Cremation Process

When choosing the manner in which to honor a loved one that has passed away the choice can sometimes be a difficult one. Usually the decision will be between whether or not to bury the loved one or have them cremated. In some cases cremation may be the best choice for you family to help you prepare you loved ones physical remains for departure and help keep them close to your heart.

Cremation consists of having the body of the deceased placed in a crematorium, which has a furnace and retorts for the ashes. The body that is place in the crematorium is then exposed to extreme heat at temperatures ranging from 1800 - 2000 degrees. This process takes approximately two hours for the body to be reduced to what many believe to be ashes. What the body is actually reduced to are dried bone fragments which are referred to as cremated remain, or cremains. The dried bone fragments that are reduced are then further reduced through a mechanical process so that they are suitable to put in a container. The final cremains look pasty white in color and feel like coarse sand to the touch. The weight for cremated remains is usually between four to nine pounds.

The choice to use cremation as opposed to a traditional burial service has become a very popular choice. The process is thought to be a dignified way to honor and cherish a loved one, is more affordable, helps the environment by saving land because you are choosing not to have a burial, the process gives the family the choice as to what they would like to do with the remains and gives them more time to make this decision.

When having the body of a deceased loved one cremated the family is still able to have an honorary service. A viewing prior to cremation is available, as well as a memorial service for the person once they have been cremated. Some people may even elect to view the cremation of their loved one, if the funeral home or crematoria will allow this.

Once the body has been cremated the family must choose the type of container that they would like their loved one to be placed in. In most cases a temporary or permanent urn will be used for the “ashes” of the deceased. Those that decide to use a permanent urn can choose from a variety of different types such as bronze, metal, wooden, marble, ceramic, brass, glass, specialty urns of all sorts, and many others. Those that do choose the route of a permanent urn will most often keep the urn in their homes, in a special place where the memory of the cherished person can be kept alive.

Those who choose to use a temporary urn are usually going to scatter the “ashes” of their loved one somewhere that is special and dear to their heart. Some choose to scatter them over the ocean or a body of water that has special meaning to their family, put the remains in a cremation plot or columbarium niche, burying the cremated remains in a cemetery lot or cremation garden, or scattering the “ashes” in any number of places that could have been important to the deceased or their family.

When choosing how to honor your loved one cremation can be a noble selection. The most important part when paying respect is to keep the person near and dear to your heart and to do what is best and most comfortable for you and your family.

Most adults today know that a person can be buried or they can be cremated once they have died. A burial is a fairly straightforward process and this is something that most children have knowledge of. But a cremation can be something that puzzles family members, incurring more questions than answers. This article serves to give answers to those questions.

Cremation is the process of using intense heat to reduce the body to bone fragments and ashes. It normally takes two to four hours for this process to be completed. The cremated remains weigh three to nine pounds, depending on the size of the body.

There appears to be a trend toward cremation, particularly on the West and East Coasts. People choose cremation because of the expense of traditional funerals, the diminishing space for cemeteries and the environmental concerns. In England and Japan the cremation rate is 90%, partly because cemetery space is at a premium price.

Caskets are not required for a cremation. But there is a requirement that the body be enclosed in a rigid container. Mortuaries must have an unfinished wooden box or similar cremation container available to their customers. Alternately, customers may furnish their own container.

The costs of a cremation range in price. If the family uses an undertaker to take care of all services, from transporting the body, obtaining permits and filing the death certificate, the fee can be in the thousands of dollars. On the other hand, many licensed funeral homes that care for their own dead can use crematories at charges from under $300.

There are a couple ways to have the funeral service. You may opt to have the visitation and funeral service with the body present, prior to cremation. Some mortuaries will rent a casket to the family. After the service, the body is transferred to an inexpensive cremation container. Many find it helpful to have a memorial service without the body present. This option is less costly and friends and family members appreciate this opportunity to pay tribute to the memory of the loved one.

People have many choices regarding what to do with the cremated remains. They can be placed in a niche in a columbarium, buried, scattered, or kept by the family. A columbarium is a set of niches that are designed to hold containers of cremated remains. These are usually located in the mausoleum with a cemetery. You can sometimes find niches within churches to hold the remains. The remains are sterile and do not pose a health hazard.

You do not have to purchase an urn for the cremated remains. The remains are returned to a metal, plastic, or cardboard container that is adequate for burial, shipping, or placing in a columbarium. But the family may prefer a more aesthetic urn.

Religions vary regarding cremation. The Roman Catholics give their members a choice between burial and cremation. The Greek and Jewish Orthodox faiths oppose cremation. If you are particularly religious, it would behove you to investigate how your religion views cremation.

When explaining cremation to a child and the death of a beloved family member it’s important for parents to know that this experience has a profound impact not only adults but children as well.
Children will experience grief as much as adults do.
What is essential to remember when explaining cremation to a child, is that children react and deal with death in various different ways as age progresses.
Their level of understanding, emotional development and ability to grasp life’s experiences must be taken into consideration when explaining death to children.
Helping a child understand that death is a natural occurence in life and grief is completely normal is dependant on an adult’s ability to speak about it comfortably and openly.
Children rely on adults to confirm that feeling sad and it’s all right to cry.

EXPLAINING CREMATION TO A CHILD

When explaining cremation to a child, if possible, make arrangements to see the body before the cremation occurs.
This experience will be a positive one for your child.
It’s important to note that viewing the body should not be forced and it can provide an opportunity for your child to “goodbye” to your beloved family member.
Depending on the level of curiosity among children, when a beloved family member is cremated, the child may want to know what cremation is.
Basic guidelines should be remembered when answering a child’s questions. Always remember to keep your answers simple and easy to understand.
Remember to choose your words wisely when communicating. Avoid words that have a frightening or negative connotation such as “burn” or “fire”.
In a very confident way, briefly explain the cremation process.
Tell your child that the body is in a special container called a casket is taken to a place called a crematory where using a special process that causes no pain, reduces it to something that looks like white or grey sand.
Explain to your child that the sand we call cremated remains are placed in a container called an urn. Don’t be afraid to show your child the urn.

Some children will be curious enough to ask to see the contents as well. If your child does request to see the contents, make sure that you’ve seen them first to help you effectively describe the contents.
Then let your child decide for him/herself wether they want to proceed.
If your child is old enough, you may want to consider having the child help with planning the memorial service.
Your child may not understand common terms used and their meaning, the simple fact of being involved will help establish a level of comfort and understanding of the cycle of life.

ANSWERING A CHILD’S QUESTIONS

When answering a child’s questions, parents must remember to:
- Beware of what a child is capable of understanding. Always avoid complicated answers that will lead to confusion.
- Communicate in words that your child will understand.
- Beware of your tone of voice. Avoid over-emotional situations that will construe your explications.

- Repeat your explanations as many times as necessary. It’s not uncommon for a child to ask the same question over and over again.

Climate change is in the news again. Consumers feeling the bite of higher fuel costs are seeking less expensive, and more environmentally friendly, options for transportation, packaging, and everyday energy use.

Environmentally conscious consumers are applying that same thinking to end-of-life issues. Individuals who seek to minimize their environmental footprints during life are looking for eco-friendly burial and cremation alternatives. In Europe, such “green” funeral options are already available. In the United States, where cemetery space is plentiful and the environmental movement has arguably had a smaller impact on everyday life than in Europe, the idea of green funerals is new. In this article, we present a primer on cremation and new options that allow for dignified memorials and respect for religious traditions while causing minimal harm to the environment.

The Cremation Process

Cremation involves the reduction of the human body to its basic carbon components, known as cremains. The operation of a crematory results in carbon and particulate emissions, but these emissions are typically well below the limits set by most state governments (CANA/EPA study, 1999). The industry is focusing its energy on reducing further the environmental effects of crematory operations.

Traditional Urns

Cremated remains are normally returned to the family in a temporary urn. Families often choose to replace this container with a permanent urn. Hundreds of urn designs are available in a variety of natural and man-made materials. If an urn is to be buried, cemetery regulations may require that the urn be placed inside a solid burial container. The outer container, which may be made of a concrete, metal, or composite, is designed to withstand the weight of the earth and foot traffic above it. Some cemeteries permit the use of a combination urn, which can be buried without an outer container. Combination urns will not degrade naturally.

Some families choose to keep cremated remains at home. In such cases, permanent urns of glass, cloisonne, crystal, or hardwood are appropriate choices. Memorial jewelry and keepsake urns are options for families that wish to bury some of the ashes, but retain some at home as a memorial.

Biodegradable Urns - A Green Option

Because traditional urns do not degrade naturally for a significant amount of time, biodegradable urns have become a popular green alternative. These urns are designed to degrade under natural conditions. They are suitable for the scattering of ashes in water, as many will dissolve within minutes, and they are a good choice for burial in cemeteries that permit urns to be buried without outer containers. Other urns, crafted of natural fibers, may degrade over a longer period of time, and are not suitable for use in water.

Each one of us shall die one day and facing this fact of life bravely is the first step towards wisdom. We all often wonder and frown at the mere mention of a cremation as it causes instant gloom in our lives. But its a word that causes strong emotional responses, different reactions in individuals and families leading them to ask various questions. Cremation.com is here to answer all your queries patiently and compassionately. Simply, because we care.

What is a cremation? Simply put, it is another means of preparing the physical remains for the final disposition. A casketed burial is another way of addressing the final preparations. A cremation is separate from the funeral prayers or other arrangements. When a death occurs and cremation has been chosen, the cremation provider is called by a family member, caregiver, minister, or anyone the family chooses, take care of the funeral arrangements.

Are you wondering what happens during the cremation process? The actual process of cremation itself normally takes two to three hours. The cremated remains will be swept into a temporary container after completion of the actual cremation service. Afterwards, the ashes are placed in a temporary container unless a permanent one has been selected, and are returned to the family or transported to another specified location.

Cremation services are controversial and have many misconceptions attached to them. For instance, local funeral homes offer full traditional funeral arrangements, when they are chosen for cremations.

Do you know what a columbarium looks like? What does the Bible say about cremations? What type of merchandise and services are available? Are you looking for a funeral home directory for a general pre-planning information? What do you do if you need to travel with cremated remains? Do you often think you do not want to be cremated to avoid your grieving family from undergoing the funeral speeches and procedures? Or perhaps you feel you do not want to be cremated because you desire more flexibility with your funeral arrangements like a particular cremation jewelery or a special cremation casket? Do you object to cremation societies because you have religious concerns, or are you pro-cremation because you have environmental concerns?

Well! We at Cremation.com have are here to answer your questions. Get comprehensive information on cremations, local funeral homes, funeral home supplies and much more with us.

“Earth to earth, ashes to ashes, dust to dust…”

Many, many years ago, cremation had been thought to be so unnatural and extreme that cremation societies and other advocacy groups were formed to “lobby” for its greater practice. Health benefits were cited as reasons to cremate as well as ecological ones. What about the thought of leaving more land for the living and taking less for the dead? Even 100 years ago, only 1% of deaths in the United States involved cremation.

Today the cremation is preferred by almost 50% of living Americans. There are at least 2,000 crematories within the United States and Canada and they will approach a number of 1 million cremations. The subject of “what happens to the human body is one that many people don’t want to talk about and yet there are many who wonder…

I must warn you that some portions of this writing will not be pleasant…

About fifteen years ago I was on a “trip of a lifetime,” with a group of friends, to the Bavaria Alps and the trip included parts of Austria, Germany and Italy and I just knew that when I got to Salzburg Julie Andrews would appear and sing to me… Well, I did not see her and even more sobering was the day trip I took into southern Germany. I visited what was once the Nazi German concentration camp located on the grounds of an abandoned munitions factory near the medieval town of Dachau, about ten miles northwest of Munich in southern Germany.

The Dachau concentration camp was the first regular concentration camp established by the National Socialist (Nazi) government. It opened in March, 1933. Between that date and the end of April, 1945, over 200,000 prisoners were housed in Dachau. Thousands of those died and something had to be done with the bodies.s One of the friends on that trip was a cremation expert of current cremation processes who looked at Dachau with a different view than my military history view point. As we looked at the “ovens” or crematories there he explained how the facial skin and hair is the first to go as the body is pushed into the chamber. You can see it melt away. Stop!

There is no comparison between the crematories of the Nazi regime and those of the modern-day funeral homes. But the crematory at Dachau was my first experience with the “death and dying” process.

The modern-day process begins with the pre-need for the individual indicating that cremation is desired. Even then signatures are needed and the process is delayed for up to 24 hours or more in most states because cremation is irreversible… Next, the funeral director or crematory operator must remove any items not wished to be cremated with the body such as jewelry. It is also important at that time to remove any pacemaker, internal defibrillator or other battery powered medical device. Some of those batteries explode during cremation, if left in place. Even though most bodies are cremated in a cremation container which is basically a large but sturdy cardboard box, cremation may be done in a cremation casket usually made of wood. Either type container must be able to burn easily.

Each body is cremated separately from start to finish so as to ensure that there will be no mix up in the correct ashes for the correct named person.

The cremation container is placed into the cremation chamber from the end by pushing it in. The door is closed. The cremation chamber is lined with fire resistant bricks on the ceiling and walls and the floor is made from a special masonry compound designed to withstand very high temperatures. The burners within the cremation unit are usually fueled by either natural gas or propane. Temperatures will often reach the 1800°F - 2000°F range.

Depending on the size/weight of the deceased and the equipment design, it will take 1 to 3 hours for the body to be completely reduced to bone fragments once cremation begins. After the cremation process is complete, a cool down period is necessary before the bone fragments can be further processed. Once the cremated remains can be extracted from the cremator they are viewed to ensure that there is no metal debris such as surgical screws, pins and/or titanium joint implants remaining. If so they are removed. The remaining bone fragments are then placed in a special processor which is somewhat similar to a larger than usual food processor or disposal unit one would find under the kitchen sink. The processor then pulverizes the bone fragments to a fine powder called cremains (cremated remains) or simply ashes.

The remains are then placed in a plastic bag and temporary cremation container or an urn provided by the family. The ashes are then returned to the family or taken to the site where the final committal will take place.