Burial Or Cremation

One of the crucial decisions you would need to make in the funerary arrangement process would be the final resting place of the dearly departed. Specifically, there are two options for that—either a burial or cremation in Singapore. A burial occurs when the body remains intact and the entire body, along with its coffin, is placed underground, while a cremation involves incinerating the body into ashes. Depending on the wishes and beliefs of your loved one, your budget and other factors, here are some areas of consideration when deciding between a burial or cremation:

 

Personal beliefs of the deceased

Prior to their demise, your loved one may have shared their preference of their final resting place. Some may personally prefer a burial as it preserves the dignity of the body, and by extension, the person themselves. Yet others may feel that leaving the body to decay freely underground (i.e burial) is not acceptable, and hence opt for cremation.

 

Religious beliefs of the deceased

While most religions do not have a strong stance for either burial or cremation, there are some exceptions. Jewish, Islam and Orthodox Christian denominations discourage cremation.. On the other hand, cremation is more common in Hinduism, because of the belief that it is the most swift way to release the soul from the body, and in Buddhism, as it is believed that Buddha himself was cremated.

 

Budget

In general, cremation is the more economical choice. In Singapore, booking a cremation slot at Mandai Crematorium costs only $100, compared to up to $950 for a burial slot and plot at Choa Chu Kang Cemetery.

Apart from booking a slot to bury or cremate, there are other costs to consider in choosing a burial or cremation. After retrieving ashes from the cremation, you could consider scattering the ashes into the sea, storing it in a columbarium niche or bringing it home in an urn. As for a burial, you would also need to engage a tombstone contractor to build a tombstone for the grave which could range from $1000-$2000. 

A factor that is unique only in Singapore is that there is a limited time lease for burial plots purchased in Singapore, namely 15 years. This means that you may be asked to exhume the remains of your loved one who has been buried, if the government needs the plot of land in the future for other uses. This might potentially incur another set of costs which would not be the case for cremation.

Choosing between a cremation or burial is undoubtedly one of the biggest decisions you will make at the passing of your loved one. Regardless of the decision, what truly matters is that you make a decision based on the preferences and wishes of your loved one. Still unsure of what to opt for? You may contact us directly for a non-obligatory consultation to hear more insights!