Cremation is another option for honoring a loved ones wishes regarding their choses for celebrating a life. Some religious beliefs prefer cremation, a desire to lower the carbon footprint on the environment, cremation may be a less expensive option when compared to a burial.

Cremated remains can be scattered or buried, or they may be kept with the family in a decorative urn.  There are many new and different ways to dispose of ashes today, cremated remains can be placed in an artificial coral reef in the ocean, they can be launched into space or sent up in helium balloons, or they can be spun into glass pieces of art or diamonds.

Some religions welcome cremation while others forbid it.  The Catholic Church had banned cremation up until 1963, and burial remains the preferred form of disposition today.  In other Christian denominations cremation was historically discouraged but nowadays it is more widely accepted.  In eastern religions such as Hinduism, Jainism, Sikhism and Buddhism cremation is mandated, while in Islam it is strictly forbidden.  Orthodox Jews also forbid cremation; other sects of Judaism support cremation, but burial remains the preferred option.