150 Years OF CREMATION IN AMERICA

Few things have shaped and reshaped our profession like cremation. Modern cremation in America began in 1876 with the construction of the first crematory in Pennsylvania. Over the next century and a half, cremation evolved from a little-known alternative to traditional burial into a widely accepted practice across the country.

In its beginnings, cremation was advocated by prominent medical and scientific figures for its sanitary advantages. At that time, embalming practices were uncommon, and burial frequently occurred in churchyards, leading to decomposition that contaminated the water supply and caused illness. These public health concerns spurred the interest and eventual adoption of cremation in America.

By the late 1920s, penicillin was revolutionizing the medical profession while West Coast crematories were revolutionizing cremation. During this time, cremation would be celebrated for its resulting memorial. The ensuing years inspired memorialists to create some of the most beautiful columbaria in existence across the country. Even during the Great Depression, families were choosing cremation for the greater value of an urn memorial than a plot of land.

By the 1960s, post-World War II excess had created a booming business of death, and naysayers began to take notice. Jessica Mitford wrote her overwrought and sarcastic book, The American Way of Death, and it hit a nerve with a public that was leaning away from excess. “Memorial Societies” as they called themselves, were opening in urban centers, offering to guide families to funeral homes that would offer lower priced and minimal services.

Inevitably, the Federal Trade Commission became involved and by 1982, The Funeral Rule was established, giving rise to a new buzzword: direct cremation. Especially popular in urban centers, the perception was that families were simplifying the process by skipping a middleman (the funeral director) and going straight to the crematory. In reality the funeral director was still doing their part, and the body would still go to the crematory after.

Likely to offset a fear of losing market share, and encouraged by industry professional associations, funeral homes across the country added crematories in their garages and outbuildings. Cremation grew significantly during this time, and along the way, cremation became direct cremation in the minds of funeral professionals. Likely in an unbeknownst way, funeral homes were driving the direct cremation movement.

By the 1990s, funeral industry experts realized that cremation was an opportunity. Focus groups were made with multi-national funeral companies, independent practitioners, and industry suppliers. Largely due to the latter, three important programs were introduced to help funeral professionals and consumers learn the value of cremation products and services: Options by Batesville, Traditions by York, and Preferences by Aurora. These simple, presentationdriven programs drove the cremation movement in the 1990s.

As part of these programs, each supplier showed page by page the choices that families had with cremation. Even more importantly, they offered more diverse products than just the standard bronze box or vase in urns. Instead, they presented urns in different materials, shapes, and even sculptures to appeal to the style and personality of modern consumers. Soon after, other urn mediums became more popular, even though they had been offered for decades.

Cremation caskets became popular during this time. Though previously released in the 1980s, primarily in cloth covered varieties, caskets specifically designed for cremation were offered in fine hardwood, wood veneer, and particle board. Then came the ultimate game changer: the drop-end rental casket.

During that same period, miniature urns to divide or retain as a keepsake, and unique jewelry pieces were introduced that held cremated remains, giving rise to the cremation personalization movement that would define the ensuing decades. By the early 2000s, this increased personalization took shape in funeral and memorial services with the introduction of the celebrant movement in the US, giving families the opportunity to have services and merchandise that have value to their grief process.

Why are we celebrating?

It is noteworthy to mention that this year marks the sesquicentennial of a modern version of one of the world’s oldest methods of disposition. As a deathcare organization, CANA saltues the significance of this milestone. There are several remarkable aspects of cremation that merit recognition.

We celebrate that we no longer (typically) must practice cremation for sanitary reasons. We celebrate forward thinking cremationists who created stunning urn memorials and the memorial properties that embraced them. We celebrate that consumers have freedom to choose the method of disposition that suits their healing process in a fair and open market. We celebrate that consumers have more choices in products and services than ever that cremation providers can offer to help in their grief journey, while allowing those who offer them to have a thriving and successful business.

Throughout the evolution of cremation, it has never been cremationists, funeral professionals, memorialists, or cemeterians who have spurred the increasing demand for cremation. Instead, it has always been consumers—families making personal choices—who have led this shift. Their preferences and decisions have shaped the industry and guided its direction, so we celebrate them.

The enduring popularity of cremation demonstrates its ability to adapt to the needs and values of each generation. It also shows our ability to adapt as a profession – but by always placing families and their wishes at the center, the industry honors both tradition and innovation. As we commemorate this milestone in the history of cremation, we also look forward to a future where compassion, respect, and meaningful remembrance remain at the heart of each cremation.