What is a Cremation Service Like?

When people think of cremations, most have this myth of burning remains in fiery flames running on their heads. Nothing could be further from the truth. Cremation is a dignified disposition method that has been around since ancient Roman times. You can rest assured that your beloved will be taken care of until the very end.

Whether you have been tasked to arrange a funeral with a cremation service, you are participating in one as a guest, or you are just merely curious because you are planning for the future, it is critical to be informed about the cremation process. Taking out the guesswork gives you a chance to make an informed choice whether this internment method is something you want for your loved ones or yourself when the time comes.

Defining Cremation

Cremation is a method that uses intense heat to transform the deceased’s remains into ashes. In actuality, these ashes are not fine like a powder, but they are fragments of bone. There is a machine called the cremator, which emits almost two thousand degrees Fahrenheit of heat. This equipment is found inside a crematorium. When the procedure is done, the ashes are returned to the family.

Service Options

Usually, families opt for a cremation service before the body enters the cremator. This is akin to the usual funeral wake services where there is a final viewing of the body. Those who have a tight budget dispense with this step and opt for direct cremation. You can also choose to have a memorial service once you have the ashes. In this instance, the urn where the remains are housed will become the focal point of the event.

Things to Expect in a Cremation Service

A funeral with a cremation service means you can view the remains of the deceased for the last time to pay your respects. Your departed loved one is usually not embalmed because the process happens swiftly. The remains are washed and dressed in the family’s chosen garments for the viewing.

The body is kept in a climate-controlled room until the service begins. There will be a casket in a special room in the crematorium. The viewing could also be in a different religious hall, depending on the wishes of the family.

The time and date will be set for the cremation service, and guests are invited to come on time to bid their loved one a final goodbye. Typically, this service is just thirty minutes to an hour-long. All the attendees are given an order of service, which is a small document that outlines the flow, along with funeral songs, special prayers, readings, and eulogies.

The final step is called a committal, where the crematory staff takes the casket out of memorial service hall to begin the cremation process. Guests can leave, while the Funeral Director leads one or two direct members of the family to a waiting room. They are allowed to observe the cremation and wait until the whole process is complete.

Process of Cremation

The cremation of the body usually occurs on the day of the service after the guests have left. By this time necessary forms like the death certificate and the cremation form has been filled out. The family member has also chosen the coffin that will hold the body in the cremator chamber.

Crematory staff will return watches, pacemakers, or anything with batteries, along with metal pieces of jewelry, as these can explode inside the chamber. Family members are only allowed to put letters, pictures, and the like.

The body is put inside the chamber, and it usually takes up to three hours until only bone fragments are left. After the ashes are allowed to cool down for about half an hour, then a powerful magnet is used to lift out any metal fragments.

Then the remains are passed through a cremulator to further grind the ashes down to fine powder. At the family’s request, they will then place the wedding ring or other sentimental pieces into the urn before it is completely sealed.

If you are at the helm of planning the cremation service, you can choose a cheaper temporary urn if you intend to release the ashes into the deceased’s favorite place. However, if you are going to display the ashes in your home or inter it in a columbarium, you may want a customized cremation urn with decorations and embellishments.

The family is handed the ashes after two to three days. The funeral director will then give out a Certificate of Cremation. The urn will go to the family member who is listed in the cremation form, and this person must then present proper identification to claim the urn.

Final World on Making Cremation Arrangements

It is easy to arrange a cremation service. Speak with a funeral director if you pick this interment service for your loved one. If you are also preparing your own funeral to take the burden off your family should the time come that heaven knocks on your door, you can pick cremation as the primary method for your pre-paid funeral plan.