{"title":"Ashes to Ashes: The Cremation Process Explained","description":"\u003ch1\u003eAshes to Ashes: The Cremation Process Explained\u003c\/h1\u003e\n\u003cp\u003e\n\tCremation,  as an option for the final \ndisposition of a deceased person, has been around  for thousands of \nyears. While the beginnings of cremation involved somewhat  primitive \nmethods for achieving the end result, modern times and technology  have \ngiven rise to a more standardized version of the process. Companies  \nthroughout the world manufacture human size cremators that reduce the \namount of  time necessary to complete the cremation to less than 2 \nhours. Here is how the  cremation process works.\n\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003ch2\u003ePreparation of the Body\u003c\/h2\u003e\n\u003cp\u003e\n\tBefore a  deceased person is cremated, a \nfuneral director must first obtain authorization  to cremate the \ndecedent from the closest surviving family members(s). This is  usually \nin the form of a document provided by the funeral home and signed by  \nthe family.\n\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp\u003e\n\tNext, the  funeral director must remove \nany items not wished to be cremated along with the  body such as \njewelry. If the deceased had a pacemaker or other type of medical  \ndevice, it too will need to be removed to prevent an \n\t\u003ca href=\"https:\/\/www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov\/pmc\/articles\/PMC1279940\/\" target=\"_blank\"\u003eexplosion\u003c\/a\u003e\n\tfrom occurring during the cremation process. It is not necessary to \nembalm a  body before the cremation unless the family wishes to have a \npublic viewing of  the body during a memorial service.\n\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp\u003e\n\tThe body  is then placed in a cremation \ncasket, usually made of wood, or more often a  cremation container which\n is basically a large cardboard box with a plywood  bottom for \nsturdiness. These types of containers will burn fairly well during  the \ncremation cycle.\n\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp\u003e\n\tThe  funeral director or crematory \noperator will place an identification tag in the  cremation container \nwith the body to properly identify the cremated remains  once returned \nto the funeral home. This is a very important step as it insures  the \nfamily does not end up with the wrong set of cremated ashes.\n\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003ch2\u003eThe Cremation\u003c\/h2\u003e\n\u003cp\u003e\n\tThe  cremation container\/casket containing\n the body is then placed in the \n\t\u003ca href=\"https:\/\/en.wikipedia.org\/wiki\/Crematorium\" target=\"_blank\"\u003ecremation chamber\u003c\/a\u003e from the end. The \ncremation chamber, sometimes referred to as the  retort, is lined with \nfire resistant bricks on the walls and ceiling. The floor  is made from a\n special masonry compound formulated specifically to withstand  \nextremely high temperatures. Once the body is in, the chamber door, \nwhich is  about a half a foot thick, is closed either by hand or in some\n cases a switch  as many of the newer models have automated doors.\n\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp\u003e\n\tThe  crematory operator then starts the \nmachine which normally goes through a warm  up cycle before the main \nburning begins. After the machine is warmed up, the  main burner ignites\n starting the process of incinerating the body. Temperatures  within the\n chamber often reach the 1800°F - 2000°F range. The burners within a  \ncrematory are fueled by either natural gas or propane.\n\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp\u003e\n\tIt  generally takes about 1-1\/2 to 2 hours\n for a body to be completely reduced to  just the bone fragments by \ncremation. Some cremation furnaces, especially the  older ones, may \nrequire a little more time.\n\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003ch2\u003eProcessing the Ashes\u003c\/h2\u003e\n\u003cp\u003e\n\tAfter the  entire incinerating process is \ncomplete, a cool down period of 30 minutes to an  hour is required \nbefore the bone fragments can be handled for further  processing. When \nthe time finally arrives, the cremated remains or bone  fragments are \nremoved from the cremation chamber and placed on a table work  area. It \nis here that the crematory operator removes all metal debris such as  \nscrews, nails, surgical pins or titanium limbs\/joints with a magnet and \nby  hand.\n\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp\u003e\n\tThe  remaining bone fragments are then \nplaced in a special processor which consists of a cylindrical container\n with motorized blades at the bottom of the unit. This processor \npulverizes the bone fragments to a fine  powder called cremains or more \ncommonly referred to as the ashes.\n\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp\u003e\nThe ashes are then placed in a plastic bag within a temporary \ncremation container or a \u003ca href=\"\/cremation-urns-s\/13.htm\"\u003ecremation urn\u003c\/a\u003e \nprovided one is furnished to the crematory. The ashes are then returned to the family.\n\u003c\/p\u003e","products":[],"url":"https:\/\/www.everlifememorials.com\/collections\/ashes-to-ashes-the-cremation-process-explained.oembed","provider":"Everlife Memorials","version":"1.0","type":"link"}