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Difference between Burial, Funeral and Cremation

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Key Difference: Burial and cremation are two different types of method of disposing the body but funeral is a ceremony that is used to honor and celebrate the life of the deceased.

For many having a loved one pass away is hard and on top of that having to decide what preparations that need to be made is even harder. There are many ways to honor and respect the dead and depending on the different cultures, each body is treated in a different manner.

Burial, Funeral and Cremation are three different processes that are related to the passing of a body and what happens after. A lot of people make certain plans in their will of what they want after they have died.

Burial is a ritual in which the body of the loved one is placed inside the ground with their favorite or cherished objects. The body can be placed in a casket, which is sealed before it is placed inside the ground. For many families, the church that they visit to often has a cemetery joined with it and the person is usually buried there. A lot of cultures bury their dead and human burial can be dated back to 100,000 years. Certain cultures such as Egyptians, buried the dead with all the comforts that the person would need in their afterlife.

Funeral is a ceremony that is used to remember, honor and sanctify the dead. Depending on the culture, there are various different ways that can be used to celebrate life of the deceased. Some offer prayers, while other pray for peace. Other rituals include religious readings, burning of the body, mummification, or even bone picking. These rituals are often require cleaning the body and offering it a peaceful journey. Other cultures also include rejoicing the life of the deceased including drinking and telling stories about the loved one.

Cremation is a process in which the human body is burned to ashes. The process is defined as the combustion, vaporization and oxidation of dead bodies to basic chemical compounds, such as gases, ashes and mineral fragments retaining the appearance of dry bone. Some cultures, such as Hindus, cremate their dead after which the ashes are submerged in the sacred Ganges river. Cremation is an alternative to the burial process, in which the body is buried as opposed to being burnt. Cremation dates from at least 20,000 years ago in the archaeological record, with the Mungo Lady, the remains of a partly cremated body found at Lake Mungo, Australia.

In short, burial and cremation are two different types of method of disposing the body but funeral is a ceremony that is used to honor and celebrate the life of the deceased.

Funeral Plans

Why do I Need a Funeral Plan
Why do I Need

How can I cap my funeral costs? Which plan should I buy?

Cost of a Funeral
Cost of a Funeral

Costs for a funeral can vary depending on a number of different factors

Cost of a Funeral
Low Cost Funeral Plans

As we own and operate our own facilities, we guarantee the quality of service at the best price

Funeral Plan Silver
SILVER

A basic funeral plan that covers the basic needs of the expat community in Spain

Funeral Plan Gold
GOLD

A full service including chapel, minister and music for your loved ones

Funeral Plan Platinum
PERSONALIZED

This choice lets you arrange a funeral exactly how you want it

Funeral Plan Premium
REPATRIATION

This plan includes all legal documentation to repatriate deceased to any country


Contact us by email or call us on our national and international assistance telephone number and we will help you immediately (Phone 24 hours / 365 days)

(+34) 951 31 50 20


  • National and international transfers. Repatriations to any part of the World.
  • Private and insured services.
  • Celebrant or religious.
  • Funeral Directors and Funeral Homes. We take care of everything.

Cláusula de Formulario de Contacto

En cumplimiento del Reglamento General de Protección de Datos (UE) 2016/679 del Parlamento Europeo y del Consejo de 27 de abril de 2016 y la ley orgánica 3/2018 de 5 de diciembre de Protección de Datos Personales y de Garantía de los Derechos Digitales le informamos que los datos por Vd. proporcionados serán objeto de tratamiento por parte de COSTA SOL FUNERAL SERVICES S.L. con CIF B93556959, con domicilio en CALLE GUADALHORCE 9. C.C. LA TROCHA con la finalidad de prestarle el servicio solicitado y/o contratado, realizar la facturación del mismo.

La base legal para el tratamiento de sus datos es la ejecución del servicio por usted contratado y/o solicitado. La oferta prospectiva de productos y servicios está basada en el consentimiento que se le solicita, sin que en ningún caso la retirada de este consentimiento condicione la ejecución del contrato.

Los datos proporcionados se conservarán mientras se mantenga la relación comercial o durante los años necesarios para cumplir con las obligaciones legales. Los datos no se cederán a terceros salvo en los casos en que exista una obligación legal.

Usted tiene derecho a obtener confirmación sobre si COSTA SOL FUNERAL SERVICES S.L. estamos tratando sus datos personales y por tanto tiene derecho a ejercer sus derechos de acceso, rectificación, limitación del tratamiento, portabilidad, oposición al tratamiento y supresión de sus datos así como el derecho a presentar una reclamación ante la Autoridad de Control mediante escrito dirigido a la dirección postal arriba mencionada o electrónica INFO@COSTAFUNERALSERVICES.COM, adjuntando copia del DNI en ambos casos.

Asimismo le solicitamos su autorización para ofrecerle productos y servicios relacionados con los solicitados, prestados y/o comercializados por nuestra entidad y poder de esa forma fidelizarle como cliente.