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President's Letter:
Paul Elvig
Paul M. Elvig, ICCFA president for 2007-2008
Let's find something else to argue about
Not long ago, we opened a new section in our cemetery on behalf of the local synagogue. It had purchased an area for "Jewish" burials and asked us to meet with the congregation regarding preneed sales, cemetery rules and regulations and land use. Discussing land use over the next decade or so, we asked how many graves should be subdivided for cremation placement. We were told by the rabbi, "We don't cremate." Asking for a show of hands of those interested in cremation, much to the rabbi's surprise-and ours-25 percent of those present raised their hands.
What immediately followed was a missed opportunity to tape-record the rabbi's response. He offered, off the cuff, some of the best advice I have heard a congregation receive. My summary of what he said: "If we do use cremation, we are to use it in the Jewish way of dealing with death. Cremation should follow the same Jewish principles as ground burial. We will not put off decisions and delay final action in the name of cremation. Cremations are not an excuse to put things off. We will follow the timeline customs that we require of burial … we will do the same with cremation."
I will not forget the rabbi's admonition that cremation is not an excuse to take care of disposition another day, another time. My thoughts were: Let's find something else to argue about.
While attending a legislative hearing, I heard a prominent legislator comment about cremation in tones that condemned ground burial as an environmental problem. "I don't want to have a negative impact on the environment, thus I will use cremation," the senator said. I've heard this before, but never have dwelled on it much until it was announced with such authority.
Just what is the impact of cremation on the environment? How much fossil fuel is used to cremate? How many watts of electricity are used to run the crematory fans, etc? What are the averages used in cubic feet of gas per cremation? How many therms are there in the thousands of BTUs produced? Emissions of intense heat are not what you might call "carbon footprint-free" consumption.
Thinking the senator's comments through further, I asked myself, what open spaces do you see in the larger cities? Parks, greenbelts and (you guessed it), cemeteries! Just what is the final plus or minus of ground burial over cremation as it relates to the environment? My thoughts: Let's find something else to argue about.
From my first days of working in our industry (LBJ was still president), I heard cemeterians warn that "Cremation is going to do cemeteries in. People just don't want to spend the money or time involved with cemeteries." From a librarian's perspective (I once worked that sector), it sounds plausible. Yet it wasn't long before I learned a very different outlook. Could it all be just in the cemeterian's mind? What about selling cremation-related items many consumers value highly, such as niches, whether at-need, or even better for consumers, preneed? Cremation services can be another form of "ground burial."
When we consider the families who walk away following cremation without demonstrating the responsibility the rabbi was talking about, one must ask, "Where is preneed in all this? Are we doing our job of filling the vacuum?" Cremation hurting cemeteries? Cremation can be a cemetery's greatest opportunity for additional income. Let's find something else to argue about.
"Love and marriage go together like a horse and carriage," is a tune from the '50s still echoing in my head. How about "cemeteries and cremation go together like …"? You complete the lyrics.
So, do I favor cremation or ground burial? I say, let's find something else to argue about.
Paul Elvig
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