Burning Safely

Not your safety of course, you are dead, and in any case the whole point of the process is your destruction. But there are a number of risks to crematorium staff and equipment. Heart pacemakers, whose batteries ignite in the intense heat, must be removed prior to cremation.



Many crematoriums refuse to allow possessions to be cremated along with there owner. In Sweden explosive farewell tokens such as bottles of alcohol, ammunition cartridges and pieces of fireworks have been put in coffins.

Cremation Process

You may have read that your skull explodes as your brain boils, and that your stomach will also explode. In fact the stomach and brain rarely explode. More likely the top of your cranium will crack and your brain fall out on to the hearth. It has also been said that early in the cremation process the heat causes the trunk to flex forwards violently so that the body suddenly 'sits up,' bursting open the lid of the coffin. This too is a myth.

The Process

The flames now attack you directly. Your skin and hair immediately scorch, char, and burn. You and I are 85% water. You will burn outside to inside in a rapid cycle of layer-by-layer dehydration and ignition. The heat dries out your skin; which then ignites. Your next layer - muscle and fat - dries out.



Your muscle and fat ignites. Air to feed this process is provided through jets in the ceiling or sides of the primary chamber The burning of your fat raises the temperature to 1900 degrees F. It stays at this level until 80% of you has been consumed. After the muscle and fat your internal organs burn.

Burning Up

Once your coffin has ignited the burner is turned off as the temperature is now enough to sustain your combustion. Your coffin soon collapses. At this point your cremation may get out of control and and produce lots of smoke or over heat the cremation unit.



Although part of me finds the merciless efficiency of modern cremation awesome - another part likes to think that I might just cause a hiccup in the process.

Cremator

The operator lines up the cataflaque with the mouth of the cremator, stands well back, presses a button, and you are slid into the cremator. You will go into the cremator head first. Going in head first helps with the drainage.



The operator then closes the door. The flame port - a giant blow torch nozel sitting above your chest - blasts your coffin with a 2800 degrees F jet of flame.

The commital

When the gas fired cremator is heated up to around 1450 degrees F it is ready for your coffin. If the cremator is too hot when your coffin goes in, a "flash ignition" could occur.



In this case your coffin would be alight before it was fully in the chamber and you could set the cremator room on fire!

All alone

As an adult you will probably be cremated alone. The primary chamber of the cremator (where you are placed for cremation) is usually only big enough for one coffin. Although, in many areas a mother and infant can be cremated together (as long as they arrive at the crematorium in the same coffin).



Also there is provision in some parts of the North America to allow a husband and wife burn together, if they do not exceed the capacity of the cremator.

The Cremation Process

You probably won't be cremated straight away, since there isn't always a cremator available. The mourners may have already left the crematorium by the time you are cremated. The coffin is cremated with the body. The coffin handles are probably plastic and melt in the intense heat.

Guide to Writing An Obituary

One detail that often escapes even the most thorough planner is the obituary. Writing an obituary is another thing that can be taken care of in advance. An obituary can be as basic as containing only public facts about a person's life. Their birth, family tree, their death. It can also be a very personal look at a life. Not only a summation of the public facts, but a glimpse of the uniqueness; that, when combined with those "facts," created a personality.

Written by someone who is close to you, an obituary becomes an intimate view of what made you memorable to others. Written by you, it becomes your personal life's story. As much as you love someone, recalling the details of their life at the time of their death is an overwhelming responsibility. Having the obituary already written and on file with your funeral provider is not as difficult to do as you may think.

To help you get started review the sample obituary. Think about your life and what you would most like remembered. Then fill out the form, and file with your funeral plans.

www.cremation.com

Dealing With Children and Cremation

As in any death situation, it is important for the children involved to have a caring adult available to them; someone there to listen and to try to answer the children's questions. Some basic cremation terminology also is needed: Cremated remains or ashes - The dead body is reduced to cremated remains after the cremation process.



Cremation - Cremation is the process of reducing the dead body by heat into small pieces of bone and ash. Crematory - A special building where bodies are cremated. Dead - A person is dead or has died when their body stops functioning (total cessation of metabolic activity). The body no longer feels heat, cold or pain. Funeral - A funeral is a service similar to a church service where family and friends come to share memories about the one who died and to say good-bye to that special person. Funeral Home/Mortuary - a building or house where the body can be taken after death to be prepared for burial or cremation. A funeral home/mortuary is a caring place where family and friends can possibly view the body and gather to remember the person who died.

Children should be considered in the service selection process. Whatever option is decided upon it is important for the children to be invited to participate. Always keep in mind that a child's involvement should never be forced; that children should be allowed to make their own decisions whether or not to participate.

A final consideration is memorialization. When children are involved, some families have found it helpful to select a permanent area for memorialization of the cremated remains. This area can provide a place for the children to identify with their deceased loved one in a tangible and concrete way.

Cremation Memorialization

Survivors may choose to scatter the cremated remains over ground, water, or at a site of special interest. This alternative may be subject to local environmental protection laws.

What About Cost?
The charge for the cremation process is based on several factors. An accurate cost can best be accomplished by consulting with your funeral director.

Making the personal choice to cremate involves many decisions. Consult with your funeral director regarding the legal documents necessary for cremation and the pre-planning services available. It is wise to consider all the options ans ask questions before making inal decisions about such an important event.

Service Options

Is Embalming Necessary?
Embalming is not necessary for the cremation process. However it may be appropriate for health concerns and time factors, especially if there is no be a public viewing.

Is a Casket Required?
Most crematories require an acceptable rigid, leak-proof container or a casket to provide for the health and safety of the crematory operator and the dignity of the deceased.



What is an Urn?
An urn is a permanent container in which cremated remains are placed. Usually urns are constructed of bronze, copper, marble hardwoods or ceramic. Urns can vary in design and cost and are available from your local funeral home.

What Can Be Done With Cremated Remains?
The family may elect to keep them in a permanent container, such as an urn, within their home. They may choose to place them in a family burial plot, in a niche at a mausoleum or in a columbarium providing a permanent area for future memorialization.

What Funeral Service Options Are Available?

As with traditional earth burial, the type of cremation service is subject to the personal choices of the family. Such services might include visitation (calling hours), public or private funeral service with the casketed body present, or a memorial service (with out the body present) which may be held prior to or following the cremation process.



Options
Much like a direct burial, a direct cremation is limited to the cremation process without any preparation of the body, services or memorialization.

Cremation…Another Choice

Cremation is a process for disposition of the human body. The body is placed into a casket or approved combustible container and then placed in a special furnace, commonly called retort. Under intense heat and flame the body is reduced to bone fragments, known as cremated human remains.

The Actual Cremation

All cremations should be performed individually.

Cremation is performed by placing the deceased in a casket or other container and then placing the container into the cremation chamber or retort where they are subjected to intense heat and flame. During the cremation process, it may be necessary to open the cremation chamber and reposition the deceased in order to facilitate a complete and thorough cremation. Through the use of a suitable fuel, incineration of the container and contents is accomplished and all substances are consumed or driven off, except bone fragments (calcium compounds) and metal (including dental gold and silver and other non-human material) as the temperature is not sufficient to consume them.



Due to the nature of the cremation process, any personal possessions or valuable materials, such as dental gold or jewelry (as well as any body prosthesis or dental bridgework), that are left with the decedent and not removed from the casket or container prior to cremation will be destroyed.

The cremated remains will be swept into a temporary container after completion of the actual cremation process. The crematory makes a reasonable effort to remove all of the cremated remains from the cremation chamber, but it is impossible to remove all of them, as some dust and other residue from the process might be left behind. While every effort will be made to avoid commingling, inadvertent or incidental commingling of minute particles of cremated remains from the residue of previous cremations is a possibility and is allowed by law. All noncombustible materials such as bridgework, hinges from the casket, etc. will be separated from the cremated remains.

When the cremated remains are removed from the cremation chamber, the skeletal remains often contain bone fragments. Unless otherwise specified, the bone fragments will be mechanically processed (pulverized). The cremated remains will then be placed in an urn or designated container. The crematory will make a reasonable effort to put all of the cremated remains into one urn or designated container. In the event the urn or container provided is too small to accommodate all of the cremated remains, the excess will be placed in a separate receptacle and the two receptacles will be kept together and handled according to the disposition instructions by the authorizing agent(s).

Cremation Process

Before cremation:
The following must be done before cremation:
1. any scheduled viewings have been completed,
2. 24 hours have transpired since death occurred or positive identification has been made by direct viewing,
3. civil and medical authorities have issued all required permits,
4. all necessary authorizations have been obtained, and
5. no objections have been raised.

Most crematories will require either a casket or an alternative (cremation) container for cremation. All caskets and alternative containers must meet the following standards:
1. be composed of materials suitable for cremation,
2. be able to be closed to provide a complete covering for the human remains,
3. be resistant to leakage or spillage, and
4. be sufficient for handling with ease.

Many caskets that are comprised of combustible materials also contain some exterior parts (decorative handles or rails) that are not combustible and that may cause damage to the cremation equipment. The crematory will remove these noncombustible materials prior to cremation and discard them with similar materials from other cremations and other refuse in a non-recoverable manner.

Most crematories will not cremate caskets or containers made of certain plastics, fiberglass or any materials such as metal or other materials, that are not entirely combustible.
Pacemakers, prostheses, and other medical devices, as well as any other mechanical or radioactive devices implanted in the decedent, may create a hazardous condition when placed in the cremation chamber. It is imperative that pacemakers and radioactive devices be removed prior to cremation.

Necessary authorizations and identification of the deceased will be in writing and must be signed by one or more authorizing agents. The authorizing agent(s) will also give instructions as to the disposition of the cremated remains.

Costs of Cremation

Costs for cremation services vary somewhat from region to region and according to the type of services employed. Memorial services, like anything else, become more expensive as they grow more elaborate. They can range from several hundred to several thousand dollars. Local customs that affect demand for the availability of facilities and services may also have an influence on cost. Other factors affecting cost include the choice of cremation casket or container, the selection of a memorial urn, and the form of memorialization.



Most crematories require a closed container to protect the health of operators and for the dignity of the deceased. There are many inexpensive cremation caskets and containers from which to choose. A popular choice is a hardwood casket, suitable for cremation and for ceremonies prior to the cremation. In addition to fine hardwood caskets, minimum containers made of cardboard or particleboard are also available. Cremation caskets and container costs will vary according to the materials used and designs selected. Likewise, memorial urns will vary in price. Urns are made from a variety of materials including bronze and wood and other materials, such as ceramic.

www.funeralfacts.com

Personal Touches

A service, such as a memorial service that recognizes that a person has lived and has now died can be helpful to family members and friends if there is something present such as an object that recalls an interest or hobby of the deceased or a group of pictures taken throughout many years. Highlights of one's occupation or ethnic background can hold special meaning for those present because of the remembering that is stimulated. In this way, friends and family may reflect on a loved one's life, as well as his or her death.



A memorial service is not unlike other ceremonies that distinguish our lives. Baptisms, graduations, bar mitzvahs, and weddings all serve to recognize a significant event in a person's life. The funeral ceremony provides acknowledgement of a person's life and offers loved ones a chance to say a last goodbye.

The type of memorialization usually influences the decision regarding final disposition of cremated remains. Just as ceremonies offer value to the living, so does establishing a permanent memorial. It serves as a focal point for the remembrance of a loved one and can help in overcoming grief,

Usually cremated remains are placed in some type of permanent receptacle or memorial urn before being committed to a final resting place. The urn can be buried in a family plot or urn garden. A marker or headstone may be used to mark the site. Sometimes the urn is kept in the home. The urn can also be placed in a memorial niche at a cemetery or church where it may be viewed through a protective glass or sealed behind a memorial plaque.

Some cemeteries have special gardens where cremated remains may be scattered. In areas where it is permitted by law, cremated remains may be scattered over land or water. However, this decision should be carefully considered because the act of scattering remains is an irreversible decision. If no permanent memorial site is established, survivors may later experience regret, feeling that the bond is broken forever. The emotional value of establishing a permanent memorial site is worthy of consideration. It might also be possible to plant a tree or flowers in a significant place to serve as a memorial to the loved one who has died.

Ceremonies and Cremation

Services or ceremonies may be conducted when cremation is chosen. Cremation does not limit choices, but increases the options available to you. It in no way eliminates a funeral. Optional services may precede or follow the actual cremation. Prior to the cremation there may be a visitation and/or funeral ceremony with the casketed body present. If a ceremony or service is held following the cremation, the receptacle containing the cremated remains may take a place of prominence. This receptacle is most commonly an urn, which is taken to its final resting place following the ceremony.

Regardless of whether the cremation precedes or follows the funeral, the funeral service should be tailored to benefit the living. Viewing the body of the deceased can help bereaved persons begin to overcome grief by more readily accepting the fact that a death has occurred. Funeral ceremonies also have value in offering family and friends an opportunity to honor their loved one and it gives them an opportunity to remember.

Cremation Today

Today, cremation is the process of reducing the body to bone fragments through the application of intense heat. The body, usually in a casket or some other container, is placed in a cremation chamber where applied heat reduces the casket and body to ashes and bone fragments weighing from three to seven pounds for an average adult. The temperature may reach as high as 1700 degrees F and the process can take from 1 1/2 to 2 hours. After several hours cooling, ashes and bone fragments are separated from non-combustible materials such as bridgework and casket hinges.



The cremated remains, sometimes known as "cremains" are then reduced in size so they can be placed into a small temporary container, usually made of plastic. If a permanent container for the cremains, called an urn, has already been selected from the funeral director or crematory, the cremains can then be sealed inside and made ready for burial or some other final disposition.
As long as health regulations are observed, embalming is not required for the process of cremation. Nevertheless, if the surviving family members desire a public funeral, with the body present and the casket open, then embalming becomes necessary.

If there is an immediate cremation, a memorial service is suggested. Interment of the cremated remains can follow the memorial service.

Cremations

As a new millennium begins, many people are choosing to return to a custom as old as the earliest recorded history. Cremation dates back to the Stone Age when it was practiced in Europe and the Near East. By the time of the Roman Empire -- 27 B.C. to 395 A.D.



Cremation was widely practiced, and cremated remains were generally stored in elaborate urns, according to the Cremation Association of North America.

While, cremations are more common in Western Europe and Japan than in North America, the number of people in the United States and Canada selecting cremation has risen significantly during the past few years.

Cremation: Ashes to Ashes

The Church No Longer Forbids the Practice, but Doesn't Allow The Scattering of Cremated Remains



To judge by the box-office receipts, millions of Americans saw the final scene in the movie "The Bridges of Madison County." In it a son and daughter honor their mother's last request by scattering her ashes from a scenic Iowa bridge.

It's high drama, a powerful moment. Whatever else it might be, however, it would clearly not be a proper burial if the woman were Catholic.

But the mere fact the woman was cremated is not the issue. Today many Catholics, in speaking with their parish priest about funeral arrangements for themselves or for a loved one, are surprised to learn the Church no longer forbids cremation. What those cinematic heirs did wrong was to ignore the Church's stipulation that cremated remains (called "cremains") must receive a proper burial in consecrated ground.

"You can't store Grandma on the mantel or scatter your father's ashes across the 13th green of his favorite golf course," advises Father Peter Polando, canon lawyer and pastor of St. Matthias Parish in Youngstown, Ohio. "The Church has strong feelings about the fact that this body has been a temple of the Holy Spirit and requires a proper burial as a result."

By definitions supplied from funeral-industry literature, cremation is the process of reducing the body to bone fragments through the application of intense heat. The bone fragments are then pulverized, and placed within a temporary container before being returned to the family.

Catholic burial practice calls for the cremains to be buried in an urn within a consecrated grave or placed inside a mausoleum. Keeping ashes at home or scattering them on land or sea, even where legal, is inappropriate to the Church's deep reverence for the body as a place where the soul has resided, As "Our Sunday Visitor's Catholic Encyclopedia" notes:

"Cremation was the normal custom in the ancient civilized world, except in Egypt, Judea and China. It was repugnant to early Christians because of the belief in the resurrection of the body. By the fifth century, cremation had been largely abandoned in the Roman Empire because of Christian influence."

These days, cremation has become more common in the United States among persons of various denominations. The Cremation Association of North America (CANA) estimates that out of roughly 2.6 million deaths each year, there are some 471,000 cremations, or about 20 percent.

By the year 2010, the association predicts, cremations will account for almost 33 percent of funeral planning. Currently, California far outstrips the nation with 93,221 cremations reported in 1994. CANA says there 1,100 crematories in the United States.

The number of cremations is increasing for three main reasons. First, there is a growing shortage of burial spaces in some sections of the nation. Second, in a mobile society where many people move often, it's much simpler to transport ashes than a casket. Many elderly who live in the northern states, for example, winter in warmer climates. It's not unusual for them to leave instructions that, should they die there, their bodies are to be cremated and the remains flown home to be interred in the family burial plot. And a third reason is financial: a cremation typically costs significantly less than a full-scale burial in a casket.

Just when and why did the Church change its teaching on this option?
In his book "Questions and Answers," syndicated columnist Father John Dietzen explains "the first general legislation banning the burning of bodies as a funeral rite burning of bodies as a funeral rite came from the Vatican's Holy Office in May 1886, noting the anti-religious and Masonic motivation behind the movement. The 1918 Code of Canon Law continued that ban because cremation was still considered a flagrant rejection of the Christian belief in immortality and the resurrection."

But now the new Catechism of the Catholic Church, which devotes hundreds of words to some subjects, matter-of-factly devotes only 20 words to the topic: "The Church permits cremation, provided that it does not demonstrate a denial of faith in the resurrection of the body" (no. 2301).

The current Code of Canon Law (revised in 1983) devotes a mere 30 words that elaborate on the same theme: "The Church earnestly recommends the pious custom of burial be retained; but it does not forbid cremation, unless this is chosen for reasons which are contrary to Christian teaching" (no. 1176).

So what happened between the end of World War I and the writing of the revised code? In 1963, the Church began to relax its attitude toward cremation for reasons of national custom, lack of burial space, disease control and other considerations. Now the revised code's canon incorporates the 1963 decree, but omits any mention of requiring a good reason for cremation.

Father Polando noted that the Canon Law Society of America's "Commentary on the Code of Canon Law" is more specific: "In the old code, the former law was quite forceful and restrictive in its opposition to cremation. Actually, the Church has never been against cremation as such, but discouraged it because of the reasons people used to justify it.

"The Church reacts to problems that come to its doorstep," he continued. "The Church adopted the stance it did because people were using cremation to justify denying the resurrection of the body."

But now the Church believes those who request cremation aren't doing so out of any desire to deny bodily resurrection or defame Church teaching. Cremation and a Catholic funeral liturgy would, of course, be denied if that were the case.

By Lou Jacquet

What happens when you're cremated?

A 24-hour waiting period and a minimal container are required. Pacemakers and other medical devices must be removed. Your body is placed inside a specially designed furnace or retort. At a typical temperature of 1,500 degrees, cremation takes two to three hours. Seven to nine pounds of bone fragments are all that remain. The fragments are then pulverized into smaller pieces that resemble crushed seashells.

What happens when you're embalmed?

Your body is washed and disinfected. Mouth, nose and other orifices are closed with cotton, sutures or a plastic screw-type apparatus. Embalming fluid is injected into the arteries, while blood is drained out through veins. Chest and abdominal cavities are punctured, body fluids are suctioned out and embalming fluid is injected.