Why So Many Families Are in This Situation Right Now
In 2024, the US cremation rate reached 61.8% – a number that would have been unimaginable a generation ago. According to , cremation is now firmly the dominant form of final disposition in the United States, with the cremation rate projected to reach 63.4% in 2025, more than double the burial rate of 31.6%. The NFDA projects that cremation will outpace burials by more than six to one by 2045 – a ratio never before seen in the US.
What this means in practice is that millions of families each year are navigating exactly this situation – receiving a loved one’s remains and trying to figure out the right next steps with very little guidance. The practice of keeping cremated remains at home is surprisingly common. In the United States, nearly one in four households has cremated remains at home, adding up to about 21.9 million families.
You are far from alone in not knowing what to do next.
