An Alternative Option
to a Traditional Burial
Cremation, as well as burial and entombment, may be the best option for some families. Most families choose viewing, religious services, chapel services preceding the actual cremation – although direct cremation can be your option.
Cremation is also a less expensive option in comparison to a burial. The remains are placed in a container that is combustible and placed in a special furnace called a cremation chamber or a crematory where through intense heat is reduced to bone fragments that are then crushed and pulverized to resemble course sand.
The cremated remains of an average adult body will weigh about 7-8 pounds. Cremation is not an alternative to a funeral, but rather an alternative to burial or other forms of disposition.
Cremation FAQ
No, a casket is not required, most states require an alternative container constructed of wood or cardboard, however, in some states no container is required.
Yes they can; some cremation providers will allow family members to be present when the body is placed in the cremation chamber. Some religious groups even include this as part of their funeral custom.
While laws vary state by state, for the most part remains can be buried in a cemetery lot or a cremation garden, interred in a columbarium, kept at home or scattered.
All reputable cremation providers have developed rigorous sets of operating policies and procedures in order to maximize the level of service and minimize the potential for human error. Since it is illegal to perform more than one cremation at a time, and the vast majority of crematories can only cremate one body at a time, it is next to impossible to receive the incorrect remains.
It all depends on the weight of the individual. For an average sized adult, cremation can take two to three hours at a normal operating temperature of between 1,000 and 2,000 degrees Fahrenheit.
When You Select Cremation
You Still Have Choices
The biggest misconception about cremation is that there can’t be a funeral service – or because the final disposition is cremation, there will be no visitation.
Nothing could be further from the truth. With cremation, families could choose the comfort of a traditional funeral with the cremation taking place afterwards.
Basic, simple cremation may be right in certain circumstances, but others may desire additional services. As specialists in cremation, we can assist you and your family with any arrangement -such as memorial services or traditional funerals in a house of worship or any appropriate facility.