According to Wikipedia, Cremation is the process of reducing dead bodies to basic chemical compounds in the form of gases and bone fragments. This is accomplished through burning—high temperatures and vaporization.[1] Cremation may serve as a funeral or post funeral rite that is an alternative to the interment of an intact body in a casket. Cremated remains, which are not a health risk, may be buried or immured in memorial sites or cemeteries, or they may be legally retained by relatives or dispersed in a variety of ways and locations.
This also offers families a more cost effective way to say goodbye to loved ones. Besides the money factor, cremation can let the family do something truly different if they choose.