Traditional cremation is not often the first choice when people are considering cremation services in Dayton, WA. That title belongs to direct cremation, thanks to its affordability. However, there are four practical reasons to choose traditional cremation, even if it means spending a little more. We explain them below.
1. Includes traditional funeral services
A notable downside of direct cremation is the lack of traditional funeral services before the body heads to the crematorium. While you can still have a wake or visitation, they all happen without the body. This is not the case with traditional cremation.
Here, all funeral services occur before the body heads to the crematorium. You can have a visitation or funeral service where the body is dressed and placed in a ceremonial casket, just like a regular burial.
This arrangement is suitable if you want a cremation but still want a conventional funeral ceremony. It’s also an option if the deceased belonged to a religion like Catholicism or Judaism, which allows cremation but still advises members to have a proper funeral.
2. Less expensive than a traditional burial
Whatever your guiding reason may be, you have the added advantage of having the services at a lower cost than a traditional burial. Because the final disposition method is cremation, there’s no need to buy a burial plot or a casket.
Funeral homes offer rental caskets you can use during the wake, visitation, and other services before the cremation. Afterward, the body is cremated in a cremation container that costs significantly less than a ceremonial casket.
It also means avoiding cemetery expenses like a burial vault or headstone. That’s why traditional cremation, on average, costs $1,000 less than a burial. Traditional cremation is the way to go if you want a full-service burial on a budget.
3. Gives everyone a chance to say goodbye
With direct cremation, not everyone gets the chance to see the body and say goodbye before the cremation. This can complicate the healing process for family members who find closure in seeing the body one last time.
For people like this, traditional cremation buys them time. Since the cremation occurs days after the death, the body is embalmed and preserved. It gives distant relatives time to adjust the schedule and travel down for the wake.
Embalming the body also enables a public viewing, where community members can visit and offer condolences. This option allows everyone to say their farewell and gain the necessary closure without feeling rushed through the process.
4. More customizable than a burial
Finally, traditional cremation enables a greater opportunity for personalization than a burial. The final resting place options are no longer confined to a cemetery or mausoleum. Instead, after the cremation, loved one’s can handle the ashes however you prefer.
Per the deceased’s wishes, they can scatter the ashes, bury them in a unique location, or split them between family members. Another option gaining popularity is to turn the ashes into keepsake jewelry.
Overall, traditional cremation allows you to blend some advantages of a direct cremation with those of a burial in a cost-friendly way.
Are you considering traditional cremation for yourself or a loved one? We offer cremation services in Dayton, WA, and our staff is ready to help. Call us now to get started with pre-arrangements or visit our location.
