Resources & Planning
Funeral Planning Options Guide
Comprehensive guide to funeral and memorial planning options
Over the past 50 years, the United States has experienced a dramatic shift from traditional burial to cremation as the preferred method of final disposition. In the 1970s, fewer than 10% of Americans chose cremation, a practice then viewed as unconventional or culturally unfamiliar in many communities. By contrast, cremation now accounts for more than half of all dispositions nationwide, driven by changing religious attitudes, rising funeral and cemetery costs, increased geographic mobility of families, and a growing desire for simplicity and personalization in memorial services. Environmental concerns have also played a role, prompting many people to seek options that use fewer resources than embalming and casket burial. Together, these social, economic, and cultural changes have helped make cremation the dominant choice in modern American funerals.
1. Traditional Burial
Overview:
Burial is interment in a cemetery plot, mausoleum, or natural burial ground.
Key Components:
- Preparation and optional embalming
- Casket or biodegradable container
- Burial location selection
- Funeral or graveside services
Benefits:
Tradition, family connection, permanent visitation site.
Considerations:
Higher cost, environmental impact, maintenance fees.
Typical Cost Range: $7,000–$15,000+
2. Cremation
Overview:
Cremation reduces the body to ashes through high heat.
Types:
- Flame Cremation
- Witness Cremation
- Direct Cremation (lowest cost)
Ash Options:
Scattering, burial, niches, home display, keepsakes.
Benefits:
Lower cost, flexible timing, smaller environmental footprint.
Typical Cost Range: $800–$8,000
3. Alternative & Eco‑Friendly Options
3A. Natural / Green Burial:
No embalming, biodegradable materials, natural decay.
Cost: $2,000–$6,000
3B. Aquamation:
Water-based alkaline hydrolysis, eco-friendly.
Cost: $2,000–$4,000
3C. Human Composting:
Body becomes soil in 30–60 days.
Cost: $4,000–$7,000
3D. Conservation Burial:
Burial in protected natural preserves.
Cost: $3,500–$8,000
4. Memorial & Service Planning
Service Types:
Funeral, memorial, celebration of life, graveside, religious or secular.
Additional Elements:
Obituaries, music, readings, photos, donations.
5. Legal & Practical Considerations
Documents:
Advance directive, durable power of attorney, will, preneed contracts.
Authority:
Next-of-kin laws; some states allow appointing a funeral agent.
Transport:
Usually handled by funeral home; regulations vary.
6. Summary Comparison Table
| Option | Cost | Environmental Impact | Availability |
|---|---|---|---|
| Burial | High cost | High impact | Nationwide |
| Cremation | Low/medium cost | Medium impact | Nationwide |
| Aquamation | Medium cost | Low impact | Limited |
| Composting | Medium cost | Very low impact | Limited |
| Green Burial | Medium/low cost | Very low impact | Growing |