The Lost Education of Cremation
Across the country for funeral service students and interns, course topics have ranged from anatomy and pathology to management, embalming, and restorative arts; yet funeral programs have not traditionally emphasized details regarding cremation or cremation services. In my opinion, much of the curriculum is still geared toward the traditional funeral service even though the percentage of those choosing cremation for final disposition has risen to 44% in 2013, per CANA. With these percentages rising, students and funeral directors must know what steps to take in assisting those who have chosen cremation for their loved one.
Funeral services and preservation began during ancient Egyptian times and have been substantially progressing ever since. The traditional funeral service included embalming of the body and/or burial whereas cremation was frowned upon. Cremation was considered cheap, unethical, and in some religions it was simply just not allowed. It was not until the 1980’s that cremation became more popular. Cremation is now accepted in the Catholic faith, younger people who pass away prefer cremation, and families are finding it comforting and convenient to have grandma at home on the mantle. Regardless of the reason for a family choosing cremation, the profession must accept and adapt to changing conceptions. As a funeral service intern, I notice that many funeral directors personally prefer burials vs. cremation, especially the older generation directors. As funeral directors, it is our main purpose to serve the families of the deceased and abandon our personal agendas.
