Many families choose cremation as a thoughtful and dignified way to lay their loved ones to rest.
Whether driven by personal beliefs, financial reasons, or environmental considerations, cremation offers a meaningful alternative to traditional burial.
If cremation is the path you're considering, you might have questions about how it works and what happens.
How is a body prepared for cremation, exactly? This guide will walk you through each step of the cremation process, from legal requirements to the respectful preparation of the body and the return of cremated remains.
How is a body prepared for cremation?
The cremation process involves intense heat that reduces the body to ashes. Before reaching the cremation chamber where this process takes place, the body undergoes careful and respectful preparation.
This preparation ensures everything is handled safely and according to the family's wishes. Throughout this process, licensed professionals take care of the body, from obtaining legal authorization to cremating the remains and returning them to the family.
Let's explore each step in detail, providing a clearer picture of what to expect when you choose cremation.
Step 1: Legal documentation and permissions
Before any cremation procedures can begin, you’ll need to make sure that all legal requirements are met. This step involves procuring these certificates:
- Death certificate: A licensed physician or medical examiner must pronounce death and provide a signed death certificate. This document serves as the official record of the passing and is required for work like closing bank accounts and transferring assets.
- Cremation authorization form: A designated individual, usually the next of kin, must sign a cremation authorization form. This form legally authorizes the cremation to proceed.
The specific requirements for who can sign this form may vary by state. The cremation service provider that you choose will be able to guide you through this process.
- Additional permits (possible): In some cases, depending on your state or local regulations, additional permits from the medical examiner's office or health department might be required before cremation can occur.
Step 2: Transportation to the funeral home or crematory
After the legal steps, the body is transported to the funeral home or crematory.
Funeral homes typically have their own dedicated vehicles designed for this purpose. These vehicles are usually called removal vehicles or vans. They’re specifically equipped to ensure the safe transport of the deceased.
They are discreetly designed and climate-controlled to maintain the body's condition during transport.
Upon arrival at the funeral home or crematory, licensed professionals will transfer the body to a preparation area.
Step 3: Cleaning and sanitizing
Once settled in the preparation area, funeral home staff meticulously clean and sanitize the body. The body is washed using disinfecting solutions that are formulated to be mild and non-abrasive on the skin.
Harsh chemicals are avoided to ensure the process is respectful of the body.
The cleansing process is thorough enough to ensure proper hygiene and sanitation for the cremation process.
Step 4: Removing medical devices
Before dressing the body for cremation, a crucial step involves ensuring the safety of the cremation process and staff.
This involves the meticulous removal of any implanted medical devices. Here's why this step is important:
- Safety: Certain medical devices, like pacemakers and prosthetic joints, contain materials that can react unpredictably under the intense heat of the cremation chamber.
Pacemakers, for example, have internal batteries that could explode if exposed to high temperatures, posing a safety hazard.
- Protecting the cremator: Metal components in medical devices can also damage the cremation chamber itself. By removing these devices beforehand, the integrity of the cremator is protected, ensuring a smooth and efficient cremation process.
They will carefully locate and remove any implants, ensuring they are disposed of following proper medical waste regulations.
Step 5: Preservation methods (embalming or refrigeration)
Embalming is a process that injects disinfectants and preservatives into the body to slow down decomposition. While it’s not usually necessary for cremation, embalming might be required under certain circumstances:
- Public viewing: If the family wants to hold a viewing or visitation before cremation, embalming is typically required. This process helps preserve the body's appearance for a longer period, allowing family and friends to say goodbye in person.
- Delayed cremation: In cases where there is a delay between death and cremation, embalming might be required to prevent decomposition, especially if the deceased is not being refrigerated.
This could be due to legal reasons, waiting for family members to arrive from out of town, or if specific religious rites require a delay in cremation.
- Long-distance transport: If the body needs to be transported a long distance before cremation, embalming can be helpful to ensure proper preservation during travel.
Refrigeration is a viable alternative to embalming for short-term preservation. Funeral homes have refrigerated facilities to store the body if cremation is not immediate.
This can be a suitable option if there is a short delay or if the family chooses not to embalm for religious or personal reasons.
Step 6: Selecting a respectful vessel
After the body is prepared for cremation, families have the opportunity to choose a cremation container. Unlike traditional caskets used for burial, cremation containers are designed to burn completely during the cremation process.
These containers come in a variety of styles and materials, allowing families to find an option that reflects their wishes and budget. Here's a closer look at some common choices:
- Traditional cardboard containers: This is a simple and eco-friendly option. Cardboard cremation containers are constructed from recycled cardboard materials. They are sturdy yet lightweight and burn efficiently during cremation.
- Wooden cremation containers: Wooden cremation containers are available in various wood types like pine, oak, or mahogany. These containers are designed from combustible woods that break down entirely in the cremation chamber.
Some families may choose a simple unfinished wood container, while others may opt for stained or varnished options for a more personalized touch.
- Woven basket containers: Biodegradable and often handcrafted, woven basket containers are made from natural materials like wicker, bamboo, or seagrass. These containers provide a unique and earthy aesthetic, ensuring they burn completely during cremation.
- Fiberboard: Similar to cardboard, fiberboard containers are another eco-friendly option made from compressed wood pulp. They offer a bit more rigidity than cardboard and can be adorned with various finishes.
Step 7: Honoring traditions: Last rites and rituals
For many families, cremation allows them to incorporate cultural or religious traditions before the body is cremated.
Cremation service providers and funeral homes are sensitive to these practices and can provide guidance and support in honoring these wishes.
Here are some examples of last rites and rituals observed by various faiths:
- Wake or viewing: Some families may choose to hold a wake or viewing before cremation. This allows loved ones to gather, pay their respects, and share memories of the deceased. Religious leaders may be invited to officiate at the ceremony or offer prayers.
- Religious ceremonies: Many faiths incorporate specific religious ceremonies before cremation. These may include:
- Christianity: Funeral services may include readings from scripture, hymns, and eulogies, typically overseen by clergy such as priests, ministers, or pastors.
- Hinduism: The last rites, known as Antyesti, typically involve cremation on a funeral pyre, with ceremonies including mantra chanting and offerings to facilitate the deceased’s journey in the afterlife.
- Cultural traditions: Cultural traditions also play a role in pre-cremation rituals. In some Asian cultures, burning incense or placing personal mementos with the body may be observed. Families of African descent might hold a traditional pouring of libations, a symbolic offering of a beverage to honor the deceased.
Funeral homes can help families understand the specific requirements for their faith or cultural traditions and ensure these wishes are honored with respect and sensitivity during the cremation process.
Step 8: The cremation process
Once preparations are complete, the cremation process itself occurs within a designated cremation chamber, also known as a retort. This is a furnace designed to safely and efficiently cremate the body at extremely high temperatures. Here's a detailed look at what happens during cremation:
- Transfer to the retort: The cremation container, holding the body, is placed on a specialized platform or hearth inside the retort using appropriate mechanical lifters.
- Gradual heating: The initial stage involves a gradual temperature increase to around 300°F (150°C). This helps evaporate any remaining fluids and organic materials within the body.
- Intense heat for cremation: Following the initial drying phase, the temperature within the retort is significantly raised to reach between 1400°F and 1800°F (760°C and 982°C). This intense heat ensures complete cremation of the body, reducing it primarily to bone fragments.
- Air circulation and emissions control: Throughout the process, a sophisticated air circulation system continuously supplies oxygen to the chamber, facilitating complete combustion. Advanced pollution control devices ensure emissions meet strict environmental regulations.
- Monitoring and duration: The cremation process is carefully monitored and controlled throughout by trained professionals. The cremation itself typically takes between 1.5 to 2 hours, depending on the deceased's weight and the specific cremation unit.
Can I be present during the cremation?
For safety reasons, funeral homes typically do not allow families to be present during the cremation process itself.
Some facilities may offer families the opportunity to witness the placement of the cremation container into the retort or hold a brief ceremony beforehand.
Step 9: Processing of ashes
After the cremation cycle is complete, the cremated remains are left to cool within the retort. Once cooled, the remaining fragments are removed and processed. Here's a closer look at what happens:
- Bone processing: The cremated bone fragments are transferred to a specialized processor, often called a cremulator. This device breaks down the fragments into a fine, ash consistency.
- Metal fragment removal: A powerful magnet is used to meticulously remove any remaining metal fragments from the cremated ash. These fragments are then handled according to specific regulations for medical waste disposal.
- Final ash preparation: The resulting bone ash is screened and any remaining large particles are broken down further to ensure a uniform consistency. The processed cremated remains are then placed in a temporary container or urn.
You have options: Cremation service providers offer a variety of urn options for families to choose from. These urns come in various styles, materials, and sizes to suit individual preferences and cultural traditions.
Families can also opt to keep the cremated remains in a smaller keepsake urn and scatter the remaining ashes in a designated memorial location.
Step 10: Returning the ashes to the family
Following the cremation process and preparation of the cremated remains, the funeral home will coordinate the return of the ashes to the family.
The ashes are typically returned to the family in a temporary container, which may be a simple plastic or cardboard urn.
Some families may choose to have the ashes placed in a permanent urn they have selected beforehand. For example, as part of Meadow’s cremation package, we offer a beautiful handmade wooden urn.
In the US, there are generally no specific federal regulations regarding the transportation or possession of cremated remains.
However, some states may have their own regulations. The funeral home can advise families on any specific state or local requirements they need to be aware of.
Planning a cremation?
Now that we’ve gone through how to prepare a body for cremation, the next steps involve planning, making decisions, and final arrangements for the cremation.
At Meadow, we understand the weight of this moment. We offer a compassionate and meaningful way to celebrate a life well-lived with affordable, all-inclusive cremation services and customized memorial planning services in the Los Angeles area.
Our team of caring memorial planners partner with you in this tender time to create an occasion as remarkable as the life it honors.
With our licensed team, you can expect:
- A weight off your shoulders: Our memorial planners will take care of every detail, and they’ll be in the background at your memorial, making sure everything runs smoothly.
- The perfect location: Our planners help you find the perfect location, whether that’s an idyllic beachfront, your loved one’s favorite restaurant, or the comfort of your own home.
- Transparent pricing: Starting from $1,295, our cremation prices are transparent and easy to understand.
- The personal touch: Our memorial planners will make sure your loved one’s presence is felt throughout the occasion.
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