Choosing whether to opt for cremation or burial can be a difficult decision when planning a funeral. Both options honor the deceased in their own way, but there are notable differences to consider. Let’s examine the key factors to weigh up when choosing the best option to respectfully farewell your loved one.
Cost Considerations
Cost is often the first thing families evaluate. On average, the direct costs of a basic cremation funeral ranges from $3,000-$5,000 compared to $7,000-$12,000 for a burial funeral. More affordable providers like Dignified Cremations offer no-frills cremation packages starting from just $1,190 for a basic unattended cremation. If price is your main consideration, a Dignified Cremation would serve you best. A more elaborate service, whether it is a cremation or a burial is most likely to come with additional costs so be sure to ask before proceeding. Things like burial plots, vaults and even memorials can add more long-term costs. Cremation provides significant initial savings that ease financial stress in a difficult time. However, religious, or cultural traditions may prioritize burial despite cost.
Convenience and Flexibility
Cremation offers greater flexibility in what is done with the ashes. They can be scattered, placed in an urn, stored or divided between family members. This avoids disputes over a single burial location. Cremation also requires no land purchase or costly grave maintenance. Burial has less flexibility and upkeep expenses continue for decades. However, some see burial as providing a tangible memorial site to visit.
Environmental Footprint
Cremation’s environmental impact ends after the initial combustion process. In contrast, traditional burial consumes more non-renewable resources like land, caskets, vaults and embalming materials. Some funeral directors can offer natural or “green” burials providing eco-friendlier alternatives and if this is something that interests you, you can ask about the costs..
Religious and Cultural Traditions
Some religions prohibit or prefer burial over cremation for spiritual reasons. Research the guidelines of your loved one’s faith, tradition, or culture. Providers like Dignified Cremations respect all religious practices and ensure sensitive cremation services. However, as Australia trends to become more secular, cremation certainly accommodates diverse beliefs.
The Cremation Process
Cremation involves incinerating the body in a combustible coffin at a very high temperature, taking 1 to 3 hours to fully complete the process. The cremated remains [ashes] are then processed to separate any foreign materials before being placed in an urn or other container. Witnessing the cremation process or viewing the cremated remains can sometimes help provide closure for some families but appreciate it is an additional cost.
Health Considerations
Some worry about the sanitation and health effects of burial, especially with contagious diseases. Most authorities will say that that if buried at a depth of 2-3 metres, there is minimal chance of contamination. Green burials use unembalmed biodegradable materials. Neither method poses health risks if regulated laws are followed.
If that does concern you, cremation might be a better choice as it achieves sterilization temperatures that destroy pathogens and tissue.
Memorialisation Options
Both allow commemorating the deceased through grave markers, monuments, memorial gardens, online obituaries, or other personalized tributes. Cremated remains can also be incorporated into memorial jewelry or natural areas.
While cremation and traditional burial each have merits, ultimately the decision depends on balancing personal values with practical factors. At Dignified Cremations, we understand how important it is to honor loved ones in a manner respecting both individual needs and financial realities.
Why Choose Dignified
Our five-point service guarantee is designed to provide peace of mind through care and transparency. We offer the most affordable no-service cremations starting from just $1190. As a locally owned family business serving South East Queensland for over 30 years, we take pride in guiding families towards affordable options for memorialising cherished lives.
Whether you seek simplicity or wish to include a memorial service, Dignified Cremations can help honor your loved one respectfully. We look forward to supporting more people through this process with our caring, low-cost cremation services. Please contact us at 1800 11 33 55 to discuss your requirements. Our team is ready to answer any questions to help you make the best choice.
