More than ever before, people are choosing cremation as an option. In 2015, 68.8% of Canadians stated that they were “definitely” or “somewhat likely” to choose cremation as an option. By 2020, the number is projected to be somewhere around 74%.* So what’s all this love for cremation about?

Cremation is a cost-effective, flexible, and customizable way to honour a life lived. It can be as straightforward or as elaborate as you want it to be. Unlike a traditional funeral service, you don’t have to go for all the bells and whistles, unless you want to. There’s no need for a casket, a chapel service, pallbearers, or a funeral coach. You don’t have to purchase cemetery property or commission a grave marker. You don’t even need to buy an urn if you don’t want to.

Cremation offers you the gift of time. Where a traditional service requires things to move along at a brisk pace, cremated remains can be kept until you’ve decided on a scattering, burial, or memorial site. Cremation allows families the time to travel in order to be together, taking away the stress of planning a service in the days following a death. There’s enough emotion and confusion during this difficult time- why make it any harder than it has to be?

Cremation can be tailored to suit every need. For families hoping for a quick process, direct cremation offers tremendous value. Need something extra? A cremation with viewing could be just right. Prefer to plan a traditional service? Not a problem. You can have a funeral service with casket present followed by a cremation. Regardless of the reason behind choosing cremation, you can be confident in your choice. After all, it’s rise in popularity is happening for a reason.

*“FAMIC Study,” Funeral & Memorialization Information Council (FAMIC). 2015.

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