But the bigger danger to most Americans isn’t the risk associated with embalming fluid. It’s the risk that a funeral could bankrupt them entirely. Most Americans aren’t in the financial position to afford a funeral in the first place. Traditions and religious practices are strong and will never really go away. But in some cases, cost wins out over tradition. Even deeply religious families who would usually abhor cremating their dead are opting for cremation in many cases, Jorgenson notes. “It makes no sense to spend $14,000 to bury grandma when they can’t pay for food.”
