What Is Cremation?

What Is Cremation?


Part of making funeral arrangements on behalf of a loved one involves choosing between burial of the body or cremation. Certainly, this is a big decision based on many factors: religious or spiritual beliefs, finances, or ecological awareness are just some of the reasons we've heard for choosing cremation. However, before making a choice, you need to know exactly what it is you're considering. You can learn the basics below. However, if the content here raises additional questions for you, please give us a call. One of our staff members will address any of your inquiries or concerns.

Cremation Explained

The Cremation Association of North America describes cremation as, "The mechanical and/or thermal or other dissolution process that reduces human remains to bone fragments". 

As we said earlier, people choose cremation over burial of casketed remains for any combination of reasons. Sometimes it's the simple fear of burial itself, which may stem directly from the Victorian phobia of being buried alive. 


What is Required to Arrange for Cremation?

Once the cremation-over-burial decision has been made, all that's required is an authorization. This is provided by the person who is the legally identified or appointed next-of-kin. Once all authorization documents are signed and service charges are paid, the body can be transported from the place of death to the crematorium, and the cremation process can occur. However, there are some other things you may wish to consider, such as:
  • Are there any keepsake items you'd like to include in their cremation casket? Perhaps there's a special memento, such as a treasured photograph or letter? We sometimes suggest family members write cards, notes or letters to their deceased loved one, and place them in the casket prior to the cremation.
  • Would you or other family members like to be present for–or participate to some degree in–your loved one's cremation? Because we know how healing it can be to take part in an act of "letting go", we welcome the opportunity to bring interested family or friends into the crematory. 
  • What will you keep the cremated remains or ashes in after the cremation or the service? Many families aren't aware of all the many cremation urn options which can be placed in a special place such as the family home.

The Cremation Process

Traditional cremation reduces a body at very high temperatures until it is nothing but brittle, calcified bones. These are then processed into what we commonly call cremated remains. Returned to the family in a temporary urn (or a more personal urn selected by the family), these ashes can be kept, buried, or scattered.

In How Cremation Works, Author Michelle Kim details the cremation process: "In modern crematories, the body is stored in a cool, temperature-controlled room until it's approved for cremation. First, the body is prepared by removing pacemakers. The body is then put into a container or casket made of flammable materials such as plywood, pine or cardboard."

The container is placed in the retort or cremating chamber. It takes anywhere from two to three hours to reduce an average adult to cremated remains. When the remains are cooled, they are processed to a uniformly-sized sand-like substance and placed in an urn. The funeral director then returns the cremated remains to the family.

Rush Cremation

We understand that time is of the essence and many reasons a family may need the cremated remains of their loved one returned as soon as possible. Perhaps there are planes to catch, jobs to return to or a service booked in the very near future.

Our staff can ensure that your loved one's cremated remains are returned to you in an expedited amount of time. Please note that the BC Government requires a 48-hour delay between the time of death and cremation. Please get in touch with us to learn more.

Witness Cremation

There are several different reasons why people may want to witness a cremation. First, people may witness cremation for religious purposes — some religions, such as Hinduism, have a family member press the button on the cremation machine in the spirit of lighting a funeral pyre.

Witnessing the cremation also can provide closure for family members. It can comfort them by being there for the process, seeing their loved one a final time, and reassuring them that they will receive the cremated remains of their loved one.

Why Choose Cremation?

Everyone has their own personal reasons for choosing cremation over traditional casketed burial.

Cremation Costs are Only One Reason

Given the religious, ethnic, and regional diversity among us, there are many other reasons for the dramatic rise in the number of cremations performed each year. According to Tyler Mathisen of NBC, one of those reasons "is the softening of the Catholic church's views of the practice. For centuries—until 1963, the church outlawed it. The church's laws still express a preference for burial. But the outright ban is a thing of the past."

He goes on to tell readers that the decline in nuclear families is another reason. "As more North Americans live far from hometowns and parents, and as family burial plots have waned in popularity and accessibility, millions have turned to cremation as a practical and cost-effective way to care for a loved one's remains."

Cremation also allows a family the flexibility they may need in planning and preparing for a memorial service, celebration of life, or a scattering ceremony. While the cremation process can occur almost immediately (once all the proper paperwork is complete), the decisions required in planning a meaningful memorial for a loved one can be made in a relaxed, rational way.

You can also be sure that concern for the environment ranks high among many who choose cremation. Casketed and embalmed remains take up cemetery space and can pollute the groundwater, but many still question the amount of atmospheric pollution created by the cremation process.
Sources:
  1. What is Cremation, Cremation Association of North America
  2. Mathisen, Tyler, "Cremation is the Hottest Trend in the Funeral Industry"
  3. Frazer Consultants "Why Families Should Witness Cremation
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