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Cremation Services Cremation FAQ’s
Cremation is an alternative to the What is cremation?
burial process and it is chosen by Cremation is the process of reducing
many people because of religious the human body to bone fragments
beliefs, the desire to preserve the using high heat and flame. Cremation
environment or because it was is not the final disposition of the
requested by the person who died. remains, nor is it a type of funeral
Cremation is also a less expensive service.
option in comparison to a burial. The
remains are placed in a container that Is a casket needed for cremation?
is combustible and placed in a special No, a casket is not required. Most
furnace called a cremation chamber states require an alternative container
or a crematory where, through intense constructed of wood or cardboard,
heat, the remains are reduced where however, in some states no container
through intense heat is reduced to is required.
bone fragments that are then crushed
and pulverized to resemble coarse Is embalming required prior to
sand. The cremated remains of an cremation?
average human body will weigh about No. In fact, it is against the law for a
7-8 pounds. Cremation is not an funeral home to tell you otherwise.
alternative to a funeral, but rather an
alternative to burial or other forms of Can the family witness the cremation?
disposition. Yes, they can; some cremation
providers will allow family members
Cremated remains can be scattered to be present when the body is
or buried, or they may be kept with placed in the cremation chamber.
the family in a decorative urn. There Some religious groups even include
are many new and different ways to this as part of their funeral custom.
dispose of ashes today, cremated
remains can be placed in an artificial Can an urn be brought into church?
coral reef in the ocean or they can be Nearly all Protestant Churches allow
spun into glass artwork or diamonds. for the urn to present during the
memorial services. Most Catholic
Some religions welcome cremation Churches also allow the remains to be
while others forbid it. The Catholic present during the Memorial Mass. It
Church had banned cremation up until is encouraged that cremated remains
1963, and burial remains the preferred be a part of a funeral as it provides a
form of disposition today. In other focal point for the service.
Christian denominations cremation
was historically discouraged but What can be done with the cremated
nowadays it is more widely accepted. remains?
In eastern religions such as Hinduism, While laws vary state by state, for the
Jainism, Sikhism and Buddhism most part remains can be buried in a
cremation is mandated, while in Islam cemetery lot or a cremation garden,
it is strictly forbidden. Orthodox Jews interred in a columbarium, kept at
also forbid cremation; other sects of home or scattered.
Judaism support cremation, but burial
remains the preferred option.
Overton Funeral Home, Inc. - Page 19
