Choosing between burial and cremation is one of the first decisions you’ll need to make when planning a funeral.
Understanding all that’s involved will help you make the right choice for your loved one.
Burial vs cremation
The choice between burial or cremation is an important one for many reasons.
Firstly, it may impact the type of funeral service you hold. Secondly, it can impact the location you choose to lay your loved one to rest, and whether you hold a private or public funeral service. And finally, there may be religious or cultural factors that influence your decision.
If you weren’t aware of your loved one’s preference, we can help you make the decision that feels right.
Burials
A burial is the ritual of placing the deceased into a burial plot in the ground, or into an above-ground burial such as a crypt, vault or mausoleum. The coffin or casket is lowered into a burial plot, and the gravesite is covered with soil once the funeral service has concluded.
It’s worth noting that the funeral service may not necessarily take place graveside. Many families opt for a funeral service in a chapel or other location prior to burial with friends and family, before conducting the burial with a more intimate group afterwards.
For a burial service, you will need to choose a coffin or casket, and the preferred location of the burial plot. Your funeral director can put you in touch with the cemetery so you can make arrangements to purchase a new gravesite or organise the burial at a previously purchased site.
Cremation
Many Australians prefer cremations to burials. Most families choose to hold some form of funeral service before the deceased their loved one is cremated. In Australia, the cremation is carried out on the same day as the funeral service or within 48 hours.
After a body is cremated, there are several meaningful things you might do with the ashes. You might choose to memorialise them in a permanent memorial. This offers a place for the family and future generations to visit, so it’s important to carefully consider the location.
Another option is to scatter the ashes in a place of significance. Please check with your local council before doing so in a public place.
Finally, many families choose to memorial their loved one’s ashes in an urn or keepsake at home. Your funeral director can discuss these options with you, if you’d like.
Questions about burials and cremations
Cremation has become the more common choice in recent years, with more than 70% of Australians choosing cremation over a traditional burial. This is likely due to the higher costs of a burial, and the fact that cremation offers a simple, cost-effective alternative with many flexible memorial options.
Unfortunately, we often leave it too late to have these conversations with our loved ones. So, it’s common not to know what their preference would have been. We will explain the options to you so you can discuss it with your close family members, who can help you make the decision that feels right for your circumstances.
Typically, cremation is a more affordable option than burial. In Australia, a cremation costs around $4,000 while a burial service can cost around $15,000 (according to MoneySmart). The biggest factor in the price difference is the cost of the cemetery plot.
Get in touch with Le Pine Funerals
We’re here to help you plan the perfect farewell.
If you'd like to organise a service, you can call us 24/7, or request a call back online and we'll be in touch as soon as we can.