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What happens during the cremation process?
How hot does the cremator get?
How long does it take to cremate a body?
Are cremations done individually?
Is the body exposed to an open flame during
the cremation process?
When after death can a cremation take place?
Is any other preparation required prior to
cremation?
Is it true that the bones are crushed after
cremation? I've heard you don't get ashes back -- what do you get?
Why is refrigeration of the remains necessary?
Is embalming necessary for cremation?
Is a casket required?
Are there special cremation caskets?
Can a casket be rented instead of purchased
when choosing cremation?
Can I bring my own urn?
Can I watch the cremation?
Do all funeral homes and cemeteries have a
crematory?
Is cremation a substitution for a funeral?
Do I have to make different funeral arrangements
if I chose cremation?
Can we have the service before or after the
cremation?
What can be done with the cremated remains?
Can I scatter the remains on private property?
What is memorialization for a cremation?
What is a columbarium?
If I'm going to be cremated, why would I want
my remains to be placed in a columbarium, or interred or scattered at the cemetery? Why shouldn't I just have them
scattered in the sea or in some other place of my choosing?
Why is having a place to visit so important?
If I am cremated, can I be buried with my
spouse even if he or she was in a casket?
Can I take the cremated remains home?
How big of a price difference is there with
cremation compared to standard ground burial?
Do all religions permit cremation?
What happens during the cremation process?
The casket or container is placed in the cremation chamber, where the temperature
is raised to approximately 1400 degrees to 1800 degrees Fahrenheit. After approximately, 2 to 2 1/2 hours, all
organic matter is consumed by heat or evaporation. The residue which is left is bone fragments, known as cremated
remains. The cremated remains are then carefully removed from the cremation chamber. Any metal is removed with
a magnet and later disposed of in an approved manner. The cremated remains are then processed into fine particles
and are placed in the container provided by the crematorium or placed in an urn purchased by the family. The entire
process takes approximately three hours. Throughout the cremation process, a carefully controlled labelling system
ensures correct identification.
How hot does the cremator get?
Although there are several manufacturers of cremation units, the optimum
temperature range is 1400 degrees to 1800 degrees Fahrenheit.
How long does it take to cremate a body?
Cremating at the optimum temperature (1400 - 1800 degrees), the average
weighted remains takes 2 to 2 1/2 hours. Several more hours may be required before the cremated remains are available
to the family.
Are cremations done individually?
Yes. Laws require that only one casket or container is cremated at a time.
Is the body exposed to an open flame during
the cremation process?
Yes, the body is exposed to direct heat and flame. Cremation is performed
by placing the deceased in a casket or other container and then placing the casket or container into a cremation
chamber or retort, where they are subjected to intense heat and flame.
When after death can a cremation take place?
Because cremation is an irreversible process and because the process itself
will eliminate any ability to determine exact cause of death, many states require that each cremation be authorized
by the coroner or medical examiner. Some states have specific minimum time limits that must elapse before cremation
may take place. Your local funeral service
provider can advise you of applicable regulations, if any.
Is any other preparation required prior
to cremation?
It is essential that pacemakers and other medical devices be removed prior
to cremation. They may explode when subjected to high temperature, which can be hazardous to crematorium staff
and equipment. In addition, any special mementos, such as jewelry, will be destroyed during the cremation process.
Anything you wish to keep should be removed by the funeral director before the casket or container is transferred
to the crematorium.
Is it true that the bones are crushed after
cremation? I've heard you don't get ashes back -- what do you get?
A complete cremation is a two-step process. Firstly, the actual exposure
of the deceased to several hours of intense heat and flame; after which the remains are mostly ash except for certain
bone fragments, then the entire remaining ash and fragment volume is gathered and run through a processor, creating
a uniform powder-like texture.
Why is refrigeration of the remains necessary?
Due to the irreversible nature of cremation, most states require a waiting
period before the actual process may begin. Refrigeration is the only alternative available, other than
embalming, that will retard tissue decomposition. Refrigeration is a necessity that protects family and friends,
the crematory operator and the general public from potential health hazards.
Is embalming necessary for cremation?
No. It is your choice. It may depend on such factors as whether the family
selected a service with a public viewing of the body with an open casket, or to enhance the deceased's appearance
for a private family viewing; if the body is going to be transported by air or rail, or because of the length of
time prior to the cremation.
Is a casket required?
No. For sanitary reasons, ease of placement and dignity, many cremations
require that the deceased be cremated in a combustible, leak proof, rigid, covered container. This does not need
to be a casket as such. What is required is an enclosed, rigid, container made of wood or other combustible material
to allow for the dignified handling of human remains. The type of casket or container selected is really a personal
decision, Caskets and containers are available in a wide variety of materials ranging from simple cardboard containers
to beautifully handcrafted oak, maple or mahogany caskets.
Are there special cremation caskets?
There is a choice of very affordable cremation caskets that are completely
combustible. The selection includes options from a plain cardboard container to a hardwood casket.
Can a casket be rented instead of purchased
when choosing cremation?
Many funeral homes offer a hardwood ceremonial casket for viewing or funeral
services prior to cremation. The ceremonial (or rental) casket is specifically designed to provide a very aesthetically
pleasing, affordable and environmentally prudent alternative to purchasing a casket for a cremation service.
Can I bring my own urn?
Yes — It would be advisable that you discuss this situation with your cremation
provider prior to the cremation. The size of your urn will be of great importance if you plan to have your loved
one's entire cremated body included in this container.
Can I watch the cremation?
Arrangements can usually be made through the Cremation Authorization Form
for relatives or representatives of the deceased to witness the cremation.
Do all funeral homes and cemeteries have
a crematory?
No - actually only a small percentage of cremation service providers have
their own cremation units.
Is cremation a substitution for a funeral?
No, cremation is simply a method of preparing human remains for final disposition.
Do I have to make different funeral arrangements
if I chose cremation?
It really depends entirely on how you wish to commemorate a life. One of
the advantages of cremation is that it provides you with increased flexibility when you make your funeral and cemetery
arrangements. You might, for example, choose to have a funeral service before the cremation; a memorial service
at the time of cremation or after the cremation with the urn present; or a committal service at the final disposition
of cremated remains. Funeral or memorial services can be held in a place of worship, a funeral home or in a crematorium
chapel.
Can we have the service before or after
the cremation?
It's completely a matter of family preference. Many times when a family
is split regarding the decision to cremate, a compromise may be achieved by having a traditional service first
- to be followed by cremation.
What can be done with the cremated remains?
With cremation, your options are numerous. The cremains can be interred
in a cemetery plot, i.e., earth burial, retained by a family member, usually in an urn, scattered on private property,
or at a place that was significant to the deceased. (It would always be advisable to check for local regulations
regarding scattering in a public place.) Cremation is just one step in the commemorative process-- the preparation
of the human remains for memorialization. Today, there are many different types of memorial options from which
to choose. Memorialization is a time-honored tradition that has been practiced for centuries. A memorial serves
as a tribute to a life lived and provides a focal point for remembrance, as well as a record for future generations.
The type of memorial you choose is a personal decision. The limit is set only by your imagination.
Can I scatter the remains on private property?
Yes, with permission of the owner.
What is memorialization for a cremation?
You might choose ground burial of the urn. If so, you may usually choose
either a bronze memorial or monument. Also available at many cemeteries are cremation niches in columbariums. They
offer the beauty of a mausoleum setting with the benefits of above ground placement of remains. Many cemeteries
also offer scattering gardens. This area of a cemetery offers the peacefulness of a serene garden where family
and friends can come and reflect.
What is a columbarium?
A columbarium, often located within a mausoleum or chapel, sometimes free-standing,
either indoor or outdoor, is constructed of numerous small compartments (niches) designed to hold urns containing
cremated remains.
If I'm going to be cremated, why would
I want my remains to be placed in a columbarium, or interred or scattered at the cemetery? Why shouldn't I just
have them scattered in the sea or in some other place of my choosing?
As long as it is permitted by local regulations, your cremated remains can
be scattered in a place that is meaningful to you. This can, however, present difficulties for your survivors.
Some people may find it hard to simply pour the mortal remains of a loved one out onto the ground or into the sea.
If you wish to be scattered somewhere, it is therefore important to discuss your wishes ahead of time with the
person or persons who will actually have to do the scattering. Another
difficulty with scattering can occur when the remains are disposed of in an anonymous, unmarked or public place.
Access to the area may be restricted for some reason in the future, undeveloped land may be developed, or any of
a host of other conditions may arise that could make it difficult for your survivors to visit the site to remember
you. Even if your cremated remains are scattered in your backyard, what happens if your survivors relocate sometime
in the future? Once scattered, cremated remains cannot easily be collected back up. Having your remains placed,
interred or scattered on a cemetery's grounds ensures that future generations will have a place to go to remember.
If remains are scattered somewhere outside the cemetery, many cemeteries
will allow you to place a memorial of some type on the cemetery grounds, so survivors have a place to visit that
will always be maintained and preserved.
Why is having a place to visit so important?
Because it provides a focal point for memorializing the deceased. To remember,
and be remembered, are natural human needs. Throughout human history, memorialization of the dead has been a key
component of almost every culture. The Washington Monument, Tomb of the Unknowns and Vietnam "Wall" in
Washington, D.C are examples of memorialization which demonstrate that, throughout our history, we have always
honored our dead. Psychologists say that remembrance practices, from
the funeral or memorial service to permanent memorialization, serve an important emotional function for survivors
by helping to bring closure and allowing the healing process to begin. Providing
a permanent resting place for the deceased is a dignified treatment for a loved one's mortal remains, which fulfills
the natural human desire for memorialization.
If I am cremated, can I be buried with
my spouse even if he or she was in a casket?
Yes — Depending upon the cemetery's policy, you may be able to save a grave
space by having the cremains buried on top of your casketed spouse, or utilize the space provided next to him/her.
Many cemeteries allow for multiple cremains to be interred in a single grave space.
Can I take the cremated remains home?
Yes. The remains are normally placed in an urn. Most families select an
urn that is suitable for placement on a mantle or shelf. Urns are available in a variety of shapes, sizes and materials.
How big of a price difference is there
with cremation compared to standard ground burial?
The cost depends on the type of permanent memorial, location of the memorial,
urn and placement selected.
Do all religions permit cremation?
Some religions prefer cremation; some do not recommend the practice; most
permit you to choose. Should you have any questions or concerns, we suggest you speak with a member of your clergy,
or contact your local prearrangement provider.
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