Dawn Kemp - Celebrant
  • HOME
  • WEDDING
    • RITUAL
    • VIP AREA - COUPLES
  • FUNERAL
    • TYPE
    • BELIEF
    • GUIDE
    • OPTIONS
  • ALTERNATIVE
  • REVIEWS
  • CONTACT

Blog

Cremation: What Happens?

31/7/2022

0 Comments

 
Picture
People sometimes have questions about cremation, either because they have heard things that worry them, or are curious, as it's not something that is spoken about much.
 
Below is a link to a short film of the cremation process.
If you are recently bereaved, or your grief is still raw, consider if this is the right time to watch it.

Before you watch, it’s worth knowing that this is a no-frills old US crematory, without commentary, so you still may have questions.
 
I'm always happy to answer questions. I’m ‘Death Positive’ – I believe people are empowered by knowing, and that death, dying and bereavement should be talked about, so people are equipped with information and choices.

As the area’s Coffin Club ‘Celebrant Plus’, I’m here to advise and signpost anyone in the local community about funerary issues; you don’t have to be arranging a funeral or have me leading a ceremony to chat to me.
 
Likewise, your funeral director and the staff at the crematorium are there to help.
Don't be afraid to ask them. There's nothing weird or morbid about wanting to know what happens, and it may allay any fears.
 
I was probably a bit scared of the idea of cremation and held some myths myself, until I witnessed it in full. I was honoured, when I first started, to be given permission to watch the full procedure for one lady (including taking regular peeps into the cremator to see what happened to her body, as you’ll see in the video).
 
Pre-Viewing Notes:
 
The set up back of house varies considerably, from modern shiny spacious crematory rooms with large steel chargers, and a sequence of stations for processing the remains, to a more functional affair in a smaller space.
 
There is legislation that regulates administrative and practical procedures to ensure public health & safety and dignity in dealing with the deceased, cremation, and ashes return.

A little slip follows the deceased and is checked at each stage from the moment the coffin or person (or pet) arrives by hearse or private ambulance.

When the curtains close (if it's a funeral service, and you've requested that), nothing happens immediately. Forget what you've seen in films about seeing a coffin slide right through the doors into flames!

Often there's a cool room, anteroom or corridor to the crematory area. Staff move the coffin onto a trolley. That may be cremated straight away, or there may be a short wait till later that same day.

It depends on several factors including the number of cremator units, how busy that day is, coffin or shroud material, and some characteristics of the deceased that may affect unit efficiency, so the order of cremation may be optimised. Different body compositions, different diseases etc affect the time it takes, and the temperature of the unit.
 
Rear of house, there are trained staff who operate the crematory. For some faiths, a family member may be there to witness the charging procedure.

Only one person is cremated at a time in each cremator.
Cremation of an adult human takes about 85-90 minutes.

The remains are raked into a receptacle underneath before further processing.
Metal components that can be recycled are then removed in a machine that separates the remains. These usually go to raise funds for charity.

The remains then go into a cremulator which reduces them to ashes (or cremains).
For children, or body parts, there may be minimal or no ashes. Likewise for a small pet funeral.
Otherwise, the ashes then go into a container for collection by the funeral director or other person authorised to collect or scatter them.

Some people request that the crematorium scatter the ashes. The staff will record where and give you a map.
For people who wish to have them returned, they can then choose whether to transfer the ashes to a decorative urn, have an ashes interment ceremony, or scatter them at a place significant to the deceased, such as a beauty spot, or at sea.
Some retain a little to be made into jewellery or paperweights.
 
That’s just a very brief summary. If there’s anything else you’d like to know, or other topics you’d like covering (video tours of crematoria, or interviews with staff?), let me know.
 
Dx
 
The 5-minute cremation video.
https://www.cultofweird.com/death/cremation-of-human-body-video/
 
The contact for bereavement services at Grimsby Crematorium. You'll also find the link for pet funerals at Treasured Memories. If it’s urgent, call. If it’s a general enquiry, send an email.
Bereavement services | NELC (nelincs.gov.uk)
 
Link to cremation FAQs:
https://www.cremation.org.uk/Frequently-Asked-Questions
 
Crematorium Regulations:
cremregs (iccm-uk.com)

Coffin Club and Celebrant Plus Directory
coffinclub.co.uk/

Local Ashes Jewellery
coastalsilver.co.uk/pages/ashes-jewellery

#funeral #cremation #ashes
#funeralcelebrant #Lincolnshire
#Lincolnshirecelebrant
#DeathPositive
#funeralmyths
0 Comments

Your comment will be posted after it is approved.


Leave a Reply.

    Author

    Welcome to the blog - enjoy! Contact me if there's anything you'd like me to cover about celebrant-led ceremonies.
    ​Dawn x


    Archives

    January 2023
    November 2022
    August 2022
    July 2022
    June 2022
    November 2021
    June 2021
    April 2021
    March 2021
    December 2020
    October 2020
    September 2020
    June 2020
    May 2020

    Categories

    All
    2ofHarps
    Abbey Farm
    Abbys
    A Booth And Beyond
    Aisle
    Alternative Ceremonies
    Amy Lauren Weddings
    Angel Gowns
    Animals
    Anna Belle Designs
    Anniversary
    Approved Venue
    Ashbourne
    Ashes
    Ashes Jewellery
    Award
    Bardney Hall
    Barn Wedding
    Bereavement Services
    Best Man
    Bingo
    Black Wedding Dress
    Blessing
    Blue Dragon Tearoom
    Boho
    Booking
    Breeze Memorials
    Bridal Gown
    Bridal Reloved Caistor
    Bride
    Brush And Pen
    Bunny Hill Weddings
    Carlton Manor
    Cave Castle Hotel
    Celebrant
    Celebrant Plus
    Celebrants Collective
    Celebration Of Life
    Christmas
    Chris Waud
    Civil Celebrant
    Civil Ceremonies
    Civil Marriage
    Civil Partnership
    Cleatham Hall
    Coates Couture
    Cocktails
    Coffin
    Coffin Club
    Cottage Core
    COVID
    Cremation
    Cremulator
    Crosskills Florist
    Dandrew Photography
    Danny Inwood Photography
    Debbie Roe Photography
    Destination Wedding
    Diamond Ring
    Diploma
    Doddington Hall
    Dower House Hotel
    Dunedin Country House
    East Midlands Wedding
    Elderflower Events
    Elizabeth Kate Bridal
    Elm Tree Hundleby
    Elopement
    Elsham Hall
    Enchanted Garden
    Essence Flowers
    Fire Eater
    FSJ
    Funeral
    Funeral Celebrant
    Funeral Director
    Funeral Notices
    Golf
    Grief
    Grimsby
    Grimsby Crematorium
    Groom
    Guess Who
    Guest Contributor
    Humanist
    Interview
    Jenga
    Licensed Venue
    Lincolnshire
    Lincolnshire Celebrant
    Lincolnshire Wedding
    Lockdown
    Magician
    Memorial
    Midwinter
    Mr And Mrs
    NAFD
    NOCN Diploma
    Outdoor Wedding
    Pet
    Pet Funeral
    Preloved
    Press Feature
    Quaich
    Radio Humberside
    Red Wedding Dress
    Registrar
    Renewal Of Vows
    Ring
    Rustic
    Self Care
    Shoe Game
    Shroud
    Small Wedding
    Speech
    Stilt Walker
    Symbolic Act
    The Wedding Industry Awards
    Treasured Memories
    TWIA
    TWIA23
    TWIA23EM
    TWIA23YNE
    Unity Candle
    Video
    Wedding
    Wedding Band
    Wedding Cake
    Wedding Caterer
    Wedding Celebrant
    Wedding DJ
    Wedding Dress
    Wedding Flowers
    Wedding Games
    Wedding Guests
    Wedding Hair
    Wedding Inspo
    Wedding Photographer
    Wedding Planner
    Wedding Reception
    Wedding Suppliers
    Wedding Travel
    Wedding Venues
    Wedding Venue Stylist
    White Wedding
    World Celebrants Week
    Yorkshire Wedding

    RSS Feed

SERVICES

ALTERNATIVE
WEDDING
FUNERAL
​​NAMING
PET

INFORMATION

KEEPSAKES
REVIEWS
ABOUT 
BLOG
FEES
​​​

Support

CONTACT
PRIVACY
​
​
FRIENDS​
​LINKS
Picture
​© DAWN KEMP 2023
​ALL RIGHTS RESERVED
  • HOME
  • WEDDING
    • RITUAL
    • VIP AREA - COUPLES
  • FUNERAL
    • TYPE
    • BELIEF
    • GUIDE
    • OPTIONS
  • ALTERNATIVE
  • REVIEWS
  • CONTACT