The Catholic Church’s attitude toward cremation has changed over time. For centuries, religious authorities believed that cremation prevented resurrection of the body and forbade Catholic families from cremating their loved ones. Over time, the Church has amended its stance on cremation, lifting its ban and issuing guidelines for how to handle ashes with care.
The act of scattering ashes can have great meaning both for your departed loved one (if they chose this memorial method before passing) and for you. If you are looking for a meaningful place to scatter your loved one’s ashes, the San Francisco Bay Area has many spots to choose from.
Losing a loved one is hard under any circumstances. However, a sudden passing can be especially challenging. You not only have to process the shock of an unanticipated life event, but you also need to shoulder an unanticipated financial burden.
One of the most important, and sometimes one of the hardest, decisions when making end of life arrangements is choosing between burial and cremation. Not only is this a very personal decision, but it also has significant implications on the amount of time you have to plan, the total cost, and the type of memorial you can have. Burial vs cremation is a difficult choice, but by considering your options early you can ensure that your final wishes are understood and fulfilled.
It is always difficult to cope with the death of a loved one, even if you and your family had time to prepare. If you weren’t expecting your loved one’s passing, your grief may be coupled with confusion and some pressing questions: What do I do now? How long do I have to make decisions and arrangements? How long between death and cremation? What is the next step I have to take?