Lesser-Known Facts About Cremation
For centuries, societies have used different methods to dispose of dead bodies respectfully, with cremation being one of the oldest. Today, most funeral homes offer cremation services as an option for bereaved families to lay their loved ones to rest. However, despite cremation gaining popularity over the last couple of decades, most people do not understand the practice. The only thing most people know about cremation is that a body is burnt under an intense furnace. However, there is much more to cremation than meets the eye, and it is the work of funeral homes to enlighten clients. This post highlights some lesser-known facts about cremation.
The Ash Is Ground Bones
Most people refer to cremation remains as ash simply because it is powdery and greyish. However, nothing could be further from the truth. Cremation remains resemble ashes, but they are ground bones. Notably, when a body goes inside a cremation chamber and begins to burn, the soft tissues disappear, leaving behind the bones. After, a crematorium staff collects the bone remains and feeds them into a powerful grinding machine. The equipment crushes the bone fragments into a powder, which is sent to the deceased's family. Therefore, next time you see an urn with an ash-like substance, remember it is ground bones.
Cremation Only Involves the Body
Burying loved ones with items like money, jewellery, and heirlooms is common in some communities, such as the Asian community. Families place such items in a casket, believing that the deceased need them in the afterlife. However, such practices are impractical in cremation because certain items cannot be cremated. In this regard, crematorium staff first confirm that the deceased's body does not have foreign items like jewellery or medical devices such as pacemakers. Thus, cremation only proceeds once crematorium workers are confident that no foreign items are present.
Cremation Duration Varies
Most funeral homes agree that cremation takes up to 3 hours for the body to pulverize completely. However, only an average-sized body takes that long. Notably, cremation duration depends on certain factors, such as body size, crematorium operating temperatures, body fat, and the type of cremation container or casket used. For instance, a dead body with significant body fat takes longer to burn than one with lean tissue. Similarly, a child's body burns faster than an adult's. Therefore, clients must first talk to crematorium staff before making crucial decisions, such as setting funeral dates.
Share