Cremation Explained

Statistics show that in British Columbia close to 77% of families chose cremation in 2000. Nationally, earth burial is still the chosen means of disposition by the majority. Yet, many people know little about their options – such as, what type of service or gathering is available and where should it be held? What type of container and final resting place is preferred? And, what type of memorial and where should it be displayed?

It is often found that many people decide upon cremation having only received very little information by word of mouth from friends. The members of the Funeral Service Association of British Columbia believe that the general public needs more information on cremation.

WHAT IS CREMATION?

We feel any decisions made about cremation should be educated decisions. Cremation is, in fact, only one process in a series of events that will take place. Cremation is where the body is prepared for final disposition. Over a period of 2 to 3 hours the body is transformed by intense heat (1600 – 2000 degrees Fahrenheit) to a state of small skeletal fragments and not fine ash as some people believe.

After the cremation process is complete, the cremated remains are removed from the cremation chamber and placed in a tray for cooling. They are then processed to their final reduced consistency. The processed cremated remains are generally placed in a small cardboard box or other temporary container at the crematorium. Most cremated remains weigh between 4 – 8 pounds. The cremated remains are returned to the family or to the Executor / legal representative of the deceased.

Now that you understand the process of cremation, there are still many other decisions that will have to be made.

NO SERVICE BY RERQUEST

Why have a service? What’s the point? As difficult as it can be to discuss death, grief and funerals, it is ultimately more difficult to avoid the topic. A ceremony is held in the memory of the deceased individual as a way of assisting the needs of the bereaved to acknowledge and express their feelings of loss. Some form of service for the deceased is the final celebration of their life, the summary of an individual’s beliefs, philosophy, accomplishments, and their relationship to others left behind. A service for the deceased is similar to other ceremonies in our lives. Like a graduation ceremony, a wedding, a baptism, a funeral or some form of service, it is a rite of passage by which we recognize an important event that distinguishes our lives.

The death of a loved one is never easy but a meaningful service will help.

One of the biggest misconceptions about cremation is that there can’t be any funeral, or because the final disposition is cremation, there will be no funeral.

Nothing could be further from the truth. Even with cremation many families choose the comfort of a traditional funeral with the cremation taking place afterwards. A memorial service differs from a funeral in that it takes place after the cremation. Often the urn containing the cremated remains is present with memorabilia, photographs, awards or any personal effects that are meaningful or special.

Sometimes we hear of “No Service by Request” or “Immediate Disposition”. This generally refers to the fact that a service will not be held for the deceased, however, it should not be confused with the many details that will have to be tended to prior to the cremation taking place. This is important to understand. By provincial law, cremation can not take place until 48 hours after death and therefore requests for immediate disposition can be misleading.
Immediate disposition includes: the transfer of the deceased from the place of death; obtaining and securing documentation for the registration of death; securing the cremation permit.

The deceased need not be presented in a casket for cremation but, in the absence of a casket, a suitable container must be purchased that is sufficient to prevent a health hazard to crematorium personnel. This is provincial law.

The container or casket is then placed into the cremation chamber. Only one container or casket is placed in the cremation chamber at a time. If the deceased had a pacemaker, this must be removed by the funeral home staff. A person can be buried or cremated with simplicity, however, there is a certain amount of administrative duties and physical preparation of the deceased that may need to be performed prior to the cremation taking place.

Whether a more formal religious service is preferred or an intimate gathering of family and friends, your funeral director has the flexibility to meet every family’s needs.

WHAT HAPPENS AFTER CREMATION?

For individuals and families choosing cremation a decision regarding a final resting place must also be made. A cemetery with its many options for final disposition and memorialization provides permanency. A place for family to visit and remember their loved one, on important family occasions such as special holidays and anniversaries.

URNS: Usually cremated remains are placed in some type of permanent receptacle, or urn, before being committed to a final resting place. An urn is a container designed to hold cremated remains permanently. It can be constructed from a variety of materials including: hardwoods such as oak, cherry and mahogany; metals such as bronze, copper, brass and pewter; or stone such as granite, marble or cultured marble. An urn should be approximately 3,277 cubic centimetres (200 cubic inches) in capacity. Some families choose to provide their own urn. It is important that such urns be of an appropriate size.

EARTH BURIAL OF THE URN: Among the many options available, a very common choice is burial. If another member of the family has, or does not choose cremation, burial of the cremated remains offers families the flexibility to still be placed to rest near each other.

COLUMBARIUM: A columbarium is an above-ground structure, usually in a cemetery, where an urn is placed in a small compartment called a niche.

SCATTERING: Cremated remains also may be scattered in cemetery gardens especially created and dedicated for this purpose. The location where the cremated remains have been scattered in the garden can be identified by name on a special memorial plaque or marker. Some cemeteries have rose gardens that are designed specifically for the scattering of cremated remains.

There are no provincial regulations that prohibit the scattering of cremated remains on land, sea or by air. However, municipal by-laws may dictate otherwise. You may wish to check with your local city hall to ensure that scattering is not prohibited in your area. Once you have checked and you have decided to scatter the cremated remains, it is highly advisable that a site be chosen with a permanent member that will provide a place of pilgrimage for immediate and future generations who want to remember and celebrate the life of their loved one.

The decision to scatter should be chosen carefully. Although the act of scattering over land or water may have idyllic appeal to some, it is an irreversible decision. Already we are starting to see the emotional results this has had some years later on the survivors, who have come to regret no permanent memorial site. The emotional value of establishing a permanent site is worthy of consideration.

In British Columbia, there are hundreds of cremated remains that have never been claimed from the funeral home. Many funeral directors have gone to great lengths in order to ensure dignified final disposition for these unclaimed cremated remains. Under provincial regulations, if the cremated remains are not retrieved within one year from the date of cremation, the funeral home has the right to bury the cremated remains in common ground at a local cemetery.

For this reason alone, it is important to understand that cremation, is only one process in a series of events that will take place. If your choice is cremation, you must carefully consider the options for final disposition of the cremated remains.

Mostly all of the arrangements you have read about can be made in advance. By planning ahead you have the opportunity to consider all of the options and make decisions based on what is right for you and your family. By pre-planning ahead of time, families may be spared making difficult decisions at a stressful and emotional time. When you preplan, not only are the arrangements chosen by you, the costs are also decided by you. And, by paying for services in advance, you are guaranteed that the costs will never be more than they are today.

All prepaid funeral plans must be placed in a provincial government regulated trust account. We hope that you have found this information helpful by showing the variety and flexibility that cremation offers.

BURIAL AT SEA
Federal government law must be adhered to with respect to a burial at sea. Strict regulation and guidelines now make a burial at sea virtually prohibitive. A permit application must be made well in advance of need (at least 8 weeks).
A notice of intent must be published in a local newspaper. Proof of the notice must be sent to Environment Canada and include an application fee. Other stringent regulations include nautical miles from land for burial site and casket specifications.

It is recommended that alternative arrangements be made since burial at sea regulations and costs have become very restrictive, if not impossible.

BODY DONATION

The Department of Anatomy at the UBC Faculty of Medicine has a program for those wishing to offer their bodies to the UBC Medical School for the purpose of teaching normal human anatomy to medical and dental students. It should be understood that this program is not the same as “donation to science” for the purpose of scientific or disease research. As well, it should be understood that at the time of death the body must be deemed by the institution as need and and “medically acceptable”. Donation of a body does not necessarily mean the institution will accept the body and alternative arrangements should be stated in you Will. Medical conditions that can prevent acceptance as a donor include: advanced metastic cancers, Hepatitis B,C, AIDS virus, Creutzfeldt-Jacob disease, multiple sclerosis, Parkinson’s, Alzheimer’s, Tuberculosis, muscular atrophy and any disease of unknown etiology. Extensive trauma to the body at the time of death, recent surgery, decomposition, autopsy or obesity may also make the remains unsuitable for anatomical study. Individuals under the age of 30 are not accepted into the program. To be accepted the body must be “needed” and “medically acceptable”. For those considering body donation, there are three key points:

Prior to death, forms must be obtained from the University of British Columbia, Department of Anatomy, and completed and returned.

You must state in your Will that you wish to donate your body for medical instruction.

All human remains received at UBC will be embalmed.

For more details about the donation process and to receive the brochure, “A Unique Contribution” and body donor consent forms you can telephone the UBC Department of Anatomy & Cell Biology at 604-822-2574 or e-mail anatomy@interchg.ubc.ca

CAUTION – make alternate pre-arrangements … not all human remains will be accepted. Before you consider this option it is also important to discuss it with your family, Executor and physician.

WHEN DEATH OCCURS AWAY FROM HOME

Should a death occur when you are away from home, it is wise to contact the funeral director in your community. The funeral director will act on your behalf and help coordinate all the details required in order to have the deceased transferred back to their hometown. If you are in another country where there may be language or cultural barriers, it is recommended that if logistically possible, you contact the nearest Canadian Consulatewww.embassyworld.com