Cremation Vs. Burial Costs

While cremation has existed for millennia, the practice is not as common in the United States as it is in some other parts of the world. With some individuals wanting less complicated and time-consuming funeral arrangements, cremation appears to be gaining popularity. We've seen at Willowbrook Cemetery that many people prefer cremation over burial, owing to the former's lower cost.

Cremation Vs. Burial Costs

Here's a quick comparison of the costs of burial vs. cremation.

While cremation is more economical than burial, the savings may not be as significant as many believe. This component is decided by the services selected by the family—whether a simple or costly cremation is desired. Several reasons why cremation is less expensive than a traditional burial include the following:

• Typically, funeral services precede regular cemetery burials, and families frequently have memorial services after the burial. In comparison, families that select cremation often chooses more casual, brief, and straightforward services, which save them between $500 and $1,000.
• While conventional funerals include viewings or visitations, most families that choose cremation omit these activities. This saves time and money by reducing the need to engage a mortician to do services such as makeup and hair, embalming, manpower, and venue charges. This can lead to savings of up to $1700.
• Traditional burial costs include transportation and cemetery services, a burial vault and casket, the marker, opening and closure fees, and the cost of the burial site. Cremation families can avoid these expenses by dispersing the deceased's ashes in the ocean or storing the urn containing the ashes at home. In this situation, one might potentially save $4000-$4500.

If you need any more information about cremation costs, please call us. We at Willowbrook Cemetery can also help you pick the ideal final resting place for the departed soul at our serene cemetery.