| What
is Cremation? |
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Cremation
is the process by which a body is exposed to extreme
heat, usually 1800 - 2000 degrees Fahrenheit for two
hours or more. Through this process the body is reduced
to its basic elements, which are referred to as the
"cremated body" or "cremated
remains". Cremation occurs at a crematorium in a
special kind of furnace called a cremation chamber or
retort. It may surprise many to learn that ashes are not
the final result since cremated remains have neither the
appearance nor the chemical properties of ashes. They
are, in fact, bone fragments. These fragments are
further reduced in size through a mechanical process.
After preparation, these elements are placed in a
temporary container that is suitable for transport.
Depending upon the size of the body, there are nomally
three to nine pounds of fragments resulting.
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| Are
there any religions that do not approve of cremation? |
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Orthodox
Judaism and Islam forbid cremation. Today, all of the
Christian denominations allow cremation. All other main
religions are happy for their members to choose to be
cremated. (The Catholic Church accepts cremation as
long as it is not chosen for reasons which are contrary
to Christian teachings.)
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| Does
cremation contribute to atmospheric pollution? |
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The
1990 Environmental Protection Act placed certain
responsibilities on crematoria to ensure that the
process is carefully controlled to minimize the impact
on the environment.
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| How
can one be certain that all remains are kept separate,
and receive the correct remains? |
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All
responsible cremation providers have thorough operating
policies and procedures in order to provide the highest
level of service and reduce the possibility of human
error. If you have questions, ask the cremation
providers what procedures they use.
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| Is
a casket required for a cremation to take place? |
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A
casket is not required for a cremation to take place.
All that is required is an alternative container in most
states. The construction can be made of wood or
cardboard, which is cremated with the body. In some
states, no container is required.
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| Is
it required for an embalming to take place prior to
cremation? |
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This
is completely untrue. Actually it is against the law for
a funeral home to tell you it is required.
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| Can
a cremation be witnessed by the family? |
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Yes,
in most situations, the cremation providers will permit
family members to be in attendances when the body is
placed into the cremation chamber. Actually, a few
religious groups include this as part of their funeral
practice.
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| What
options are available with the cremated remains? |
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There
are countless options and laws do vary from state to
state. Some options include remains being buried in a
cemetery lot or cremation garden, inurned in a
columbarium, kept at home, or scattered into the sea.
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| Do
most funeral homes have a crematory onsite? |
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New
Jersey law requires that the crematory be located on
cemetery property.
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| What
usually happens after the cremation is finished? |
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All
organic bone fragments and all non-consumed metal items
are placed into a stainless steel cooling pan located in
the back of the cremation chamber. All non-consumed
items, such as metal from clothing, hip joints, and
bridgework, are divided from the cremated remains. This
separation is accomplished through visual inspection as
well as using a strong magnet for smaller and minute
metallic objects. Items such as dental gold and silver
are non-recoverable and are commingled in with the
cremated remains. Remaining bone fragments are then
processed in a machine to a consistent size and placed
into a temporary or permanent urn, selected by the
family.
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| Can
more than one cremation be performed at once? |
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It
is never done. Not only is it a practical impossibility,
but illegal to do so. The majority of modern cremation
chambers are not of adequate size to house more than one
adult.
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| What
do cremated remains look like? |
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Cremated
remains bear a resemblance to coarse sand and are pasty
white in color. The remains of a normal size adult
usually weigh between four to six pounds.
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| Are
all cremated remains returned to the family? |
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With
the exclusion of minuscule and microscopic particles,
which are impossible to remove from the cremation
chamber and processing machine, all of the cremated
remains are returned to the family.
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| Are
urns required to collect the cremated remains? |
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Law
does not require an urn. Nevertheless, an urn may be
desired if there is to be a memorial service or the
remains are to be interred in a cemetery. If an urn is
not purchased, or provided by the family, the cremated
remains are usually returned in a temporary container.
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