Your Guide to Funeral Planning | 04.19.2023

How Is A Body Prepared For Cremation?

How Is A Body Prepared For Cremation?

Reviewed By: William Prout

Cross Checked By: Elizabeth Siegel

How A Body Is Prepared For Cremation

The deceased will either be cremated or buried, depending on their final desires or religious convictions. The cremation procedure is straightforward but organized. The body goes through several preparation processes before being actually cremated. Until the death certificate is obtained and funeral preparations can start, the body is kept in a specialized refrigerated unit in the funeral home. After this is finished, the body is placed in a casket that the family has selected for this purpose. A placard with an identification name and number is attached to the casket. To prevent a mix-up in the bodies during cremation, the crematorium staff uses this number. The body is then placed inside the casket and placed in the cremation chamber. Any objects that could explode in the presence of heat are taken out. There is a misperception that metals must also be eliminated. They simply collapse in the chamber since this is not the case. The chamber can reach 750 C, and wooden caskets burn most evenly at these temperatures. The body burns seconds after the casket. Any residue is reduced to a fine ash in a cremulator. The purpose of caskets is to be destroyed entirely during cremation. Despite presumptions to the contrary, they are not reused.

Knowledge Is Power 

While you may spend lots of time worrying about the loss of a loved one, there is no way to predict what happens after. Facing the reality of cremating them and holding a service can seem overwhelming during a time of grief. In addition, you may be left in the dark regarding the exact process of cremation due to a larger ignorance of these topics. While you cannot necessarily control your emotions, you can fully understand the next steps and reduce your fear of the unknown. Through various online resources, you can educate yourself on common practices of cremation and burial, and mentally prepare yourself for the journey. 

Cremation VS Burial

The first decision to be made is whether to be cremated or buried. The choice between a burial and cremation is definitely different, and it largely depends on your personal preferences and religious beliefs. Both scenarios commonly uphold family traditions, with some families choosing a burial place and others conducting a cremation process. Cremation is the process used to turn a person's body into ash. You need a cremation urn for the ashes to accomplish this. The funeral home arranges for cremation and distributes the ashes to the next of kin. It is usual to prepare the body for burial, select a burial casket or urn, and bury it in a specific location for burial. Headstones are typically used to identify graves, and family and friends are welcome to attend the funeral. When people are laid to rest, their loved ones can visit a particular place to commemorate them. A person who has passed away may also be buried with sentimental objects or other belongings. When having a funeral, some regulations must be followed, such as the dimensions of the site and the depth at which the urn or casket must be buried.

Honoring Their Memory

A celebration of life is when the deceased's life is honored with a joyful event rather than through a funeral service. Instead of concentrating on the loss, it is an occasion for loved ones to reunite and celebrate the life and accomplishments of the departed. It can be a genuinely special and lovely way to say goodbye, allowing you to work through your grief and share the load with those who are close to you. They are frequently held following the burial or cremation of the deceased's corporeal remains. They might be enormous gatherings or smaller gatherings with just immediate family. After a memorial service, picking a location for the deceased's memorial could be a terrific idea. You can make a place for all their friends and family to visit and remember them by donating to install a bench in their favorite park or planting a tree in their favorite location. It would be great to close by stating that this is a celebration of life's end. This enables everyone who was unable to attend the memorial service to pay respects to the dead in person.