Though an ancient and honorable way of disposing of our dead, in the middle of the 20th Century, fewer than 5% of bereaved families chose cremation. Now, early in the 21st Century, however, nearly half of the dead are cremated. The procedures, observances and rituals that surround cremation are, as one might imagine, as varied as the reasons families have in opting for this manner of disposition.  

Families who choose cremation as an alternative to burial may select from a variety of service options, from the most minimal to the more traditional to the most elaborate. Just as the choice of burial does not mandate a particular type of service or casket, the choice of cremation does not disallow a variety of commemorative options. 

Cremation Choices