Your Cremation Questions Answered
The Family of Kays-Ponger & Uselton Funeral Homes and Cremation Services operates our own crematory, ensuring your loved one never leaves our care. Following are answers to some of the most commonly asked questions about cremation.
- What is cremation?
- Cremation is a process of reducing the human body to bone fragments using high heat and flame. Cremation is not final disposition of the remains, nor is it a type of funeral service.
- Is a casket needed for cremation?
- No, a casket is not required for cremation. All that is usually required by most states is an alternative container constructed of wood or cardboard that is cremated with the body. In some states, no container is required.
- Is embalming required prior to cremation?
- Absolutely not, and it is against the law for a funeral home to tell you otherwise.
- Can the family witness the cremation?
- Yes, we allow family members to be present when the body is placed into the cremation chamber. In fact, some religious groups include this as part of their funeral custom.
- Is cremation accepted by all religions?
- Today, most religions allow cremation except for Orthodox Jewish, Islamic, Eastern Orthodox, and a few Fundamentalist Christian faiths. The Catholic Church accepts cremation as long as it is not chosen for reasons that are contrary to Christian teachings.
- Can an urn be brought into church?
- Nearly all Protestant churches allow for the urn to be present during the memorial service. Most Catholic churches also allow the cremated remains to be present during the Memorial Mass. In fact, if the family is planning on a memorial service, we encourage the cremated remains be present as it provides a focal point for the service.
- What can be done with the cremated remains?
- There are many options, and laws vary from state to state. Remains can be buried in a cemetery lot or cremation garden, inurned in a columbarium, kept at home, or scattered.
- Do people choose cremation only to save money?
- While some people select cremation for economy, many choose this option for other reasons. The simplicity and dignity of cremation, environmental concerns, and the flexibility cremation affords in ceremony planning and final disposition all add to its increasing popularity.
- Don’t most funeral homes have a crematory?
- Most funeral homes subcontract this delicate procedure out to a third-party provider, often located in another town, where the funeral home has little or no control over the crematory’s operating procedures. In that case, the family incurs additional transportation expenses and needless delay. By contrast, we own and operate our own crematory.
- How can I be sure I receive the correct remains?
- We have developed rigorous sets of operating policies and procedures in order to maximize the level of service and minimize the potential for human error. We will be pleased to review these procedures with you during your consultation.
- How long does the actual cremation take?
- It depends on the weight of the individual. For an average-size adult, cremation takes between two to three hours at normal operating temperature between 1,500 and 2,000 degrees Fahrenheit.
- What happens after the cremation is complete?
- All organic bone fragments, which are very brittle, as well as non-consumed metal items are “swept” into the back of the cremation chamber and into a stainless steel cooling pan. All non-consumed items, such as metal from clothing, hip joints, and bridgework, are separated from the cremated remains. This separation is accomplished through visual inspection as well as using a strong magnet for smaller and minute metallic objects. Items such as dental gold and silver are non-recoverable and are commingled in with the cremated remains. Remaining bone fragments are then processed in a machine to a consistent size and placed into a temporary or permanent urn selected by the family.
- Can two cremations be performed at once?
- Never. Not only is it illegal to do so, most modern cremation chambers are not of sufficient size to accommodate more than one adult. Thus, it would be a practical impossibility to conduct multiple cremations simultaneously.
- What do the cremated remains look like?
- Cremated remains resemble coarse sand and are whitish to light gray in color. The remains of an average-size adult usually weigh between four to six pounds.
- Are all the cremated remains returned?
- With the exception of minute and microscopic particles, which are impossible to remove from the cremation chamber and processing machine, all of the cremated remains are given back to the family.
- Do I need an urn?
- An urn is not required by law. However, an urn may be desired if there is to be a memorial service or the remains are to be interred in a cemetery. If an urn is not purchased through us, or provided by the family, we will return the cremated remains in a temporary container.
