Cremation Myths
Rest assured, most of the negative things you’ve heard about cremation are simply untrue. At our firm, we want to dispel some of the more popular cremation myths so that families can make informed decisions. You can also read our page with frequently asked questions about cremation to answer a few questions you might have about our cremation options.
Can You Have a Traditional Funeral
If You Choose Cremation?
Just because you’ve selected cremation, doesn’t mean you can’t plan a traditional funeral. Many families choose to have the remains cremated and then hold a funeral or memorial service afterwards with the urn present. Another popular choice is to hold a traditional funeral before the cremation. Once the cremated remains have been returned to you, they can be buried or scattered at most cemeteries.
Do Most Religions Forbid Cremation?
Just because you’ve selected cremation, doesn’t mean you can’t plan a traditional funeral. Many families choose to have the remains cremated and then hold a funeral or memorial service afterwards with the urn present. Another popular choice is to hold a traditional funeral before the cremation. Once the cremated remains have been returned to you, they can be buried or scattered at most cemeteries.
Does Cremation Result in Ashes?
Although the term ‘ashes’ is often used to describe cremated remains, what is left after cremation is not ashes. The remains themselves resemble coarse sand, with an off-white/ gray color. The cremated remains that are returned to your family are actually bone fragments that have been processed down to resemble ashes. The cremation process does not actually burn the body and reduce it to ashes like a fire when it burns wood.
Can I Get Someone Else's Ashes
When Choosing Cremation?
A popular cremation myth that many people fear is that they might get someone else’s ashes returned to them. The ICCFA has written guidelines which include: “The crematory authority should not simultaneously cremate more than one human remains in the same cremation chamber unless it has written authorization to do so by the authorizing agent of each human remains to be cremated.”
The vast majority of funeral homes are members of associations like the ICCFA or NFDA and strictly follow the guidelines set out by these associations. During the cremation, the remains are marked beforehand, and the family is also required to identify the remains before the cremation can begin. You can rest assure that only your loved one’s cremated remains will be returned to you.
Does Cremation Involve Lighting the Body on Fire?
One of the most misguided cremation myths is that the body is set on fire. The cremation process uses flames to create extreme heat in a specially designed furnace. During the cremation process, the furnace (also called a retort) reaches temperatures around 1800° F. The heat in the furnace reduces the body to gases and bone fragments, which are then placed in an electric processor which converts them to the ashes. At no point is the body set on fire.
Is Scattering Ashes a Legal Process?
Some families will choose to forego cremation because they believe that spreading ashes is illegal. While there are certain public spaces where it’s illegal to spread ashes, there are also many public and private areas where it is permitted. If you’re interested in scattering your loved one's ashes, make sure to consult with your local government and agencies about any restrictions or requirements. Likewise, if you plan to scatter ashes on private land, make sure that you receive written permission from the landowner beforehand.