If you value the opportunity to grieve your loved one without the obligations a traditional funeral home might present and prefer simplicity, the choice of a direct cremation provider could be the smartest. When deciding between the traditional funeral and a direct cremation, please consider that by 2017, it is estimated that half of all Americans will opt for cremation over traditional funeral and burial. Already 41 percent of Americans see cremation as their preferred choice, up from 15 percent 25 years ago.

According to the Cremation Association of North America, the driving factors that lead people to choose cremation over the traditional funeral and burial are, in order of importance, cost, range of options, environmental impact, geography, religious acceptance.

1) Cost

The economic downturn, personal distressed finances, and loss of money in the markets are all elements that have made cost the leading factor in the choice. Cremation provides an affordable alternative that many families find appealing. The average cost nationally of a cremation is $1,650. The average cost of the traditional funeral and burial is between $10,000 and $16,000. According to the Funeral and Memorial Information Council, cost was a deciding factor in 33 percent of all cremations performed in 2010.

2) Range of Options

Many people find that cremation opens up a wider range of memorialization options than a traditional funeral and burial. Cremated remains can be placed in a single location, scattered at a favorite location or divided and incorporated into keepsake urns, jewelry and other items so that multiple family members may keep their loved one close.

3) Environmental Impact

Cremation is an environmentally conscious practice compared to traditional burials which requires land consumption and cemetery maintenance into perpetuity.

4) Geography

Cremation allows people to easily transport their loved one’s remains. Many families find that cremation enables them to return cremated remains from wherever their loved one has moved to wherever the loved one considers “home”. Cremation serves as a simple solution that helps families fulfill a decedent’s desire to return “home.”

5) Religious Acceptance

Many religions. becoming more tolerant of cremation, have begun to relax restrictions that once limited cremation as an option. In some cases, churches have begun to plan columbaria as part of the church property so church members have their final resting place on church grounds.

Losing a loved one and planning a memorial is without question an emotionally draining ordeal. However, a traditional funeral doesn’t have to drain you financially. Cremation offers many options for anyone to choose from.

This article was provided by Optima Cremation Service of the Triad.