Cremation, a Second-Rate Service?

For the next few weeks, I am going to be discussing cremation as a valid alternative to traditional burial. I am doing this simply for the fact that cremation is often misunderstood by people and often a person’s understanding of cremation is heresy gleaned from sensational news broadcasts (or movies).

Unfortunately, it is the funeral homes, themselves, that are often responsible for the misinformation the public has about cremations because funeral homes take the approach that cremation is a second-rate service. Some funeral directors will make the erroneous assumption that people who choose cremation do so because they do not care about their loved one or they are strapped for cash. Often, it’s the latter assumption (families strapped for cash) that guides funeral homes advertisement of cut-rate/cutting-corners cremation.

When funeral directors take the approach that cremation is a second-rate service  families who choose cremation are treated differently than those families who choose the traditional burial option. And that approach is shameful and should be discouraged. At Memorial Mortuaries, Cemeteries, and Cremation Services, we promise you that the same high level of service, the same service that was recognized by the National Funeral Directors Association as being among the very best in the country, given to traditional burial services is given to families who choose cremation services. Whether you choose cremation or whether you choose burial, our goal is to sit down with you, listen to your desires, and create a memorable service.

A family or person choosing cremation has no reason to be ashamed. Cremation has been around for thousands of years, and is a very common practice throughout the world.  Today’s cremation services offer unique ways to memorialize a loved one with hand-crafted, decorative urns that resemble pieces of art and creative disposition options of cremated remains. This flexibility, which is often not available with casket burials, is an attractive reason for choosing cremation.

When choosing Memorial as your provider of cremation services, you can rest assured that you are dealing with professionals who take this service seriously and do not treat you as second-rate.

In future blogs I will be discussing the following topics:
Four decisions that every family must make when choosing cremation.
Five questions to ask a cremation provider.
The Memorial Cremation Standard of Care.
Cremation Bill of Rights.
The difference between direct cremation and cremation with direction.
Any other items that may come to mind.

I am Brandon W. Burningham, CFSP, CPC, and I thought you might like to know.