Should We Be Doing It Like Bowie?
Why are more and more people opting to have a direct cremation?
Why has the choice to have a direct cremation increased by 400% since 2019? Is it because of David Bowie, spirituality, cost, or a bit of everything?
Let it be said that no one needs reminding about the ways in which the world has changed since before the word ‘pandemic’ was in our everyday vocabulary. But one area that changed drastically during that time was the way in which we lay our loved ones to rest – and those changes have largely remained, even as we move into a post-pandemic way of life.
During the Covid-19 global pandemic, families were pressed to source alternative ways to say goodbye to their friends and family which saw a shift away from the ‘traditional’ methods. The front runner of these alternatives were Direct Cremations and that demand has only increased as time has gone on. You could say that this increased demand started a few years before anyone had even heard of Covid-19, back in 2016 when David Bowie made headlines with what they called a secret cremation, without any of his family or friends present.
So, what is a Direct Cremation?
Direct cremations are when the deceased is escorted by private black ambulance (not a hearse) to the crematorium for their private cremation – typically first thing in the morning, ahead of the booked service slots. There are no mourners, family or friends present.
The deceased’s remains are then available for collection from the Crematorium or the Funeral Director who organises the process a few days later.
The 2021 Sun Life Cost of Dying Report states that 75.1% of funerals are cremations and out of those, 14% of all funerals are now direct cremations.
Why would someone choose to have a Direct Cremation?
Cost
It might be monetary. There is no argument that Direct Cremations are the cheapest option. You pay for the basic legal costs of disposing of a body and the relevant associated paper work. They may not get embalmed as there will be no viewing, which means the whole process is often less than £1,500, rather than around the £4,000 mark for a more conventional type of funeral.
Anecdotally, most funeral directors will tell you that clients who want a direct cremation could easily afford to pay for a traditional funeral, but simply do not want to. This could be for all kinds of reasons, all of them perfectly valid.
A direct cremation can be just the first part of the memorial process, and one that people often do not see is worth spending lots on. Perhaps a family may wish to spend the money bringing loved ones from far and wide to scatter the ashes, rather than paying for a traditional burial.
Spirituality and Religion
There are many different spiritual and religious reasons for cremation to be the preferred practice after death. Two religions that strongly encourages cremation are Buddhism and Hinduism. According to these beliefs, cremation not only helps with the disposal of physical remains but also aides in ushering the soul of the deceased into the hereafter for its reincarnation/rebirth.
In his will, Bowie said that he wanted his body shipped to Bali (if possible) for cremation. He stated that this was, “in accordance with the Buddhist rituals of Bali.”
Freedom of Choice
For a growing number of people, direct cremation is seen as a way of getting the body ready for a more suitable send off. For example, more traditional funerals can be deemed quite restrictive in terms of what can be achieved. With direct cremations, ashes are there to be scattered and for the person to be celebrated in many different ways.
Environmental Benefits
There are also many environmental benefits. Such as:
1. Embalming isn’t necessary. Direct cremation skips the embalming step included in most funeral home services entirely. This means nasty chemicals like formaldehyde won’t be released as a result of laying a loved one to rest, even if you choose to bury their ashes in the ground.
2. Ashes in an urn require less energy to transport than a full coffin, since they are lighter and require less cargo space. This is especially important if you’ll need to travel somewhere far away to say final goodbyes.
3. Ashes require less long-term storage. Scattering ashes from a biodegradable container requires no long-term storage whatsoever. Even if you choose to keep an urn in a family member’s home or enter ashes in a columbarium or cemetery, that’s still a much smaller space to occupy than a typical grave.
Additionally, if you choose to use a cardboard coffin or casket (which are perfect for Direct Cremations), they also have a much faster cremation rate than traditional wooden coffins, resulting in additional environmental benefits.
Simplicity
Direct cremation is also the simplest way of memorialising your lost loved one. The process usually happens within 24-48 hours of passing. Not only is it the quickest post-life process, it also takes away the need to discuss arrangements with anyone other than the crematorium.
Direct cremation does not require funeral planning and allows the family to focus on their own healing journey before choosing how they wish to celebrate their loved one’s life.
So, should we follow in David Bowies’ footsteps?
It was reported that Bowie’s last will and testament emphasised his wishes that his final disposition was a way for his loved ones to focus on the positives and celebrate his life, rather than mourn the end. In addition to this, he wanted to give his adoring fans the opportunity to grieve quickly and immediately, without waiting for a formal affair.
While every funeral/memorial option has its benefits, direct cremations are amongst the simplest, most flexible, and most cost-effective methods. Direct cremation takes a huge amount of the stress out of traditional funeral planning by providing a dignified-yet-simple memorial option. This form of cremation allows families the freedom to choose the way in which they will honour and celebrate their remarkable loved one.
Get in touch with us if you’d like to find out about our cardboard direct cremation caskets.