Decomposition of the body in the earth (after burial) is the slow oxidation of the body tissues.

Cremation, on the other hand, provides rapid oxidation.

No casket is legally required for cremation, just a simple container, which is strong enough to hold the body. This could be a box of rough boards, pressboard, or heavy cardboard.

Some crematories accept metal caskets; most require the container to be combustible.

Cremation Choices

If the body is cremated:

• The remains can be stored by the family.
• You may take the remains in the simple cardboard box supplied by the crematory and distribute (“scatter”) them over the land or water.
• The remains can be placed in a niche within a columbarium.
• The remains can be buried in the ground in a regular plot or in a smaller cremation plot.
• The remains can be entombed in a crypt within a mausoleum.

The Trend Towards Cremation

• In the United States, in 1972, only five percent chose cremation. That number had quintupled by 1999, with over 25% choosing cremation.
• The Cremation Association of North America predicts that by 2010, that figure will rise to 36%.
• In Canada, the rate is already over 42%; in Great Britain, 71%; and over 98% in Japan.
• Those who choose cremation (for themselves or others) often hold the belief that it is better to honor the memory of the person, not the dead body.

Why People Choose Cremation

Although the trend is moving toward cremation, the majority of North Americans still choose to bury their dead and to be buried themselves. Here are some reasons you might choose cremation.

• Cremation is traditional in your family, religious group, or geographical area.
• You prefer the body to be returned quickly and cleanly to the elements. Many people believe that a cremated body becomes one with nature more quickly.
• You have environmental concerns. Perhaps you are worried about the use of valuable land for cemetery space, or believe it is wrong to fill the ground with materials that won’t erode … metal coffins and concrete vaults.
• You want to keep the costs down. Selecting cremation does not mean, however, that you will have an inexpensive funeral. You might still choose an expensive casket and/or a viewing, and/or decide to have the cremated remains buried in the ground or placed in a columbarium. These choices can bring your costs up to those of a traditional funeral.