Cremation has been practiced in many cultures since the earliest use of fire. Throughout history, it has been chosen for spiritual, practical, and cultural reasons across societies in both the East and the West.
In the United States, cremation became more common in the late nineteenth century as cities grew and public health concerns increased. Forest Hills Crematory, founded in 1893, was the first crematory established in New England and remains an important part of the cemetery’s history.
