Little Known Cremation Facts

When it comes to cremation, many people just think of it as another way to care for the deceased, however, there is much more to it than just that. Here is some little known cremation facts that may make you think twice about cremation just being a means to the afterlife.

• Although most people most commonly think of cremation as reducing the body to ashes, the body is actually being reduced to small bone fragments that have been processed into tiny granules.

• It takes 1,800 degrees of heat to cremate a body. Most people don’t realize that the heat must be so extreme to reduce a body.

• Cremated remains usually weigh 4 to 6 pounds after they have been processed regardless of the overall weight of the person before death. This is because the skin, fat and muscle are all going to deteriorate during the cremation process and the bone will be all that remains.

• Orthodox Judaism and Islam do not allow cremation for any reason.

• Catholics allow cremation; however, the Roman Catholics require that the cremated remains be buried.

• Most crematoriums allow the family to watch as the body is placed in the chamber. Most family members don’t feel that they can watch this process, so they opt not to.

• Cremation urns are not required to be purchased by the funeral home; if a family opts not to purchase a funeral urn a temporary one, usually a cardboard box, will be provided for them.

• The most common cremation urn that is purchased is made of marble.