5 Common Misconceptions about Cremation

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When a loved one passes away, you have two options at your disposal. You can choose to go the route of a traditional burial. Or, you can choose cremation. Most people go with the former choice, rather than the latter, and, while there’s certainly nothing wrong with that, it’s important not to just automatically discount cremation as an option. A lot of people do, and they usually do for all the wrong reasons. See, there is a lot of misinformation floating around about cremation, and it’s important to separate fact from fiction so that you can make the best possible choice when it comes to honoring your loved one. Misconception #1: Cremation = A Burned Body When most people think of cremation, they imagine their loved one’s body being placed into a fiery oven of sorts. That image is terrifying enough to keep anyone from choosing cremation, but it’s not an image that should be associated with cremation at all. Despite what you may have heard, there is no fire involved in the cremation process. Instead, the body is exposed to very high temperatures, which soften and disintegrate the body to the point where it can be easily converted into ashes. The ashes are then typically stored in an urn for the family to cherish forever, which is a nice plus of choosing cremation Misconception #2: Ashes Must be Stored, Not Scattered One of the major appeals of cremation is that the ashes, often referred to as “cremains,” are yours to do with as you wish. You can house them in an urn, give small portions of ashes to loved ones of the deceased, or even scatter the ashes in a special or meaningful place. Unfortunately, however, many people never scatter the ashes as they wish because they have heard that it is illegal to do so or are under the impression that it’s bad for the environment. That’s actually not the case; as long as you have permission from the owner of the property where you wish to scatter the ashes, you are free to do so. Furthermore, ashes will not harm the environment in any way, so you can scatter them guilt-free. Misconception #3: Cremation is for “Weird” People At one time, cremation happened so rarely that those who chose it were often labeled as “odd” or “weird.” Really, though, there’s nothing strange about making this choice; it’s just a personal decision based on your preferences. Also, a lot more people are choosing cremation these days, so, chances are, if you choose to cremate, you’ll know someone else who has done the same. Misconception #4: “Cremains” are Literally Ashes Even though people interchangeably refer to the products of cremation as “cremains” and “ashes,” the second term is actually a bit of a misnomer. In fact, that name is probably a big reason why so many people wrongly think the cremation process involves burning the body. What those “ashes” or “cremains” really are is just a collection of leftover bone fragments that have been processed into a soil-like texture. Misconception #5: People Choose Cremation Only Because It’s Cheap Cremation typically ends up being somewhat cheaper than a traditional burial. Of course, that’s only true if the person planning the funeral doesn’t opt for high-end extras, such as a burial service or a pre-cremation viewing. When extras are added on, the price of cremation and burial is often comparable. And, even though saving money can sometimes be a nice plus of choosing cremation, that’s not the reason that people opt for it. Typically, people choose cremation for their own personal reasons, such as wanting to keep a piece of their loved one close to them. In the end, money usually doesn’t heavily factor into the decision of whether or not to cremate, and, even if it does, that’s nobody’s business. The decisions that people make about their loved ones are theirs and theirs alone and should not be judged. When it comes to cremation options in Tulsa OK, residents have plenty of choices at their disposal. If learning the truth about cremation has piqued your interest in it, don’t hesitate to explore this choice further.