Deciding between cremation vs. burial in Brooklyn isn’t always a cut and dry proposition. You’ve got to take into consideration your family’s religious beliefs, the deceased’s wishes and the availability of a local funeral parlor to take care of the details.
Fortunately, Harmony Funeral Home has lots of experience with cremation and burials for all types of cultural and religious traditions. They know how to price and package a service that begins with cremation, as well as the more traditional burial routines. Both options can be meaningful, whether you’re burying a loved one or planning ahead for your own end-of-life preferences.
What’s the Difference Between Cremation vs. Burial in Brooklyn?
The first thing families are usually concerned about is that cremation isn’t a common Brooklyn burial tradition. You and your relatives may be concerned about what the neighbors might think if you break with those traditions.
Burial usually involves placing the body in a casket and lowering it into a gravesite at a cemetery. It’s often prefaced with a viewing of the body, religious or non-religious service and a graveside ceremony. Burial might be best in circumstances such as:
- Wanting a physical place like a grave to visit
- Following religious or cultural customs
- Planning a full funeral service with family and friends
- Being uncomfortable with the whole cremation process
Cremation uses high heat to turn the body into ashes. Those ashes are then placed in a container or urn or scattered in a special ceremony or location. Common situations where cremation makes sense include:
- Looking for a flexible, more affordable funeral option
- Preferring to hold a memorial service later, on your own timeline
- Keeping your loved one close at home in a cremation urn or other memorial product
- Being environmentally conscious, choosing an eco-friendly green burial
Which Option is More Affordable: Cremation vs. Burial in Brooklyn?
The team at Harmony Funeral Home helps you sort through the differences. Cremation tends to be cheaper than traditional burial. That’s because following the process required by state and local laws involved in burying a body in the ground usually includes extra services and physical items such as:
- A burial plot
- Casket and headstone
- Grave opening and closing fees
- Embalming and preparation
- A longer viewing or wake
With crematory services, you have more flexibility. You can keep things simple if that’s what works best for you. Follow a process that may include:
- Choosing a direct cremation without any extras
- Skipping embalming altogether
- Using a basic urn instead of a casket
- Participating in a witness cremation
- Having a celebration of life at a later date
Are There Religious or Cultural Considerations for Choosing Cremation vs. Burial in Brooklyn?
Some religions have clear guidelines, while others leave the decision up to you. For many religious groups, burial has long been the traditional choice, such as:
- Traditional Jewish funeral law requires burial and discourages cremation.
- Burial is also preferred in Islamic Janazah when the body is usually buried as soon as possible.
- Many Christian denominations historically favored burial. However, cremation is becoming accepted among Protestants, while Catholics may use cremation as long as the ashes are buried in a sacred burial place and not scattered.
Many religions and cultures have long been open to cremation, even welcoming it. Faiths that encourage cremation include Hinduism and Buddhism. But for everyone, burial is still an option even after cremation. You can bury the ashes in a cemetery plot, place them in a columbarium or inter them with another loved one.
What Are the Eco-Friendly Cremation and Burial Options Available Locally?
A green burial lets you or someone who died return to the earth as naturally as possible. Green burial uses simple biodegradable materials instead of traditional metal caskets and concrete vaults. You skip embalming fluids and allow the body to decompose naturally.
Cremation is already considered more environmentally friendly than traditional burial, but you can take it a step further. If you choose cremation, you may explore eco-friendly options such as:
- Biodegradable urns for burial or water scattering
- Scattering gardens available in select cemeteries across Brooklyn
- Water-based alternative to traditional cremation
Can I Pre-Plan Between Cremation vs. Burial in Brooklyn?
When you take the time to plan ahead, you maintain control and relieve your family of the burden of having to guess what you might have wanted. And you might even save a few relationships when family members disagree on cremation vs. burial in Brooklyn.
You get to decide how you want to be remembered whether that’s through a traditional burial, a simple cremation or something personalized. Pre-planning gives you several benefits including:
- Choosing services that reflect your personality
- Avoiding rushed decisions later
- Taking advantage of pre-payment options to avoid future cost increases
You can pick out readings, songs, speakers and even the outfit you want to be buried or cremated in. And most of all, you get to choose between cremation vs. burial in Brooklyn. These choices help your loved ones celebrate your life in a way that truly feels like you.
How Does Harmony Funeral Home Help with My Cremation vs. Burial in Brooklyn Decision?
Whether you’re leaning toward cremation or burial in Brooklyn, Harmony Funeral Home helps you navigate every detail, including assistance with things like:
- Filing all the necessary legal paperwork
- Choosing between religious, cultural or secular services
- Selecting a cemetery and final resting place
- Arranging transportation
- Picking out floral displays and writing an obituary
- Honoring personal and family traditions
From planning a service to putting together repasts, to taking care of a cremation or burial, families trust us because we combine compassionate care with modern facilities. Contact Harmony Funeral Home and discover why we’re Brooklyn’s top choice.
Harmony Funeral Home2200 Clarendon Rd.
Brooklyn, NY 11226
(718) 469-6666