If you need to arrange the funeral service of a departed loved one, you might be planning a traditional burial or you might be considering the advantages of cremation instead. Cremation services are becoming increasingly popular in Australia as families come to appreciate what they can offer. Here is everything you need to know about how cremation services work and why they might be the right choice for you.
What is cremation?
While the traditional way of dealing with the deceased involves digging a hole and burying them in the ground so that the body can slowly decay, cremation services burn the body to ash in only a few hours. The cremation process happens at a purpose-built building known as a crematorium; these buildings are normally located within cemeteries.
Getting ready for the cremation
In preparation for the cremation, it will be necessary to remove any foreign items such as watches, jewellery and pacemakers because these could potentially explode during the cremation process and damage the cremator. Once the deceased is prepared, they are placed in the coffin ready for the funeral service and cremation.
At the crematorium
You could opt for a funeral service at a church or chapel before the cremation, or you could have the whole service at the crematorium. If you prefer to hold the service at a church, your chosen funeral directors will be responsible for transporting the deceased between the church and the crematorium. Once you reach the crematorium, any flowers that have been placed on the coffin will be removed and any metal components on the coffin, such as the handles and nameplate, will be removed. The coffin will be placed on the entrance conveyor and will enter the cremator when you are ready.
During the cremation
The coffin will enter the cremator feet first. The chamber it enters is preheated to up to 1093 degrees Celsius using natural gas, propane or diesel, and it is here that the cremation takes place. Next, the remains are removed from the coffin and allowed to cool. Once cooled, the remains are placed into a cremulator, which reduces them to the consistency of sand.
What happens afterward?
Once the cremation process is complete, the ashes are placed inside a sealed container and kept until they are collected by the funeral director or the family of the deceased.
If you would like to know more about cremation services, your chosen funeral directors will be happy to help you.
Share12 February 2020
Hello. If you are in the process of planning a funeral, you have come to the right place. While no one likes the idea of having to plan their own or a family member's funeral, death is something which no one can escape. By learning all you can about this subject now, you can make informed decisions about how you want your or a family member's send off from this world to be organised and paid for. We aren't pros but we are passionate about this subject. Read on to find out more about the process of planning a funeral.
