<p>More and more, people are considering and choosing cremation over burial for after life arrangements. There are some very compelling reasons to do this. We&rsquo;ll review these in this week&rsquo;s blog. <br /><br /> <strong>Cost </strong><br /> The average cost of a traditional funeral starts at about $6500. <br />This covers body preparations and a casket, but not a burial plot, the hearse, the flowers or any of the other costs such as those incurred with a large memorial service. <br />Cremation on the other hand averages about $1650, or even lower. <br />At Harmony Funeral Home, we offer a direct cremation package for just $799.00. <br />A direct cremation is when the body is taken almost directly from the hospital to the crematory, and body preparations or memorial service are held prior to cremations. <br /><br /><strong>Flexibility</strong> <br />Oftentimes, a person dies far away from where a memorial service could be held for them. <br />Transporting cremated remains to a person&rsquo;s hometown, for example, is much less expensive than transporting a casket. <br />It can also be the case that a person&rsquo;s family is spread out over many states or countries, and time is needed to make travel arrangements. Cremations allow a memorial to be held at a time in the future when it is convenient for the surviving family and friends. <br /><br /><strong>Environmental </strong><br />Many people see the land used up by cemeteries as wasteful and would rather be cremated. <br />Cemeteries in the US bury 827,060 gallons of embalming fluid every year. <br />Additionally, approximately tons and tons of steel and concrete are buried, and this can be seen as a waste of resources. <br /><br />When you are considering cremation, be sure to make note of it in your pre-planning document. For more information on this, contact Harmony Funeral Home.</p>