Grasping the cremation nettle

The NFDA’s recently published cremation statistics

show that this is a funeral option which isn’t going

away. The existing and projected figures show that the

USA’s cremation rates will soon match those here in the

UK where over 70% of funerals involve cremation.

As we’ve said before, it’s time for funeral professionals

to embrace cremation and ensure that families get

exactly what they want, because cremation should not

be seen as the cheap option. We continue to be

amazed when we see posts asking whether families

want the same services and options when they are

going for cremation. Of course they do! Those services

and options are certainly going to vary according to the

beliefs, ideas and wallets of families but choosing

cremation doesn’t make those customers different from

anyone else.

There may be logistical differences – the distance

between a crematorium and the church used for the

funeral service needs thinking about, along with the

question of whether everyone will attend the

cremation. The disposal of the ashes is another issue

we have recently written about. A cremation is not the

same as a burial and the ashes will not be dealt with on

the day. Cremation remains a preferred option for

those with no religious beliefs, but that doesn’t mean

that those funerals should be devoid of spiritual or

philosophical components.

Whatever the reason for cremation – and there are

many as outlined in the NFDA report – the desire to say

goodbye and mark the end of a life is inherent in all

cultures and in all funeral rituals. If funeral directors in

the USA really want to show that they ‘serve’ and

‘respect’ families, then they need to embrace cremation

one way or another, because it’s here to stay.

View the NFDA press release here

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