In the United States, cremation is controversial. It's not the type of controversy that makes national headlines or even a small segment on the local evening news, but for those families facing the loss of a loved one, cremation is often an emotional and controversial decision. 

But it's not like that in all countries. In Japan, for example, cremation is beyond question or controversy. In fact, more than 98% of the country's deceased are cremated and the ashes are then buried in family graves. The spreading of ashes at sea or next to a loved one's favorite place is a relatively new concept to the Japanese. The United Kingdom is another country that has a high cremation rate with nearly three out of four people choosing to be cremated. Australia and New Zealand also have very high cremation rates.

Of course, there are other countries where cremation controversy doesn't exist for the exact opposite reason. In other words, the disposition choice is simply not in favor. Italy and Poland certainly qualify since both have less than 10% of their deceased cremated with no evidence to suggest those numbers will change anytime soon. 
Now back to the US. Although the cremation rate sits just below 37%, the trend is gaining popularity and some predict cremations will outnumber traditional ground burials by 2020. But reader beware. When geography enters the equation, those percentages become deceiving.  

The line of deception seems to run right down the middle of the country with the west being more lenient towards the process, and the east not. And when the southern US is considered, the numbers get even more skewed. So here we go--Hawaii, Nevada, Oregon and Washington lead the way with more than 6 out of 10 cremated. Move over to the Midwest and the percentages begin to drop and once in the Southern states, the numbers plummet to below 25% (on average) with Mississippi leading the way at less than 10%. 

Despite the controversy in some parts of the US, the preferred method to dispose of our deceased certainly seems destined toward cremation and in tandem, it's becoming big business.

The Funeral Industry is already big business. Annual revenues are over $15 billion and the outlook for the industry is good largely due to the aging population of the Baby Boomers. The growth in demand for cremations has increased the supply for goods and services, which in turn benefits the consumer.  

For example, the options to store the ashes of cremated loved ones in unique memorials and keepsakes are now only limited by one's imagination. Handmade cremation jewelry is being carefully crafted using white or yellow gold, sterling silver, bronze, pewter and hand blown glass to create bracelets, necklaces, pendants and contemporary art pieces that could easily rival those in expensive high street boutiques or art gallerys. Cremation Urns have also reached new levels of creativity as  master woodworkers are carving urns from solid blocks of Oak, Cherry, Walnut and Maple wood with truly breathtaking results. And the options to spread ashes range from outer space to under the sea and everything in-between. 

With more than 50 million people dying around the globe each year, families are discussing the final choice of disposition much more than any of us can fathom and one thing is for certain during those discussions,. Regardless of where one lives, geography certainly plays a role in how controversial or not those conversations become.