Cremation 101: Step-by-Step Guide on How it Works
Cremation is a big decision, and it is hard to choose it if you don’t understand what it entails. Despite its growing popularity, the cremation process remains a mystery to many people. If you are considering cremation services in Albertson, NY, you should know how it works.
The Step-by-Step of the Cremation Process
Cremation involves burning a dead body to its essential elements through exposure to intense heat and open flames. From the moment the body is declared dead to the transfer of ashes to the family, the process takes five steps.
- Identification of the deceased and securing authorization
- Preparation of the body
- Transportation of the body to the cremation chamber
- Grounding the remains
- Transfer of ashes to family or a temporary container
- Body Identification and Authorization
Identification procedures vary from state to state and facility to facility. However, most facilities define their practices using industry recommendations. That typically means a family member is required to confirm the deceased’s identity.
The family member will also authorize cremation during this time. It includes filing paperwork that gives specific crematory permission to proceed. The form also requires you to specify who picks up the remains and the container to use.
Afterward, a metal ID tag is placed on the body. It will remain on the body till after cremation.
- Preparation of the body for cremation
Unless there is a public viewing or you specifically request it, there is no embalming. After securing the authorization, the crematory facility moves straight to cleaning and dressing the body.
During this process, a technician removes jewelry and any item you would like to keep. They also remove medical devices and prosthetics, and any other object with batteries that could react during cremation. Pins, screws, and joints are left alone.
- Transporting the body to the chamber
After cleaning and dressing, the professionals place the body in a combustible container strong enough to hold the weight. It could either be specially designed caskets or a simple cardboard box.
Next, they move the body to the cremation chamber or retort. It is an industrial furnace big enough to hold a body with fire-resistant bricks that can reach 2000 degrees Fahrenheit, leaving only the remains.
After the cremation, there is a cooling period before the remains are collected.
- Grounding the remains
The crematory technicians inspect the remnants for metals, especially those surgically placed while the body was alive. The metals are either removed by hand or with strong magnets and sent for recycling.
The remains are typically bits of bone. So to complete the cremation, a dedicated processor grinds the remains into tiny fragments called cremains. It is also known as the ashes.
- Transferring the ashes to a container
The cremation technician collects the ashes from the grinder in a plastic bag, then transfers them to an urn or temporary container provided by the family and delivers it to them.
This is the standard process for direct cremation. There are customization options like a public viewing and a memorial service to make yours unique. Kindly reach out to cremation services in Albertson, NY, like us at Roslyn Heights Funeral Home, to explore your options. Our services are flexible enough to help you customize your arrangements in a way to honor your loved one. You can stop by our location or give us a call right now to get started.
