The Cremation Process
Cremation is the process of subjecting bodily remains to intense heat, roughly between 1,400 and 2,000 degrees Fahrenheit.
The soft tissue and internal organs are totally vaporized leaving only dried bone fragments.
These small pieces of bone are then crushed, rendering them into the form that we commonly refer to as ashes.
The cremation process takes place at a crematorium in large industrial furnaces.
Countries around the world differ on how they regulate the process, but in the United States the body must be placed inside a container before being moved into the chamber, or retort.
These containers may be a wood casket or a simple cardboard box; the main requirement being that they are fully combustible.
Jewelry should be removed prior to cremation but the only things that absolutely have to be removed are pace makers due to the fact that they may explode.
It is illegal in many countries, including the U.
S.
, to cremate more than one body in a chamber at a time.
To further insure that the remains that are returned to the family are the correct ones, a small metal tag may be placed with the body that stays intact throughout the process.
Contrary to the sensational stories favored by media, most facilities are run in a very professional manner and treat the process with the respectful attention that it deserves.
Depending upon the age of the facility it may take up to two hours for the process to be complete.
Once the remains are removed and the larger bone fragments pulverized, they are placed in the container that will then be returned to the family.
If an urn or decorative container was not received from the family in advance, a sealed plastic bag will be placed in a sturdy container provided by the facility.
At this time, what happens from this point on is up to the next of kin.
In the best of circumstances, the deceased not only recorded their instructions but made them known to their family members and friends.
Carrying out a loved one's wishes with regard to their ashes can actually be an integral part of the healing process.
Traditional burial of the body a short couple of days after death comes at a time when the survivors are often in shock.
The entire process not only flashes by but does so seemingly out of their control.
Being involved in the disposition of the ashes is a way of having one last gesture that you can make--one more act of love.
For many, such an opportunity will be priceless.
The soft tissue and internal organs are totally vaporized leaving only dried bone fragments.
These small pieces of bone are then crushed, rendering them into the form that we commonly refer to as ashes.
The cremation process takes place at a crematorium in large industrial furnaces.
Countries around the world differ on how they regulate the process, but in the United States the body must be placed inside a container before being moved into the chamber, or retort.
These containers may be a wood casket or a simple cardboard box; the main requirement being that they are fully combustible.
Jewelry should be removed prior to cremation but the only things that absolutely have to be removed are pace makers due to the fact that they may explode.
It is illegal in many countries, including the U.
S.
, to cremate more than one body in a chamber at a time.
To further insure that the remains that are returned to the family are the correct ones, a small metal tag may be placed with the body that stays intact throughout the process.
Contrary to the sensational stories favored by media, most facilities are run in a very professional manner and treat the process with the respectful attention that it deserves.
Depending upon the age of the facility it may take up to two hours for the process to be complete.
Once the remains are removed and the larger bone fragments pulverized, they are placed in the container that will then be returned to the family.
If an urn or decorative container was not received from the family in advance, a sealed plastic bag will be placed in a sturdy container provided by the facility.
At this time, what happens from this point on is up to the next of kin.
In the best of circumstances, the deceased not only recorded their instructions but made them known to their family members and friends.
Carrying out a loved one's wishes with regard to their ashes can actually be an integral part of the healing process.
Traditional burial of the body a short couple of days after death comes at a time when the survivors are often in shock.
The entire process not only flashes by but does so seemingly out of their control.
Being involved in the disposition of the ashes is a way of having one last gesture that you can make--one more act of love.
For many, such an opportunity will be priceless.