In the wake of the Burr Oak Cemetery scandal, more Black families said they are now considering cremations to assure their loved ones will rest in peace.
In the wake of the Burr Oak Cemetery scandal, more Black families said they are now considering cremations to assure their loved ones will rest in peace.
But even before the scandal broke in July that four Burr Oak employees allegedly dismembered bodies and dug up graves in a plot reselling scheme, cremations in Illinois were already rising, according to the Cremation Association of North America, an industry organization with over 1,300 members that includes cremationists, funeral directors, funeral home operators and owners, and industry suppliers.
“Cremation gives me closure. I don’t have to go to the cemetery to see my mom. I can look at her ashes everyday and say good morning,” said Michael Johnson, 39, whose mother passed away two years ago from cancer. “I touch her ashes all the time.”
Cremains, as they are known in the industry, or ashes, are what remain of the body after it has been incinerated during the cremation process.
In 2005–the last year data was compiled–26,162 cremations took place in Illinois, making Illinois the 10th highest state where families opt to cremate, according to CANA. California was first with 120,883; Florida second with 87,531 and New York third with 36,841.
According to a 2005 study, entitled “2005 Wirthlin Report, A Study of American Attitudes Toward Reutilization and Memorialization,” Blacks routinely do not choose cremation.
The study also showed that Blacks chose cremation only 21 percent of the time mainly because of limited knowledge about the process and because having a funeral is very important in the Black community.
And based upon increases in acceptance over the past five-year average, CANA predicts a national cremation rate of 43 percent by 2025 with over 1.4 million cremations taking place.
Jerry Sullivan, president of the Cremation Society of Illinois Inc. in south suburban Matteson, said cremations were up by 29 percent in 2006 and are expected to increase by 42 percent by 2010.
“There were 30,202 cremations in Illinois in 2006,” Sullivan told the Defender.
Lisa Reed, 47, is considering cremation for her dad.
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In photo: Michael Johnson holds the urn containing his mother’s ashes and a portrait of her.
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