When your loved one passes away, the last thing you want to think of is what happens to the body. Unfortunately, you will have to make some very tough choices amidst your cloud of grief, especially if there is no last will and testament. It is easy to visualize what happens in traditional burial services because that’s what most people see and are used to. In contrast, cremation services leave many people wondering because no one knows exactly what goes on behind the scenes.
What most don’t know is that cremation has been in practice since the ancient Roman period. The practice was lost in the passing of time, but in the recent years, cremation services have become more popular once again because they are much more affordable, easier to plan, and even more eco-friendly when compared with a conventional burial.
Cremation Specifics to Assuage Fears and Worries
To assuage your fears and reduce your anxiety regarding the whole cremation process, you need to understand what happens. Industry experts define cremation as a disposition method where they expose the remains of your loved one to intense heat or open flames. The heat from a special industrial furnace called a cremation chamber causes all the water in the body to evaporate and reduce its mass.
The process takes 2 to 3 hours to complete, and most facilities allow immediate family to be within the crematorium. Of course, what goes on in the cremation chamber remains for the eyes of the professionals. However, being there with your dearly departed as he/she goes on this last phase of his/her physical life is more comforting.
Cremation produces 3 to 9 pounds of ashes depending on the size of the deceased. They refer to the remains as ash, but the texture as they take it out of the chamber is like coarse sand with fragment pieces of human bones. They place the ashes inside an urn, and you have the power to decide what to do with it.
The 5 Basic Steps of Cremation
Typically, cremation comprises five basic steps. Cremation is a very safe process because there are safeguards in place to make sure it is indeed your loved one inside the cremation chamber. The following procedures are detailed here under.
1. Identify the Deceased and Obtain the Necessary Permits
Crematoriums have strict policies in place to ensure that they have permission to take care of your loved one. You must submit the necessary paperwork like the cause of death and other pertinent personal information. Once the authorization has checked, you must again confirm the body of your loved one as they tag it. Before identification, the body is bathed, dressed, and cleaned.
This tag is metal because it goes inside the cremation chamber and stays there until the process is over. They will also place the same metal tag inside the urn with the ashes. This may seem like a tedious process, but it is crucial because DNA doesn’t survive the heat and no one wants to mourn a mistaken identity.
2. Prepare the Body for Cremation
Usually, the body is not embalmed in cremation unless you ask for it because you want a public viewing. They remove jewelry or other sentimental items you may want to keep. They take prosthetics and other medical implants out to prevent any untoward reaction with heat. These are disposed of properly by the facility.
3. Choose the Cremation Container
There are different containers where the body is placed. This will also go into the chamber. This goes into your bill, so choose the container carefully if you have limited funds. If you have a public viewing, there are special combustible caskets that are crafted for cremation. You can also opt to rent one. If budget is an issue, a simple cardboard box will also suffice. The container just needs to be strong and sturdy enough to hold the body.
4. Say Goodbye as the Container Enters the Chamber
You can say your last farewell before the body in the container goes into the chamber. The chamber has been preheated and everything will turn to ash after a couple of hours. This digitally controlled chamber can withstand a temperature of 2000 degrees. Cremation facilities follow environmental codes to ensure that air quality is not compromised.
5. Accept the Ashes in the Urn
They cool the remains for at least thirty minutes after cremation. Then, the crematorium staff check the ashes for impurities. A magnet is used to take out any metal components. The ashes are ground in a “cremulator” (an incinerator for cremated remains) so they become powdery. The final step is to place the remains in a simple temporary urn or a fixed urn of your choice.
Bottom Line
Most families plan a memorial service with the urn after they complete the cremation services. Some families keep the urn in their homes, some opt to bury the urn in a cemetery which is a lot cheaper than burying the whole remains, and some spread the ashes of their loved ones in a favorite place. Cremation is efficient, safe, and economical. Most of all, it is a very dignified way to say goodbye to your beloved.