Cremation Process
Our Cremation Process
When you are deciding if cremation is right for your circumstances, it is useful to know what exactly is involved in the cremation process. At Peace of Mind Cremation Services we want to make sure you know what will occur if you choose our services. Understanding the process, we believe will alleviate any concerns and anxiety about cremation.
Cremation is the process of turning the body to ash through combustion. Our cremation facility uses furnaces designed for cremation called cremators. We allow family members of your loved one to witness the cremation. We want to make sure your loved one gets a respectful, and dignified service, and to facilitate that we will ensure:
- Proper identification.
- Safe operation from our professional staff.
- Care and respect is used.
Cremation Steps
Preparation
First, the body is prepared for cremation. The body is tagged and identified, and tagged with a heat resistant tag to ensure that the proper ashes are brought to you. Next, we prepare the body removing any jewelry and returning them to you, and any medical implants, a pacemaker, for example, is removed because it could react with the cremation and cause complications, potentially even exploding.
When we are ready to cremate, the body is placed into a combustible container. The container could be a cardboard box or a combustible casket made for cremations. There is also an option to place the body in a cardboard box and then put that box into a casket shell if you wish to have a viewing. Then the outer casket is removed and the body is cremated just in the box. A basic cremation container is provided in our cremation package, but if you wish to upgrade, you can see our casket and urn options here.
Cremation
The chamber in the cremation furnace where the body is placed is called the retort. When we are ready for the cremation, the retort is preheated. When ready the body, in a casket, is pushed into the retort and a mechanical door seals the retort. The body is then incinerated at temperatures that can range from 760 to 1150°C. Since the body is mostly water, that water content and other soft tissue such as organs is vaporized and all the gases released are sent through the cremator’s exhaust. This process can take from one to three hours depending on the mass of the body.
After the Cremation
The remaining ashes are removed and a magnet is used to remove any metal that could have come from the casket or was not removed from the body during the preparation phase. The ashes and bones are processed in a device known as a cremulator that makes sure everything is a fine powder, resembling sand. The remains are then transferred to a container or urn, and are then brought to you.
Contact Us
If you wish to schedule our services, whether you need our services immediately or wish to preplan our services, contact us and our professional staff will assist you.
