Cremation information and frequently asked questions.

What is Cremation?

Cremation is the practice of disposing of a corpse by burning. It is a less expensive alternative to burial or the entombment of a body.

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The process:

Usually, the crematorium is part of chapel or a funeral home and interestingly, the furnace is not designed to incinerate more than one body at a time, and to do so is against the law in many nations.

First, any mechanical devices and implants, such as pacemakers are removed.

The body is then placed in a container, which can be a simple cardboard box or a wooden casket.

The box containing the body is then placed in the retort, (This is the name of the chamber where the body is placed for incineration) and incinerated at a temperature of 760 to 1150 °C (1400 to 2100 °F). The entire process usually takes about two hours.

All that remains after burning are dry bone fragments and other particles which are swept out of the retort and then pulverized into powder. The ashes are then placed in a container, which can be anything from a simple cardboard box to a fancy urn.

The family of the deceased may then choose to keep the remains in their home, or perhaps place them in a columbarium, crypt or grave. They may even choose to scatter the remains on the earth or at sea.

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History:

And of course there is archaeological evidence pointing to parts of Europe and the Middle East dating back as far as 3000 B.C. Finds such as decorative pottery urns attest to this fact.

Around 1000 B.C., it was an integral part of the elaborate Grecian burial custom.

In reality, it became the dominant mode of disposition by 800 B.C. and was actually encouraged for reasons of health and expedient burial of slain warriors in this battle-ravaged country. Following this Grecian trend, the early Romans probably embraced it some time around 600 B.C.

Then, Emperor Constantine adopted Christianity into the Roman Empire. Early Christians considered burning a corpse a pagan ritual and thus preferred the Jewish culture's tradition of entombment.

By the 5th century, earth burial had completely replaced it except for rare instances of plague or war, and for the next 1,500 years remained the accepted mode of disposition throughout Europe.

In the 1800's medical professionals became concerned with hazardous health conditions and founded the Cremation-Society-of-England.

In 1876 North America saw it's first crematory begin operation in Washington, Pennsylvania.

Reasons for choosing it:

Of course there are advantages and disadvantages for both. Many North Americans choose burial because it's been their family's tradition for centuries. But because of burial's escalating costs, many now choose cremation as a less expensive alternative. A casket costs more than an urn, and there is the added factor of maintaining the grave site.

Environmentally, burning does not leach formaldehyde into the ground as is the case of burials. Another environmental concern is that traditional burial takes up a great deal of space. Many cemeteries, particularly in Europe and Japan as well as those in larger cities here in North America, are starting to run out of space.

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