At TriDelta Financial we believe in life balance and planning, which requires addressing those ‘not so pleasant’ aspects along with the fun stuff. Our second article from Glen Oaks Memorial Gardens in Oakville looks at cremation, a choice that is increasingly popular in Canada.
Did you know that cremation has been used for thousands of years? Cremated remains have been discovered that date back more than 20,000 years. In fact, in some countries, such as England and Japan, cremation is the most widely used practice.
What’s more, although the process may be similar worldwide, the rituals around cremation vary.
For example, in India it’s traditional for the chief mourner to perform the, “rite of the skull,” where the soul is freed from entrapment in the body.
In Canada, a growing number of Canadians, from many different faiths, choose cremation as their preferred means of disposition.
For this reason, it’s important to know that even when cremation is chosen, funeral home visitations and traditional funeral ceremonies can still be held, especially as they provide an important opportunity for family and friends to come together to visit, pay their respects, and remember.
And did you know that cremation is more widely accepted than ever because most religions allow for cremation? However the majority of Orthodox Jews, Muslims, Greek Orthodox, Russian Orthodox as well as many Roman Catholic families choose traditional burial or entombment.
Yet regardless of a person’s background or faith, family plays an important role in the cremation process.
For example, for Buddhist families who choose cremation, it’s traditional for the oldest nephew of the deceased to press the button that delivers the body into the cremation chamber.
But as important as family is, cremation is also about individuality, as it often provides the truest opportunity to reflect who you really are.
In fact, besides any uniquely chosen elements of the service itself, there are also many non-traditional options available afterwards – including incorporating remains into statuary art, wind chimes, sundials, diamonds, or just about any other kind of jewelry.
Of course, should you desire a more traditional monument, it’s also good to know that cremated remains may be buried in full-sized graves or may be inurned in above ground options such as cremation rocks, memorial gardens or granite memorials.
So, as you can see, there are numerous memorialization options available to suit any culture and desire.
To find out more, click here to request your free Cremation with Remembrance brochure today or call Chuck Duchesnay at (289) 351-1040.Article compiled by Chuck Duchesnay, Branch Manager, Glen Oaks Memorial Gardens & Reception Centre, Oakville, ON.
