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Cremation
CREMATION
Cremation is performed by placing the deceased in a casket or other suitable container and then placing them into a cremation chamber or retort, where they are subjected to intense heat and flame. 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 nonhuman material) as the temperature is not sufficient to consume them.
Cremation Choices
If the body is cremated ...
- The remains can be buried in a cemetery or placed in a niche within a columbarium.
- The remains can be kept by the family in an urn or other container.
- You may take the remains in the temporary container and distribute or "scatter" them.
Why people choose cremation
In the United States, in 1972, only five percent chose cremation. That number had quintupled by 1999, with over 25% choosing cremation.
The National Funeral Directors Association predicts that by 2015, the figure will rise to 46%.
In Canada, the rate is already over 68%; in Great Britain, 72%; and over 99% in Japan.
Those who choose cremation (for themselves or others) often hold the belief that it is better to honor the memory of the person, not the dead body.
Here are some other reasons you might choose cremation:
1. Cremation is traditional in your family, religious group, or geographical area
2. You prefer the body to be returned quickly and cleanly to the elements
3. You have environmental concerns
4. Perhaps you are worried about the use of valuable land for cemetery space, or believe it is wrong to fill the ground with materials that won't erode.
5. You want to keep the costs down
- Selecting cremation does not mean, however, that you will have an inexpensive funeral.
- You might still choose an expensive casket and/or a viewing, and/or decide to have the cremated remains buried in the ground or placed in a columbarium. These choices can bring your costs up to those of a traditional funeral.
Decisions You Must Make If You Choose Cremation
- Whether you would like to first have a funeral with a viewing
- Whether to use an urn or container
- What to do with the remains
If you are distributing the remains....
Some jurisdictions have laws prohibiting the scattering of remains; others require a permit. Ask your funeral director.
Also ask if there are any firms in your area that specialize in unique ways of distributing the remains, such as a plane to spread them over a mountain, or a ship to scatter them at sea.
Think of places that were especially loved by the deceased, close to home or far away. You can walk in the woods, by a favorite lake, or on the old family farm.
Be sure to ask permission if you want to use private property.
What about using the remains to create new life, by planting a tree? Some survivors choose to mix the remains with the soil in flowerbeds and rose gardens at home. Every time the roses bloom, you will be reminded of your loved one.
If you decide to do this, however, consider what will happen if, some day, you move away.
