Cremation is an alternative to earth burial or entombment for the body’s final disposition. However, cremation often follows a traditional funeral service.

Cremation is selected for many reasons ranging from religious beliefs or ethnic customs to cost. Cremation should not be selected in an attempt to hasten or circumvent the grieving process, which is a necessary part of re-adjusting to life after death, and to coping with the great sense of pain and loss that one experiences.

Here are some of the most frequently asked questions about cremation.

Is cremation common?

Cremation is the second most common form of disposition in the United States . In other countries, such as England and Japan , cremation is the most common.

There are a variety of options for the final disposition of cremated remains. Urns or other containers may be placed in a niche at a columbarium, a structure or room designed to contain cremated remains. Families may elect to bury the urn in a family plot or cemetery or keep it in another place of personal significance, such as the home.

Subject to some restrictions, cremated remains can be scattered by air, over the ground or over water. Your Funeral Director can advise about allowable practices in your community.

Some form of memorialization often accompanies scattering of cremated remains. Most people find consolation knowing there is a specific place to visit when they wish to remember and feel close to the person they have lost. Regardless of the disposition option selected for the cremated remains, families should choose one that best fits their emotional needs.

Why do people choose cremation?

Cremation is selected for many reasons ranging from religious beliefs or ethnic customs to cost. Cremation, or any other funeral service option, should not be selected in an attempt to hasten or circumvent the grieving process, which is a necessary part of re-adjusting to life after death has delivered a great sense of pain and loss.

Some reasons for choosing cremation include:

  • Simplicity

  • Economics

  • Religious and ethnic customs

  • Environmental concerns

  • Memorial options

  • Flexibility in planning funeral services

What happens during the cremation process?

During the actual cremation, the casket or cremation container is brought to the crematory, where it is placed in a cremation chamber. The chamber is heated to an extremely high temperature. After several hours, the intense heat reduces the casket or cremation container, as well as the remains, to small bone fragments. The remains are then placed in a processor and reduced to "ashes." The cremated remains then are placed in an urn or temporary container and returned to the family.