If you’re thinking about having a cremation service in Bellingham, WA, you should understand the basics of cremation. This can give you and your family a lot of peace of mind about making this your final disposition choice.

Cremations are now chosen by more than half of the American population instead of a traditional underground burial as their method for final disposition of their bodies. There are many reasons for this current trend. Cremations have a smaller impact on the environment, and they utilize less space than a traditional gravesite. Understand the history and process of cremations is important in being informed about cremations.

Cultures over the course of history have been doing cremations. However, the Western world, until recently, has eschewed cremations using religious beliefs to discourage people from being cremated.

One of the most effective points of these religious has been that people who are cremated won’t be in the afterlife (and, ever since Dante wrote The Inferno, a political satire that the church gave religious overtones to, fire has been associated with hell).

However, the idea that people who are cremated won’t have an afterlife is not logical. No one believes that about people who die in accidental fires, such as house fires or wildfires, and their deaths aren’t stigmatized because their bodies were burned, but the end result is the same.

An urn doesn’t contain ashes. The remains of cremations – all that’s left after the process – are bones. These are finely-ground into a consistency that resembles sand and are what is put into the urn that is returned to the family.

Remains are cremated, one at a time. The crematorium, which performs the cremation process, can hold only a single casket at a time.

Crematories are responsible for giving the family the correct cremation remains. All crematories have a standard procedure – which is backed by state and federal laws – that they follow to make sure that this happens.

The cremation remains are tagged with a flame-retardant tag as soon as the body of the deceased arrives at the crematory. The family must positively identify – either visually or using a photo – the body before cremation. The tag must remain and be included in the urn with the cremation remains when the urn is given to the family.

A body can be cremated in about the same time as it takes to watch a long movie or a play. Cremations take between two and three hours because the intense heat sources used allow the body to burn that quickly.

Speaking of heat, cremations employ a lot of heat, which can use lot of fuel. Cremations happen at 1,400 degrees Fahrenheit. The fire is fueled with natural gas to ensure that all organic compounds are burned up.

Cremains weigh between six and eight pounds, which is about the same weight as a small bowling ball.

Having a cremation does not mean that no funeral services can be held. Funeral homes are well-equipped to arrange funeral services for people who are being cremated, just as they do for people who are being buried.

Cremation remains can be buried in cemeteries. About 10% of cremation remains are buried underground in gravesites.

Cremation remains can also be buried in back yards. There may local ordinances that govern the specifics of how this is handled, but it’s not illegal to do.

Cremation remains can be used in fireworks. There are some pyrotechnic companies that are equipped so that they can integrate cremation remains into a fireworks display.

For additional information about planning ahead a cremation service in Bellingham, WA, our compassionate and experienced team at Moles Farewell Tributes & Crematory – Greenacres Memorial Park is here to help.