About Cremation
The decision on what to do with the remains of a deceased loved one can be a difficult decision to make. There are numerous factors to consider and cremation as a process of disposing one remains has become a favourite alternative over the recent decades, even though it has been around for thousands of years. Nowadays the process of cremation itself is modernised and more efficient with the recent developments in technology. Some religions, especially the Eastern ones such as Hinduism and Buddhism mandate the cremation as the way to dispose of body’s remains. It is believed that the body in no longer sacred as the soul has already departed. Crematoria are different in their procedures, but the following is a general guide. Most crematoria incorporate a service chapel. You may wish to use this if you don't want to hold the service in a church or other location. However, if you do decide to hold the service in a Church or other location, you may choose to use the crematorium for the committal only. You may wish to play music at the service.
Many Crematoria will provide; an organist pre-recorded music from which you can choose a cassette or CD player on which you can play music of your choice
Possessions, Clothing & Decoration of the Coffin There are some restrictions on what is permitted to be included in a committal, for example metal objects and certain materials. Your funeral director can advise on these.
What is cremation?
Cremation is the process by which the body is incinerated and reduced down to its simplest form of bone. This in turn is then processed into ash and small bone fragments and placed in a urn. The thing about cremation is you can still have a full funeral if you choose to be cremated. In some cases, they even allow you to assist with the cremation process, if your religious or personal beliefs dictate that that's something you want to do.
What are the advantages of cremation?
The are many benefits of cremation. With cremation, you have many options that you would not have with a full-body burial. You're able to take the cremated remains away. You can either take them home or scatter them in a place where the deceased was really happy, as long as it's legal. Cremation really has its benefits. It also actually takes up less ground space than a full-body burial. The cost will also be less expensive than for a full-body interment.
The Process of Cremation.
Watch a video on the cremation process...
The cremation can be preceded by the service that can be held in one of the chapels of the crematorium or at the church of your choice with no service at the crematorium itself. Most undertakers offer a line of caskets that are especially built for the cremation process. The body of the deceased is first placed in the container for the cremation. The container can be made out of wood or out of corrugated cardboard. Another option available is the cardboard container that is then placed within a more traditional looking casket. The process of cremation usually lasts about 2 hours. The casket is placed within the retort (the chamber within the cremator) and it is subjected to the heat between 870 to 980°C. Most of the soft organs and tissue simply evaporate as they are subjected to such extreme heat. The gases get discharged through the exhaust system.What is left after the cremation process is basically dry bone fragments and the quantity of these bone fragments vary from person to person. The general rule is that for males the remains weight around 2.7 kilos, while for women the remains weight around 1.8 kilos. It is essential that all personal jewelry should be removed from the body and returned to the family. This is done so to avoid possible combustion that can happen in the cremator. In case the person had a pacemaker or any other type of medical device within the body, the undertaker has to remove it before delivering the body to the crematorium. The body does not necessarily have to be embalmed, unless the family of the deceased wants a public viewing of the body prior to the cremation. Once the cremation process is done the dry bone fragments are taken out of the retort and put through a cremulator. Cremulator is a device that uses grinding or a rotating mechanism to turn the dry bone fragments into cremains (a technical term which combines the words cremation and remains)which take the appearance of grains of sand. In some countries like Japan, the cremulator is not used, but the families obtain the remains as they are – dry bone fragments. The ashes are then placed in a container, most usually an urn. Once the whole process is completed the ashes are returned to the family. It is up to the family what will they do with the remains. The remains can stay in the urn and be displayed or scattered in variety of ways or fashions. Some families opt for placing the ashes in the ground.
Cremation F.A.Q How is a cremation arranged?
The Cremation Regulations are complex and many people approach a funeral director immediately death occurs, and advise him that they wish to arrange a cremation. The funeral director will ensure that all the necessary statutory forms for cremation are obtained and presented to the Crematorium.
Can a cremation be arranged without the services of a funeral director?
Yes. The Executor or nearest surviving relative may arrange the cremation service themselves. Cremation authorities that are members of the Institute of Cemetery & Crematorium Management's (ICCM) Charter for the Bereaved will provide advice to persons arranging a cremation without the use of a funeral director.
Can relatives witness the committal of the coffin to the cremator?
Yes. Some crematoria have a viewing area that overlooks the crematory, where you may witness the committal taking place. Others may have a room equipped with CCTV enabling all of those in the room to clearly see the committal whilst other crematoria may allow a supervised group into the crematory to witness the committal. The Crematorium must be informed that you wish to witness the committal when the cremation is booked, so that staff can be informed who will then make the necessary preparations on the day.
Is the coffin cremated with the body?
Yes. The ICCM Guiding Principles state that the container and the body shall be placed in cremator and cremation commenced. The coffin or container with the body inside shall not be opened or otherwise disturbed, other than in exceptional circumstances, and then only with the express permission and in the presence of the Applicant for Cremation (usually the executor or next of kin).
How soon after the service will the cremation take place?
The ICCM Guiding Principles state that the container and the body shall be placed in a cremator and cremation commenced no later than 72 hours after the service of committal. Where cremation may not be carried out on the same day, the Applicant for Cremation shall be notified.This means that under normal circumstances the cremation is usually carried out shortly after the service and certainly on the same day. However, when a service takes place late in the day or a limited number of services are booked, the cremations may take place within the 72 hour period. Retention of coffins should only be carried out where a secure and hygienic storage facility is available. The benefits to the community from this include a reduced impact on the environment as less fossil fuel will be consumed and the efficient use of machinery and equipment will be achieved.
How are cremated remains kept separate?
A cremator can only accept one coffin at a time and all the remains are removed from the cremator before the next cremation. An identity card is used throughout the whole process until the final disposal, thereby ensuring correct identification.
What happens to the cremated remains after cremation?
The law relating to cremation requires that cremated remains are disposed of in accordance with the written instructions of the applicant, usually the executor or nearest surviving relative. Cremated remains may also be buried in family graves that are full for coffined burials. Alternatively you may be able to purchase a new cremated remains grave in a cemetery.
Can more than one body be cremated at a time?
No, each cremation is carried out separately. The aperture through which the coffin passes in the cremator and the cremation chamber are of dimensions that will only safely accept one coffin. However, exceptions can be made in the case of a mother and baby or small twin children, so long as the next of kin or executor has made this specific request.Most crematoria will allow public inspection of the 'behind the scenes' procedures in an attempt to enlighten the public on all aspects of the cremation process.
Are coffins sold back to funeral directors for re-use?
No. The coffin and the body inside are cremated together. There are occasions where the deceased or the family of the deceased have opted for using a cardboard coffin in which their loved one will be cremated. When this happens families sometimes want to have a more aesthetically pleasing coffin or container on the catafalque during the service. Families therefore will opt for either a pall (a cloth covering the cardboard coffin), or a 'cocoon coffin' (an outer shell that covers the cardboard coffin) or will decorate a cardboard coffin themselves. Neither the pall nor the cocoon is cremated. It is important to understand that the pall and cocoon do NOT contain the body of the deceased; they are simply superficial coverings for a cardboard coffin.
Can I visit a crematorium and see what happens behind the scenes?
Yes. All crematoria will arrange for such a visit if given prior notice. The visit may take place whilst cremations are taking place or when not; the choice is yours. This open door policy helps to dispel the myths that have been explained above. On seeing the cremation process the viewer can be reassured that all cremations take place individually, coffins are cremated with the deceased and that identity is maintained throughout the process so that a family can be sure that they receive the correct cremated remains.
