by Stella Coles

Created on: November 05, 2009   Last Updated: December 09, 2009

Death is not something that people generally like to talk about. However, there comes a time when it does need to be given some thought. A situation may have come right out of the blue, which they often do, that requires you to make important decisions for which you're not prepared. Sometimes death comes unexpectedly. You may need to plan the funeral of a loved one whose wish was to be cremated. Perhaps you're wondering about what options you would have for yourself when the time comes. Well, cremation is an option. It's probably not something that you've sought knowledge about before, but perhaps it was your loved one's wish and to carry out this wish, you'll need to find out about the process.

The first thing to remember is that you can have a funeral service just as you can if you opt for burial rather than cremation. You'll be able to say goodbye just the same, and this is an important thing to do. You can have a service before the cremation and receive the ashes for burial afterwards. Another option is to have a memorial service at the time of cremation,or you can have the cremation first and then a service with the ashes before burial. You'll be treated just as compassionately whatever you decide.

The cremation chamber heat range is between 1400 and 1800 degrees Fahrenheit. The process of cremation takes around three hours. The body of the deceased is placed in a cremation container and then the container is placed into a cremation chamber. The remains are processed into fine particles and are placed into a temporary container or placed in an urn which has been purchased by the family. They are usually released to families several hours later, or the next day. The type of casket selected for your loved one is a personal choice. Most crematories require that the deceased should be cremated in a rigid, covered container. Caskets are available in a variety of materials and your funeral home will be able to show you a selection.

You may have differing thoughts about what to do with the ashes after the service. There are many different options. Ashes can be interred in a cemetery plot, within an urn. The deceased may have had a wish to be buried with a loved one who was buried within a casket. Depending on the cemetary's policy you may be able to have the urn interred on top of the casket. You can choose a monument which provides a visual point for remembrance. You may wish to scatter the ashes in a place which was special. Perhaps scattering ashes in the sea would be what you would prefer. If you would like to scatter at a public place, it would be advisable to check with local authorities first.

It is wise to give it some serious thought as to the placement of ashes, because for some family members, such as children, it helps to have a focal point where they can go and spend time. It may help them to more easily come to terms with their grief, rather than trying to imagine where their loved one has gone.

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