Ashes. The Regulation does not allow more than one body to be cremated in the same crematory retort at the same time to ensure that the ashes they receive are not a mixture of ashes from different people. It is for this reason that cremation authorities no longer attempt to separate wood ash from human ash.
There may be isolated particles that become lost within the crematorium chamber, but this is usually a negligible amount. It may also put you at ease to know that it is not only illegal, but more than one adult can't be cremated in the same chamber simultaneously.
A person may want to keep ashes with them or have them nearby or place them in a piece of keepsake jewelry, create a memorial diamond or a parting stone. Regardless of the reason, dividing ashes allows everyone the freedom to do what they wish with their loved one's cremated remains.
The average amount of ash left over after the cremation of an adult is about 3 to 3.5 liters or 183 to 213 cubic inches. For a child this will be 0.8 to 2 liters or 54 to 122 cubic inches and for a (premature) baby 0.3 to 0.7 liters or 18 to 43 cubic inches. Your crematorium will always know the exact volume.
How long does a cremation process take? Cremations last between one and three hours with cooling taking a further one or two hours. This depends on cremation temperatures, the size of the deceased, and coffin material.
If the family or deceased chose direct cremation, there is no other preparation required. If the family chose a public viewing, the body will be embalmed, bathed, dried, dressed, and put in a casket.
Handing Over the Remains
The ashes are placed inside an urn and given to the family immediately after the cremation process is done. Most family members collect the urn on the following business day when the funeral home is open. You can also collect them on the same day if you have stayed behind for the process.
Most cremation chambers will not mix the remains of your loved ones—they'll usually leave that up to the family to do. In those cases, crematories will return cremated remains in a temporary urn so you can transfer the remains into an urn of your choice.
After the cremation process is complete, you receive three to seven pounds of remains that look white and feel soft like ashes. What's returned to you is the person's skeleton.
When cremation is about to occur an ID number is assigned, and that number is stamped on a metallic coin that accompanies that deceased into the retort (cremation chamber) and stays with the cremated remains to ensure that is the family's loved one.
During the process of cremation, the body's remaining energy is converted into heat energy, which is then distributed into the atmosphere. What little energy remains in the ashes is, again, “rest” or dormant energy.
Ashes from flame cremation are usually grey and have a coarse, sand-like consistency (see image above). The colour of the ashes varies; some may be darker or lighter. The colour hue is a result of the temperature of the cremation chamber.
Human ashes weigh approximately 3.5% of the deceased body's weight. There are a number of factors that can alter this, but the industry rule of thumb is that the ashes will weigh approximately 3.5% of the body's weight.
Many religious groups witness cremations, and families are invited to attend. It is possible for a loved one to say their last goodbyes prior to cremation. Through the window, families can observe the cremation process being conducted by a crematory operator. It is entirely up to you whether or not to take this route.
The body does not feel pain during cremation because the person is no longer alive. When a person dies, their brain stops sending signals to the body. This means that the person cannot feel pain or any other sensation.
Are coffins sold back to the funeral director for re-use? No. The coffin and the body inside are cremated together. There are occasions where the deceased or the family of the deceased has opted for using a cardboard coffin in which their loved one will be cremated.
Cremation Involves Lighting the Body on Fire
One of the most misguided cremation myths is that the body is set on fire. The cremation process uses flames to create extreme heat in a specially designed furnace. During the cremation process, the furnace (also called a retort) reaches temperatures around 1800° F.
How long do cremated ashes last? In theory, cremated ashes can last forever. Some funeral homes have ashes from the 19th Century that are still in their urns, and archeologists have been known to discover ashes that are thousands of years old.
The ashes are often buried in a large collective grave, or in a columbarium (above ground mausoleum for urns). Ashes may also be stored in morgues, funeral homes, medical or private storage facilities. The state usually keeps a record of the person's identity, if known, and where the urn was buried.
Yes, the remains of two people are frequently commingled in a single companion urn. Most companion urns are designed with a single opening, which allows you to commingle the ashes in a single sealed plastic bag inside the urn. However, some families do choose to keep the remains separate within the urn.
During cremation, the body parts that do burn consist of organs, soft tissue, hair, and skin, while the water in our bodies evaporates. The body parts that do not burn are bone fragments. Teeth usually burn during cremation, but not entirely.
Ashes are heavier than some people expect
But human ashes aren't the same type of ash - they're made of bone. Bones are made of various acids, minerals, and salts, which means they're heavier than many people expect. How heavy the ashes are will depend on the person who's died.
Your loved one's ashes don't have to stay together either. Families can choose to split the ashes of the deceased among the wider family, where the individual families can choose what they want to do with them.
What happens when the curtains close at a UK crematorium? The coffin is removed and placed ready to go in the cremation oven, this may happen straight away or delayed for a few hours until capacity comes available.
Yes – however, there may be some variation between states and territories within Australia, however, in most instances relevant Health Departments require the deceased to be placed in a coffin or casket for burial or cremation. In the case of cremation, the coffin or casket must be combustible.