Cremation in Canada is on the rise. In 2015 as many as 68.8% of Canadians chose cremation and by 2020, that number is supposed to increase to 74.2% (source: http://www.cremationassociation.org/page/IndustryStatistics).

It’s becoming more popular to cremate and host a life celebration event than ever before.

Recently, we polled Montrealers who are planning to choose cremation on their preferences of how they want those left behind to remember them once they’ve been cremated.

Here are the top 5 inclinations:

Be Simple

Many baby boomers say they don’t want to create any fuss for those left behind them when they’re gone. Today, they’re busy caring for and burying their parents, so for themselves, they want an unpretentious approach for their own passing. They want to be scattered or buried somewhere special with a ceremonial event that reflects their life.

Be Natural

A Biodegradable Urn is one of the most popular today thanks in a large part to the social media sharing. Many love the idea of becoming a tree in a beautiful open space where family and friends can visit. With this option, death becomes a transformation and return to life by means of nature. It also means one can easily be buried with their pets which is a heart-warming idea.

Be Peaceful

It seems that everyone we spoke to liked the idea of being scattered into a body of water. It’s one of the simplest ways to return to nature and there are a variety of urns from biodegradable to scatter tubes that let the ashes blow in the wind over water.

Be Attractive

Many people surprisingly said they didn’t want to be forgotten and wished to be placed into a unique ‘objet d’art’ urn that would remind their family that they are always with them. That’s easy to do since there is a bevy of highly designed and unique cremation urns, from blown-glass to brass teardrop shapes that keep the ashes of our loved ones happily tucked away on a special shelf.

Be Memorable

Many of the women we spoke to enjoy thinking of staying close to their loved ones by becoming a keepsake. A few options like ashes-filled charms worn on bracelets and necklaces that their kids and loved ones could wear were especially selected. With a wide selection of cremation and memorial jewelry to choose from like diamonds, birthstones, sterling silver containers and more, the choice is endless and so comforting.