The history of cremation

Believe it or not, many scholars agree that cremation probably began sometime during the Stone Age. It began most likely in Europe or in the Near East around 3000 BC give or take.

Now modern cremations, as we know them, began in the late 19th century. The first cremation chamber debuted in the US in 1876 and soon crematories began popping up all over the country. By the time Dr. Hugo Erichsen founded the Cremation Association of America in 1913, there were 52 crematories in North America and over 10,000 cremations took place in that single year. By 2019, there were over 3,000 crematories in the US. Almost 55% of dead bodies in the country were handled through cremation. Talk about a hot business model.

Why are people choosing cremation over burial?

While cremations have been around for a long time, most people tend to opt for a more traditional route, i.e. a funeral. But as we noted above, funerals can be incredibly expensive and run you a pretty penny. According to the National Funeral Directors Association (NFDA) Member General Price List Study (*inhales*), the median cost of a funeral has increased 6.6% over the past five years to $7,848. Compare that to the average cost of a standard cremation service being only $1,110, with further services being offered as well. The cost-saving aspect of cremations is incredibly attractive to Americans, as The Living Urn projects that 63.5% of Americans will choose cremation over a traditional burial by 2025.

With newer technologies doing better at handling the environmental effects and allowing for variable costs depending on needs and availability, it’s no wonder that more and more people are choosing to cremate their loved ones.

You can still honor your loved one with a cremation

People still opt for traditional burials because, well, they’re traditional. There’s a sentimental value to having a plot of land that you can visit and honor. But you can still honor your loved ones even if they’re cremated.

You can spread their ashes at a spot that was important to them, or to the relationship you shared with them. You could save them in a locket so that a piece of them can always be with you, wherever you go. And urns, simple or decorative, can be displayed in your home so that you don’t have to travel to a cemetery to view them.

At Wyshbox, we view term life insurance with care and we can work with you and your family to reflect the manner of honoring you prefer. If you choose to go with a cremation over a traditional burial, you can customize your wyshes to show that intention. Like we said, it’s never easy losing someone you care about. But having a life insurance policy gets us thinking about the unexpected and how to prepare. If you or a loved one is interested in a burial or a cremation service, you’ll want to be prepared. Click here to take a look at our Wysh Builder and start preparing today.