation of their loved one. In fact, families have just as many service options as they do with a traditional burial!
Whether you prefer to host a Celebration of Life here at our Georgia Cremation Center, arrange a traditional memorial service at your church or simply hold a small gathering at some other venue of your choice, we strongly encourage you to pay tribute to your loved one with a memorable service before or after the cremation. The memorial service is an extremely important ritual for families who recently lost a loved one.
With all of these amazing reasons, it’s no wonder cremation continues to soar in popularity! If you want to learn more about our array of cremation services, call Georgia Cremation today.
We wish all of you a healthy, fun and safe 4th of July.
