What Families Must Know about their Options in Cremation Services

One of the most difficult things to deal with in life is putting our final affairs in order or that of our loved ones. There are various elements to consider before making a decision. Perhaps the most important is choosing between a traditional burial and a cremation. There are notable differences between the two, especially in terms of cost.

How much of a difference are we talking about?

In Australia, the average cost of cremation services is around $3600. It can even be lower for families that opt for direct cremation. That is to say, the body is cremated a few days following death without a standard funeral service beforehand.

In comparison, people can expect to pay over $9000 for a traditional funeral arrangement. That’s almost three times the cost of cremation services. The overall cost depends upon services and items chosen for the burial, including flowers, transportation, and headstones. Coffins and burial plots, which can cost countless dollars, comprise the bulk of burial costs.

Given the cost alone, it would appear that cremations make more sense for most families. It also doesn’t help that traditional funeral arrangements get more expensive over time due to the cost of inflation.

What if you want a funeral service following a cremation?

Of course, families can still opt to hold a funeral service even if they choose direct cremation services. The latter does not prevent you from having to hold a funeral service after cremation.

In some cases, families might decide to have the body of their loved ones cremated after a funeral service. In this case, you can rent a casket to hold a funeral service shortly after cremation. That way, the cost can be kept relatively minimal. Also, there’s always the option to intern the cremated ashes at a cemetery sometime in the future.

Note that there are added expenses that you may come across throughout the funeral process. In this case, families will need to work with both the funeral home and the cemetery. While funeral homes take on the job of preparing the remains and funeral arrangements, cemeteries provide the burial plots, crypts, markers, and sealing the grave once all is said and done.

Funeral homes and cemeteries are managed differently, even when they are on the same grounds. Hence, expenses need to be planned accordingly. End of life services can be expensive for grieving families who wish to make the best decisions for their loved ones. However, it doesn’t have to be that way.

Pricing info for funeral homes and cemeteries can be obtained from online catalogues. That said, many people can find the information difficult to find. Often, the only way to get a precise quote is to call the funeral home directly.

Conclusion

Traditional funerals are becoming more expensive every year. As a result, more people are choosing cremations as an end-of-life option. The latter offers a dignified way to culminate the life of a loved one who has recently passed, without placing any financial burden to the families left behind.