Saying Goodbye to a Loved One

Critical Facts About Cremation Remains

Although cremation has become popular today, most people still do not understand certain aspects regarding the practice. Cremation remains are synonymous with myths and misconceptions that most people find confusing. Unfortunately, the confusion can discourage people from looking for cremation services. Thus, funeral homes must provide as much information as possible regarding cremation so that customers know what they are getting into. This article highlights critical facts about cremation remains.

Bone Remains, Not Ashes — You often hear people referring to cremation remains as ashes. Although 'ashes' has become synonymous with the practice, the correct term you should use is cremation remains. The reason is that temperatures in a cremation chamber can reach 1,400 to 1,800 degrees Fahrenheit, 700 to 980 degrees Celsius, hot enough to vaporise everything except the bones. Once a cremation exercise is complete, the bones are allowed to cool, after which they are ground into a fine dust. It might explain why metals and plastics are not permitted in a cremation chamber since they contaminate the cremains. Therefore, next time you refer to a relative's or friend's cremation remains, call them cremains and not just ashes.

Bone Density Determines Cremains Amount — When a big person's body goes into a cremation chamber, you expect a large quantity of cremains. However, most people are surprised when the opposite happens. Equating a person's weight with the amount of cremains is a simplistic way of looking at the cremation process. As mentioned earlier, the exceptionally high temperatures in the cremation chamber can easily vaporise fluids, flesh and connective tissue in the body, leaving behind only the bones. Notably, cremains purely depends on bone density and not weight. It explains why cremating a big body with low bone density produces fewer cremains than a thin body with high bone density. The information is critical since it helps eliminate all doubts regarding what goes in and comes out of a cremation chamber.

Multiple Applications of Cremains — Are you locked between keeping a loved one's cremains at home or scattering them into the air or the ocean? Unfortunately, most families do not have many options when discussing what to do with the cremains. Sadly, the disagreements often worsen the grieving period. Thus, cremation directors should make it their mission to educate clients on different ways to use cremation remains. For instance, most people do not know they can turn cremains into diamonds which they can wear as jewellery. Others are unaware that loved ones can pour the cremains of a loved one in necklace urns so that everyone carries a part of the deceased everywhere they go.

For more information on cremations, contact a company near you.


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