Funeral Homes: A Guide

Although death is a fate that awaits everyone, it can still be a harrowing experience when a loved one passes away. If this is the first time that you have lost somebody very close to you, then you may be dealing with the aftermath of the event and coming to terms with the funeral arrangements. The deceased party may have chosen cremation as their option, but you may know very little about this process, so what do you need to be aware of as you get ready?

Understanding the Procedure

The majority of people across Australia choose cremation, so there are probably a number of facilities in your area set up to handle the procedure. Due to the demand, you will have to reserve a date and a time, and the entire process will typically take up to 45 minutes from start to finish. There's a certain amount of leeway here to tailor the service to your wishes, but remember that other families will be following behind so there is always a limit.

You can choose a religious or secular ceremony and invite members of the family and friends to the crematorium. The coffin will be placed on a special raised platform, and at the appropriate time, a curtain will close around the coffin.

Once the service is over, the coffin will be identified by the crematorium's staff and will be placed into a special cremator. The process will then begin and may take several hours to complete.

Disposal

Usually, the ashes are not available until at least the following day. You should make arrangements with your funeral director if you want to collect them. They will be contained within a tailored container and you may choose what to do with them upon receipt.

Alternatively, you can make arrangements with the crematorium to scatter the ashes in a special garden of remembrance. You may be able to create a memorial of some kind in the facility, but you should work with your funeral director to arrange this with the facility in question.

Extra Questions

Some people wonder what will happen to any jewellery or whether the coffin itself is removed. Typically, everything (including the coffin) will be placed in the cremator, and any metals will usually be removed using a magnet once the process is complete. It's best, therefore, to remove any jewellery that you want to keep prior to the service.

Other Guidance

This entire process can be very delicate and you may have additional questions. If so, talk them through with your funeral home in advance of the service, so that everything goes according to plan on the day and you can get peaceful closure.

For more information on cremations, contact a funeral home.