Cremation

Last Updated on Wednesday, 12 May 2010 20:15

What is cremation?

candles-for-the-dead We know it's not the nicest thing to have to think about, but at some stage we need to decide how, whoever we leave behind in this world, is going to get rid of our bodies. There are a few options nowadays with cremation being one of the most 'popular'! Have a read here to find out exactly what happens..... and you know us at lastwishbook.com, we want you to approach every aspect of death in a positive way and just accept it's part of the life process. Try not to be put off by social pressures telling you death is horrible and morbid. You never know - if you read up on it and learn about all the options available it might make the end a little easier.

Cremation is a heating process that reduces the body to ash and particles. It begins with the body being placed in a casket and moved into the cremation chamber where it is subjected to very powerful heat. This can take up to 3 hours depending on the size of the body with a 5 hour cooling off period. The remains will then be swept from the chamber to be placed in the urn.

Some people in various religions prefer to be cremated than buried; this can be due to many reasons such as fear of entombment, not wanting to be viewed and environmental issues.

One of the main reasons is cost, it can be much cheaper to be cremated and it involves a lot less planning. But sometimes the cost of an urn and placement of ashes can add up.

What authorisation do you need?

There is actually a lot of paperwork involved; you first should check the deceased's lastwishbook.com profile to see if there were any special requests. Other questions asked may include – did the deceased have a pacemaker? Did they die of an infectious disease? But all this will be explained by the funeral director when you are planning the cremation. Along with any authorisation forms that need to be filled in.
Once completed the family can choose whether to scatter the ashes or keep them at a burial site (family plot) or even kept on the mantle piece at home! There are many choices and designs and if you want to choose you own before you die remember to note it at lastwishbook.com

Ashes

If the ashes are to be scattered you have to get permission from the land owner if it's on private property but that authorisation is not required on public land or at sea.

All of these options will be made available to you by the funeral home and with the help of the deceased's profile; decisions should not be too stressful at this horrible time.

Remember to record your final funeral wishes in yourlastwishbook.com profile!

And just a quick note from Victoria the creator of lastwishbook on the subject...

"I recently watched a lot of cremations by the river of the Ganges in Varanasi, it influenced my more open minded view of death and made it even stronger. It's not hidden over there, it's right there for every one to see (and smell!). Death is an every day experience for the Indian people of this very spiritual place. I saw sadness and some crying but the whole process just seemed to be accepted as if the circle of life had been completed, which was for most, an event to be celebrated. For the Hindus, among the cremations I saw, death is just the natural movement from one life to another. Because of their religion and massive population, they are used to death which is something we need to learn in the western world. I learned a lot from Varanasi, I did not feel shock or horror, it is a place of total calm and chaos, of colour and darkness and of things coming to an end yet moving on."