There may have once been a stigma surrounding cremation, but it has increasingly become a norm—rivaling traditional burial in the process. Once besieged by misinformation and misconception, people are increasingly learning a thing or two about cremation, and realizing they aren’t so scared of it after all. If you are looking for more information about cremation in or near Whiteland, IN, rest assured there are nearby professionals prepared to tell you more. A local funeral director can walk you through the process and help you determine if cremation is right for you. It is never too soon to begin thinking about your options and learning about the various possibilities. Working with a nearby funeral home can be extremely helpful in this regard, making it much easier to plan final arrangements when the time comes.

When it comes to those arrangements, you may wish to keep your mind open about cremation. It really isn’t the uncharted territory that it once seemed. Indeed, more and more Americans are turning to cremation in recent years. People around the world have been pretty amenable to the idea for some time. According to CNN, “Cremation is the prevailing practice in places where the custom is ancient and most of the population adheres to Hinduism, Sikhism, Buddhism or Jainism. Many Americans of Japanese descent, for example, routinely opt for cremation just as they might in Japan, where cremation is nearly universal. Other nations with high cremation rates—80% or higher—include Taiwan, Hong Kong, Switzerland, Sweden, South Korea, the Czech Republic and Thailand.”

But what is truly remarkable is the trend in the United States. Things have changed, and they have changed quite quickly. Gone is any stigma regarding cremation. And religious concerns have abated, as well. Cremation is becoming a new norm.

As National Cremation explains, “In 1960, only 3.6% of Americans chose cremation. The projected cremation rate for 2015 is astronomically higher at 48.2%. That’s a 1,238.88% increase in the number of people choosing cremation over a span of just 65 years. According to the National Funeral Directors Association, the projected cremation rate will continue to rise in the coming years, with 55.8% of Americans expected to choose cremation in 2020 and 70.6% in 2030.”

Fears may have once had in part to do with uncertainties about the cremation process itself. As it turns out, the process has become pretty mainstream, involving computers and plenty of oversight by technicians. It is a professional and dignified operation, no less so than what goes into a traditional burial. That should alleviate many concerns. Education and the availability of information across the Internet has made that increasingly clear. There just isn’t that much to worry about, and now people know that.

If you are seriously thinking about cremation in the Whiteland, IN, area, consider reaching out to O’Riley - Branson Funeral Service & Crematory. We pride ourselves on serving you with compassion and a great deal of care. We are prepared to meet a wide range of needs and help you through a potentially difficult process. You can visit us at 6107 S East St, Indianapolis, IN 46227 or place a phone call to (317) 787-8224.