Cremation, while a growing trend, nationally represents the choice of disposition in about 40% of deaths.  People select cremation for many reasons - cultural, religous, environmental, desire for simplicity, economics and so forth.  By and large, cremation and earth burial accomplish the same function in leading to the return of the human body to its most basic elements.  Cremation simply accomplishes this within a few hours, while with burial it is a slow natural process.

It is important to understand that whether we choose cremation or burial, there is no alternative or distinction with the feelings that accompany loss.  No matter the type of disposition our family and friends feel the pain of loss in the same way.  It is wrong to think of cremation as an alternative to a funeral - it is simply an alternative to burial.  The customs and social gatherings that accompany death can still take place no matter the choice of final disposition.  In fact, there are likely more options and choices available for families choosing cremation.  We hope the following information will be of assistance in your deliberation of this issue.

The Cremation Process

Your funeral director will transfer the deceased along with all required documentation to the crematory of your choice.  You have the right to know where the crematory is located, who owns the crematory, what are their operating procedures, and whether you can inspect the facility should you wish.  If you are told you may not attend at the crematory or if this is made inconvenient you should insist on being given another choice.  Why?  Go online and do a search about what happened at TRISTATE CREMATORIUM, NOBLE, GEORGIA, USA.  This will tell you everything you need to know about why you should have the choice about where the cremation of your loved one takes place.

The deceased must be in a combustable casket or rigid container.  This maintains dignity and privacy for the deceased, and also protects those who must handle the deceased at the crematory. The casket or container is clearly identified as to the name of the deceased and the delivering funeral home.

The crematory's file for the deceased includes a Personal Identification Number (PIN) and this PIN is also engraved on a non-cumbustable stainless steel disc.  Once the chamber is pre-heated to a required temperature under environmental regulations, the casket or container is placed within the crematory retort and the disc placed alongside. Only one casket or container is cremated at a time. Intense heat and flame are applied. All emmissions out of the stack are recorded for cleanliness.  At the end of the process (180 minutes on average) the remains must cool and are then thoroughly removed from the floor of the chamber.

After removal, a heavy magnet is passed over the cremated remains to remove any incidental metals such as screws or hinges from the casket.  The identification disc is recovered.  The human skeletal components are in a mechanical processor and they are reduced to a granular consistency.  The identification disc is placed with the cremated remains which are then placed in the urn or a temporary container.  From beginning to end the process is about four hours. The crematory stores the cremated remains under lock and key until they are retrieved by the funeral director, a designated family member or interred in the cemetery.

Choices regarding the Cremated Remains

If the body is cremated this is not the end.  A decision will need to be made about what to do with the cremated remains.  Cemeteries offer many options that provide a permanent place for cremated remains.  We encourage this decision be made as part of the funeral arrangement process.  It is difficult to gather together all the parties again for discussion if a decision is not initially made.  Weeks become months and if put off, this decision can actually become more difficult to face with the passing of time.  Here are some of the common choices:

1. The cremated remains can be buried in the ground in a regular plot or in a smaller cremation plot. Many cemeteries allow a cremation interment over top of a previous casket burial in a family lot for example.  With some couples one spouse may wish earth burial and the other cremation.  In this case most often a single grave space may be selected and both accomodated in this single space.

3. You may distribute ("scatter") the cremated remains over the land or water.  A word of caution, scattering is of course irreversible.  Some express regret after that there is not a permanent place where the deceased's name is recorded on a monument, or a place to visit.  A suggestion is to scatter a token portion of the cremated remains and place the remainder in a cemetery.  Some cemeteries offer scattering on the property where you can be assured the land will not be disturbed.

4. The cremated remains can be stored by the family — and perhaps kept on display — in an urn or other container.  Keep in mind, however, that eventually this will create an issue for someone at some time in the future as to what should be done with the cremated remains. 

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 Cremation Association of North America predicts that by 2010, that figure will rise to 36%.

In Canada, the rate is already over 42%; in Great Britain, 71%; and over 98% in Japan.

Here are some other reasons you might choose cremation:

• Cremation is traditional in your family, religious group, or geographical area

• You prefer the body to be returned quickly and cleanly to the elements

Many people believe that a cremated body becomes one with nature more quickly.

• You have environmental concerns

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 ... metal coffins and concrete vaults.

• You want to keep the costs down

Selecting cremation does not mean, however, that you will have an inexpensive funeral.

You might still choose a 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.