Burial or cremation?

[GutsyShark]

Apologies for the morbid thread! Was at a funeral today which is what brought it to mind.

Would you rather be buried or cremated? I’ve a will and letter of wishes that says no preference but having thought about it think I’d rather be buried.

I want to be cremated and to have my ashes scattered in woodland somewhere. I live in the south east and cemeteries don't have tons of space left. Bit less "landfill" if you're cremated. I also don't like the idea of someone being buried in the ground. I know they're dead but it just gives me the creeps.

Then you've got the cost of a grave, the headstone, maintaining the grave... I don't want my daughters left with the upkeep, or to feel they have to visit a grave.

I don't think anyone would be around to give a shit and make the effort with a burial for me. I will be dead, so wont care. Cremations seems the best to me. I bet my ashes will end up in some urn on a shelf.

I’d rather be buried as I think it’s more ‘natural’ but it’s bloody pricey so I’ll have the cheapest option, which is a direct cremation, I believe.

Every funeral I had been to was a cremation until a friend of mine died last year and was buried. I found it difficult. I can't understand why someone would want to be under the cold, wet, dark earth. I'd like my ashes to just blow away on the wind.

As a Hindu we get cremated.
I also don't like the idea of rotting away.
I was thinking do we even have enough land to bury everyone?

Lack of space is a definite concern with burial, is it a selfish use of limited land?

Today’s funeral was at a crematorium, very depressing standing outside waiting for the last service to do finish before we went in. Wasn’t keen on that.

I saw Jimmy Carr of all people recently saying he read a thing that you die twice - the first time is when you physically die the second time is the last time someone says your name. After that I thought a burial with a permanent memorial might be nice.

I’d like to feed the worms and nourish the earth, sounds weird but I think it’s nice - like going back to nature.

I wonder about the pollution with cremation?

I have decided on cremation, and I want my ashes scattered at a lovely, wild beach.

I’ve specified cremation in my will. My mum was buried many years ago in my home town and I still feel guilty every time I think of that headstone with no flowers or visitors 😔 It’s just so far, and also not a particularly nice place to visit - a massive catholic cemetery on the edge of town. I’d much rather my DC scatter me at a lovely spot that they can visit as and when they wish (or not!)

Could you plant a little evergreen bush on it, one that flowers every now and then. Then no need to feel guilty.

Quoted 4.5k in a local cemetery for a burial plot. I've seen cheaper green burial plots, and I quite like the idea of being worm food. Given the price though, cremation it probably is.

We need more options in the UK. In the US, there are all sorts of weird and wonderful ways to deal with your body after death.

Natural burial ground for me. I like the idea of becoming part of the ecosystem. No headstone to worry about, just a place that will eventually become woodland. It’s not as expensive as cremation, either.

If they bring in human composting in the UK, I’d go for that. Not so-called ‘water cremation’ though, which I think is just horrible.

Cremated. I read far too much Edgar Allan Poe in my younger years to ever want to be buried

I'm of a similar mindset to my late father "stick me in a cardboard box and chuck it on a bonfire." Sadly, the cardboard coffin was more expensive on a limited budget, so a wooden coffin and crematorium as chucking a coffin on the local bonfire is a little frowned upon in the UK.

Wokeness gone mad right?

Burial.

There are people who tend to graves professionally now - would you maybe consider that? It might give you some comfort to know that your mum's grave is being looked after from afar. Don't think it is very expensive either, and can be done on an ad-hoc basis.

at the age of 29 I’ve not made the decision and I don’t think I ever will. I have a 3 year old and for me even just thinking about it upsets me. I would probably have a conversation with my children I hope I hope to have one more soon one day to see what they would prefer. This has just brought tears to my eyes and I don’t know why. I think I’m just worried because my own mums 55 in a couple of months and I’m scared of it and I seem to be thinking and feeling it a lot more lately

Definitely cremation for me, I hate the thought of being buried and family feeling the need to visit and place flowers on it while feeling sad, I’d rather they remembered the good times and scattered my ashes in a place I love.

Everyone has this idle dream of being scattered or have a tree planted on their ashes or something. When ashes are toxic and not supposed to be scattered.

So you die and then your relatives poison the spot they put you type of thing.

You can have both, sort of. My mum was cremated but I had a memorial bench put up for her in the local park (you can buy one from our council) and it's really comforting to go there.

Cremated and remains buried in the family plot.

Today’s funeral was at a crematorium, very depressing standing outside waiting for the last service to do finish before we went in. Wasn’t keen on that.

My dad had a lovely church service first followed by a smaller service in the crem and there wasn't much hanging around.

I don't honestly care personally, but I believe that burial should be banned. We're a small island and give over so much room to the dead! What a waste.

I like reading the memorial benches when out on dog walks etc, it’s nice to remember the people even though I don’t know them.