Cremation is becoming the preferred choice of more people. Less expensive than burials, cremations allow family members more freedom when it comes to having a memorial service. Depending on what you choose for options, the overall cost can range from just under $1,000 to tens of thousands of dollars.
The Process
Cremation is a three- to five-hour process of putting the body of the deceased into a heated chamber where it is reduced to bone fragments. From there, they are ground into granules. The chamber reaches temperatures of 1,400 to 2,100 degrees Fahrenheit. The remains, with a sand-like texture, end up weighing between 4 and 8 lbs.
Benefits
Cremation is growing in popularity for several reasons. One of the most common reasons is the cost. According to a July 2009 article in The New York Times, the average cost of a funeral in the United States is $6,000. With cremation you can cut that cost by one-fifth. The process also allows for a more flexible memorial service. You can pick a time that's most convenient for your family members without having to worry about the time restraints that can be presented by having a decaying body. It also allows you more freedom to choose where you want to hold the service. Cremation is a more environmentally friendly option than burial. The number of trees that are cut down to build coffins is reduced, formaldehyde from the embalming doesn't seep into the land and more land is preserved.
Cost
When considering the cost of cremation, one of the biggest factors is the region you live in. More densely populated areas have higher costs. A lot of this comes as a result of high demand and local competitors driving up the price. The range of the cremation process itself runs from $360 to $1,100, with a more concentrated average ranging between $700 and $1,000.
Funeral Home Expenses
The cost of cremation itself is one of the cheaper elements of what can be an expensive enterprise. With the most limited services of the funeral home staff, you could still be looking at paying between $1,000 and $1,200. This is even with them not holding any services at the funeral home or at graveside. What they will do is handle the body, transport it to a crematory, deliver it to you and arrange the basics of the process for you. If you're looking to cut costs, you can deal with the crematory directly and eliminate that fee.
Additional Costs
Even though the price of cremation is lower than burial, other expenses must be considered. Transporting the body can cost hundreds of dollars, depending on the destination. If you're going to keep the ashes, you'll need something to store the ashes in. An urn can cost anywhere from $100 to an astronomical amount depending on how lavish you want it to be. A lot of the costs can be kept relatively low, but it does have the potential to become expensive.
Tags: average, cost, cremation, services, allows more, also allows, also allows more, family members, funeral home, memorial service, more freedom, services funeral, services funeral home, than burial
