You’ve made your choice: After your final farewell, you’d like your ashes to be placed in an urn. Now it’s time to broach the subject with your loved ones.

How do you explain to your loved ones the reasons that led you to choose cremation as a means of disposing of your body? That’s the subject of this article…

 

Cremation or burial: the choice is yours

First of all, congratulations on your decision to make your own funeral arrangements. By doing so, you are relieving your family of an additional burden at the time of your death. But more importantly, it ensures that your wishes will be understood and respected.

When you plan your prearrangements with your funeral services advisor, one of the topics you’ll discuss together will be how to dispose of your body. As with all other decisions you make when planning your funeral prearrangements, it’s a good idea to discuss them not only with the executor of your will, but also with your loved ones.

 

Commemoration after cremation

Although this is your own personal decision, opening the discussion with those who will mourn you after you’re gone gives you the opportunity to better understand their needs in terms of commemoration.

If you wish, you can therefore adapt your arrangements so that your loved ones can honour your memory in a way that brings them peace and comfort. For example, would you like to be on view at the funeral ceremony, which takes place before the cremation?

It’s also important to decide what will happen to your ashes after cremation:

• Do you want your ashes to be buried in a cemetery or scattered in nature?
• Would you prefer your urn to be displayed in a columbarium or kept at a loved one’s home?

Like the cemetery, the columbarium provides a peaceful place of remembrance for your loved ones. If one of your loved ones prefers to keep the ashes at home, this is another possibility. Whichever option you choose, it’s essential that you and your family are well informed about them.

 

Cremation: a question of values

For some, the choice of cremation as a means of disposing of the body is based on their values.

For example, many people are looking for an environmentally-friendly option to dispose of their body. For others, the idea of returning to the earth to perpetuate the cycle of life gives a certain meaning to death.

Cremation may be in line with some people’s beliefs, but it can also upset others. Here’s how cremation is perceived by various religions:

• The Muslim religion prohibits cremation.
• Cremation is also prohibited within Judaism, although more “liberal” Jews do opt for it.
• The Catholic Church has accepted cremation since 1963, but still favours burial.
• The Orthodox religion tolerates cremation, but doesn’t encourage it.
• Protestantism, Buddhism and Hinduism accept cremation without any problem.
• Lastly, in Sikhism and Jainism, cremation of the deceased is considered a must.

When your faith differs from that of your parents or other loved ones, it can be more difficult to discuss your choice of how to dispose of your body, especially if it goes against their beliefs.

Remember: if cremation is important to you, the decision is yours, and it must be respected by your loved ones.

 

Why choose Crématorium Montréal?

At Crématorium Montréal, we offer accessible funeral services so that everyone can be laid to rest with dignity.

We offer an economical cremation package. You can also plan your funeral prearrangements online.

Whatever your funeral service needs, our team is here to support you and your loved ones.