4 Things You Shouldn’t Say to Someone Who Has Chosen Cremation
“I want to be cremated when I die.” There are more and more families all across the country hearing those words these days. Lots of people are asking for Douglasville, GA cremations when they die as opposed to burials. In fact, the cremation rate in the U.S. recently surpassed the 50 percent mark and could climb into the 60 percent and even 70 percent range soon.
But despite the fact that more Americans are being cremated today than ever before, there are still many families that aren’t 100 percent sure how to react when a family member expresses a desire to be cremated. They’re sometimes at a loss for words, and as a result, they end up saying the wrong thing in response to their family member’s decision. This could potentially cause a rift between you and your family member if you make this mistake. Here are 4 things you shouldn’t ever say to someone who has chosen cremation.
“Aren’t you afraid of what will happen when your body is cremated?”
For years, there were a lot of people who chose not to be cremated because of all the myths surrounding cremation services in Douglasville, GA. Some people were under the impression that a person’s body was engulfed in flames during the cremation process. But we now know that this is not true at all and that there isn’t anything to fear when it comes to cremation. So avoid trying to make your family member scared or worried when they tell you they wish to be cremated.
“I thought your religion was against cremation.”
There used to be a lot of religions that were against cremation. There are still a few, like Judaism and Islam, that have refused to co-sign it. But for the most part, the majority of the world’s major religions have come around to allowing people to be cremated at the time of their death. And even if your loved one’s religion doesn’t fall into this category? Trust that they’ve done a ton of soul-searching to come to a final decision with regards to cremation. If they’re OK with it, you should be, too.
“Did you make this decision because of money? I can lend you some money if…”
Cremation will often cost a lot less than a traditional burial will. Therefore, some people will assume that a person must be having money problems if they’re deciding to go with cremation rather than a burial. Do not make this assumption, and do not make your loved one feel uncomfortable by offering to give them money to reconsider their options. It could lead to bad feelings developing between the two of you.
“This is just a phase. You’ll be back to wanting to be buried again soon!”
When a person is in the process of trying to decide whether they want to be cremated or buried, it’s not a decision they take lightly. They think about all the angles and carefully consider both options. This means that they’re not just going through a “phase” when they settle on cremation. They’ve thought through the options available to them and have come to a conclusion that they feel works best for them. Support them instead of just telling them that you think they’re going to change their mind about cremation at some point in the future.
At Davis-Struempf Funeral Home & Crematory, we make it our mission to provide families with all the information they need on cremation. This makes it much easier for them to accept a loved one’s decision and make funeral arrangements in Douglasville, GA for them. Call us at (770) 944-2900 today to learn more about our cremation services or visit 1975 E West Connector, Austell, GA 30106 to sit down with a funeral director to talk about them.