If you are reading this blog then chances are you have taken the decision to start thinking about your funeral plans and making decisions so that you can have the type of funeral that you want and take the burden away from your loved ones when you go.
Choosing your final resting place is one of the biggest decisions that you can make regarding your funeral planning but sadly many people never get around to making this decision and instead the decision is left to someone else. But, what options are available to you?
Burial in a graveyard or cemetery
One in four people in the UK still choose to be buried rather than cremated. Unlike cremation, burial allows your family and loved ones to have a place that they can visit and pay their respects should they wish, maintaining a physical location where they can grieve. While burials in graveyards and cemeteries tend to be an expensive option due to limited space, it is said to be a more eco-friendly option when compared with cremation. There may also be a religious aspect to choosing a graveyard burial or you may have family or deceased loved ones that you would like to be close to.
Environmentally friendly burials
In recent years there has been an increase in interest in environmentally friendly funerals. These types of natural funerals look to cut down on the impact that human burial has on the environment. This can be achieved by choosing a coffin that is made of eco-friendly materials like cane, seagrass, banana leaves or other biodegradable material.
Cremation
While they were initially banned, cremations are now widely accepted amongst the public and are a popular alternative to burials. Cremation is less expensive than a traditional funeral as generally there are fewer things to pay for – no burial vault, cemetery plot or grave marker. However, another key reason for choosing cremation is the chance to have your ashes stored in an urn or even scattered somewhere particularly special to you. Many people choose to have their ashes scattered in public parks, which allows their family members to visit and remember them outside of the standard opening hours of say, a church graveyard.
Private burial
While many people choose to have their ashes scattered somewhere public such as a football stadium or a public park, it may be that you would prefer to have your ashes scattered or even be buried somewhere private, perhaps on land that you or your family own. However, it is important that you think carefully about burial on a private site as it could have an adverse affect on the market value of your property and you may need to seek permission from local authorities before going ahead with it. To find out more, please click here to read this guide to private burial.
If you have an idea of where you would like your final resting place to be then you should speak to a funeral director and begin formalising your plans. Here at Cravens we have four award winning plans to choose from and can prepare a funeral which meets your specific requirements and takes the burden away from your family after you are gone. To find out more please call us on 0151 228 3900.