Cremation
Explained
What
is cremation?
It
is the process of reducing the body to ashes and bone fragments through
the use of intense heat. The process usually takes two to four hours.
Depending on the size of the body, the cremated remains will weigh three
to nine pounds.
Is
there a trend toward cremation?
Yes. The percentage of cremations in the United States is rapidly
rising each year because of the considerable expense of traditional
funerals, the diminishing space available for cemeteries, and in creasing
environmental concerns. In a number of areas in the nation, particularly
on the West Coast and in Florida, cremation is the preferred method
of disposition. Over 90% of memorial society members throughout the
U.S. choose cremation because they seek a simple, dignified and affordable
option. In England and Japan, where cemetery space is at a premium,
the cremation rate is also close to 90%.
Is
a casket required for cremation?
No,
a casket is never required for cremation. However, most crematories
do require that the body be enclosed in a rigid, combustible container.
Under federal regulations, all mortuaries must make available an unfinished
wooden box or similar inexpensive cremation container. Customers may
make or furnish their own suitable container.
How
much does cremation cost?
If an undertaker is used to transport the body, obtain permits,
and file the death certificate, the fee for services may run well over
$1000.00, If a visitation or a funeral service is held before cremation,
the charges will be higher. Many memorial societies offer members cremation
services provided by licensed funeral homes at costs considerably less
than the national average. Families who care for their own dead can
use crematories directly at charges from $750.00 to $2000.00. Since
1985, all undertakers are required to explain the firm's charges in
detail before a funeral purchase. You also may ask for these prices
over the phone.
Do
I have to hire an undertaker?
Possibly
not. Most states permit religious groups or private citizens to obtain
the necessary death certificate and permits for transit and disposition.
Is
a funeral service necessary?
Although
visitation and a funeral service with a body present may be held before
cremation, memorial society members have found it more helpful to have
a memorial service without the body present. It is less costly and family
and friends will appreciate an opportunity to pay tribute to the memory
of a special person.
Can
a casket be rented?
In
many parts of the country, mortuaries will rent an attractive casket
to a family that wants to have the body present for visitation or for
a funeral service preceding cremation. After the service, the body is
transferred to an inexpensive cremation container. Significant savings
may be realized by using a rental casket.
What
can be done with cremated remains?
Several choices exist: they can be placed in a niche in a columbarium,
buried, scattered, or kept by the family. Cremated remains are sterile
and pose no health hazard. Their disposition is not controlled except
in California. A columbarium is an assembly of niches designed to hold
containers of cremated remains. It is most often located in a mausoleum
with a cemetery. Some churches provide niches within the church or as
part of a garden wall. Earth burial can be in a cemetery, either in
a regular grave or in a special urn garden. Many cemeteries will permit
two or three containers in one adult-size plot. However, the family,
if so inclined, can bury the cremated remains anywhere it wishes, with
the property owner's permission. Scattering cremated remains over some
area that had significance to the deceased has an appeal for many and
is legal in most jurisdictions. Although there are commercial firms
which will handle the cremated remains for a fee, most families prefer
to do this themselves. Remains should be processed by the crematory
to reduce all fragments to fine particles.
Must
an urn be purchased?
No.
Crematories return the cremated remains in a metal, plastic, or cardboard
container that is perfectly adequate for burial, shipping, or placing
in a columbarium. The family may prefer a receptacle that is more aesthetic.
Urns usually cost in excess of $150.00, but alternative containers are
equally suitable.
Are
cremation societies the same as memorial societies?
No.
The most important difference is that memorial societies are not-for-profit
consumer groups which are democratically controlled, whereas direct
cremation "societies" operate for profit. They masquerade
as nonprofit by using "society" in their name and by charging
a "membership" fee. Many full-service mortuaries cooperate
with memorial societies to provide society members with a range of funeral
options. However, if there is no memorial society in your area, you
may find some of the direct cremation firms considerably less expensive
than their competition.
How
do religious groups view cremation?
Most
religions permit cremation. Since Vatican II Council in 1964, the Code
of Canon Law allows Roman Catholics a choice between burial and cremation.
The Greek and Jewish Orthodox faiths oppose cremation, as do some others.
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