The Importance of Memorialization

Cremation is not the end. Each year on holidays like Memorial Day in the U.S. or Remembrance Day in Canada, thousands of people travel to their local cemeteries or memorial parks to pay respects to departed family members and/or friends. These events which were originally established to honor those who died in war, signals a time for taking plants or flowers to gravesites or columbariums. People are also known to meditate and pray and churches and chapels.

Visits to the final resting places however are not limited to just this day of observance. Many go through the year visiting these areas of the loved one's special memorial throughout the year. Remembering those who died is not a modern phenomenon. Thousands of years ago, survivors of the deceased use to fashion beautiful urns to hold the cherished cremains from what they coined the "purifying fire".

In our modern society today, the cremation process has advanced to more scientific methods and the only connection from the days of old is the handling of those "cherished remains." We know today as we did yesterday, the importance of memorialization. A memorialization is a final resting place of the deceased after cremation.

Have you heard it said from some people, "Just cremate me and let it be!" do not realize the burden that can be placed on the surviving family members.

The direct disposal of cremated remains without funerals or a memorial service can have some negative impact on the survivors. Some do not realize that there is no focal point to grief until a place of some memento of the loved one is obtained. Many cemeteries who come in contact with the bereaved on a regular basis, have noticed signs of emotional distress for those who do not have a memorialization.

In some cases, it could take months before emotional problems surface for the surviving family member(s). Many psychiatrists feel the funeral services as a very integral part of the healing process. It fulfills the need for a time of grieving and those who do not have this, may experience a period of severe depression months later.

The funeral service and memorialization can be very beneficial in helping families through the various stages of grief.