Alternative Funerals: No Longer Uncommon

Published: 11/13/2011

Alternative funerals are becoming more and more popular. People are setting aside traditional rituals for all kinds of reasons. Perhaps they no longer follow an organized religious or spiritual path. On the other hand, they may want something more upbeat than the usual arrangements of mourners and dirges. In some cases, they may be seeking environmentally friendly alternatives, such as biodegradable coffins.

With average funeral costs as high as they are, alternative funeral services can be a true money saver. Many of them are highly individualized, and planning personal alternative funeral services is a growth industry. For example, instead of holding the service at a church or a funeral home, a family may select a venue that reminds them of the deceased's occupation or interests, such as a hangar for a pilot or a racetrack for a long time trainer.

Arranging a funeral is never easy; when it comes to personal alternative funeral services, it can become even harder. For this reason, some people choose to make their own funeral arrangements in advance, allaying the burden. Arranging a funeral in advance allows funds to be set aside or payments made on an installment plan, making the average funeral costs seem a lot more reasonable even when the circumstances of the event do not save money.

Alternative funeral services may also be designed to suit less traditional spiritual paths. One direction is the green funeral service. Some people refer to a traditional funeral with a heavy casket, embalming, use of a hearse, and a lot of money spent as a 'black funeral service'. The environmentally conscious may choose to use a biodegradable or cardboard coffin that returns their remains to the earth faster. Green funeral services do not involve embalming, sealed caskets, or burial vaults, and the site is often landscaped to appear as natural as possible. These alternative funerals are seen as the answer to choosing burial over cremation whilst remaining environmentally sound. Often, they are also cheaper.

Alternative funerals are an option more and more families are choosing to honor their loved ones. With the high emphasis on new, current traditions and on the specific desires and wishes of the deceased, they are an attractive alternative that is often turned into a celebration of life.