What is Cremation?

What is Cremation?

More and more families are considering and turning to cremation as an affordable alternative to traditional burials. But whatexactly is cremation? 

The word cremation comes from the Latin word cremo which means "to burn" - and particularly refers to the burning of the dead.
Cremation generally involves the application of high temperature, typically between 1400 and 2100 Degrees Fahrenheit (760 to 1150 Deg. C), to a wooden box or casket containing the deceased. The body and container are almost completely consumed; the cremated remains consist of bone fragments and particles, which usually weigh from 4 to 8 pounds (1.8 to 3.6 kg). They are then finely ground into granule form. The entire process takes 2 to 5 hours.
When the cremation process is concluded, the cremated remains are removed from the chamber. All foreign objects, such as metal from prosthetic devises or bridgework are removed and discarded.
The cremated remains are next processed to a consistent size and shape and placed into an urn chosen by the family. If an urn has not been selected, then the cremated remains will be returned in either a cardboard or plastic temporary container. 

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