What is cremation?
Cremation is simply the hastening of the natural processes by a clean, sanitary and entirely modern method, which is quickly effected by a clean, intense flame that returns the body to its original elements. All that remains are the calcified bone fragments (cremated remains), which are collected and processed and placed in an urn of your choice or a temporary container. The cremains are always kept separated and never commingled unless group cremation (simple cremation) is selected.
Cremation is now a popular alternative to burial. The body is usually put in a rigidly constructed, combustible container with handles. A homemade container is acceptable as long as it meets these requirements. When a person is cremated the body is burned to ashes at a crematorium. What remains is pulverized bone and ash (approximately 2-3 kilograms for an adult) that is put inside an urn chosen either by the surviving family or by the deceased prior to death. What happens after that can vary greatly depending on the wishes of the deceased or the surviving family. Some people want the ashes scattered at sea; some wish to have their ashes scattered on their garden or at a place with great sentimental meaning. It is always wise to check with the local health or bylaw authorities to ensure that scattering is permissible. Alternatively, some people bury the ashes or just keep the urn on the mantelpiece. Urns may also be kept in a columbarium (see above).
Cremation is a step in the preparation of the deceased for memorialization. Only one cremation takes place at a time. Caskets or containers used for the cremation must be made of wood or other combustible material. The enclosed body is placed in the cremation chamber where through heat and evaporation the body is reduced to its basic elements, which are referred to as cremated remains. Cremated remains have neither the appearance nor the chemical properties of ashes, they are, in fact, bone fragments. These fragments are then mechanically pulverized into minute particles and placed in a permanent urn or in a temporary container that is suitable for transport.
