cremation

Most pacemakers removed before burial or cremations wind up in storage at funeral homes.

About 200 owners a year book cremations and there is the occasional burial as well.

Since the Catholic church lifted a ban on cremations in 1963 it has also become an easier choice for some Christians to make.

That may also explain why the British are keener than Australians on cremations .

The economic slump is increasing the number of cremations and hurting the demand for high-end coffins and funeral services, experts say.

Whatever the price, both corporates and independents will be troubled by the growing popularity of cremations.

Other people burned myrrh as an incense during cremations.

SCI is responding by withdrawing from the cheapest cremations and going for more lucrative packages.

A study conducted in 2007 for Centennial Park, a cemetery in Australia, found cremations produce the equivalent of 160kg of CO2 per body.

Planning is under way to minimise delays in burials and cremations.

Alternatives such as scattering the ashes are not popular, accounting for just 5% of cremations each year, according to official figures.

Richard Puryear of Salem Funerals and Cremations estimates that a typical burial costs $6, 400, whereas cremations average at best $2, 800.

In 2005 about 32% of funerals in America were cremations, up from 26% in 2000, according to the Cremation Association of North America.

Cremations and even burials are wanted by some owners