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Cremation Process

Cremation Process

People often ask us, “What happens during the cremation process?” or "How is a body prepared for cremation?".

Below outlines the basics of the cremation process:

  • The cremation container containing your loved one is placed in the cremation chamber, where the temperature is raised to approximately 1600 degrees Fahrenheit.
  • After about 2-3 hours, almost all of the organic matter is consumed by heat or evaporation. What remains, which are essentially bone fragments, are known as cremated remains or cremains.
  • After a cooling period, these are carefully removed from the cremation chamber. Any metal is removed with a magnet and later disposed of in an approved manner.
  • The cremated remains are then processed into fine particles and are placed in a new temporary cremation container provided by the crematory or placed in an urn purchased by the family.

When it comes to the actual cremation process, there are many misconceptions about what really happens. The process is performed with a lot of care by trained crematory professionals.

The entire cremation process takes approximately two to three hours and a carefully controlled labeling system ensures correct identification of cremated remains throughout the process. We provide a temporary cremation urn with all of our cremations. A permanent cremation urn can be purchased at the time of cremation or at a later date.



 

 

How Is a Body Prepared for Cremation?

The process of cremation involves reducing a body to ash by exposing it to very high temperatures. The process begins once the family has provided authorization to have the body of the deceased cremated. The crematory operator then prepares the body and removes jewelry, medical devices (i.e. pacemakers), prostheses, and implants. The body is placed in a container made of heavy cardboard and is then placed into the retort or crematory chamber. The heat ignites the container and the body begins to dry out. The temperature in the chamber can rise to roughly 2000 degrees Fahrenheit. What’s left at the end of the cremation process is a grey coarse material that feels like a fine gravel. On average, 3 to 9 pounds of ash is produced (Kim, 2018).

If you have questions about the process of cremation, or would like to discuss the reasons behind the cremation ceremony, please call our funeral home at (410) 777-5295. We have many years of experience and would be honored to help you and your family.

Sources:
Kim, M. (2018). How cremation works. https://science.howstuffworks.com/cremation1.htm



Simplicity Cremation & Funeral Services | (410) 777-5295
244 8th Avenue NW, Glen Burnie, MD 21061

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