If you are choosing cremation services in Sinking Spring, PA for a loved one’s final services, you might know that it’s an honorable choice, but how much do you know about the actual process? When someone passes on, or if you are considering options for your own final services in advance, you may want to know some details. The cremation itself is going to take place in a crematory and that process is generally about the same for every individual.
The cremation chamber doesn’t operate with fire, as many people think. There is no burning involved at all. Instead, it’s a matter of heat. The chamber heats to 1,400-1,800 degrees and that high heat breaks the body down into ash and bone fragments. The heat is produced by propane or natural gas and the chamber is lined with fire-resistant bricks, so it doesn’t break down itself. The walls of the chamber are around 6 inches thick, so the extreme heat is contained. They can have manual or mechanical doors, depending on their design.
Before a person is cremated, they are placed in a cremation container to comply with health and safety codes and to maintain the dignity of the person involved during and after the cremation. The containers meet safety and health laws, but there are details that you can choose on your loved one’s behalf. There are standard corrugated options and also wooden containers. Whatever container you choose, it will break down completely and won’t leave residue behind in the ashes.
Much of the body is vaporized during the high heating process, but the bone fragments are left behind. Once those cool down, they are ground into the ashes that you receive once the process is over. You can then bury those ashes, scatter them, or keep them within an urn in your home, whatever you choose.
Now that you know how the cremation process works, it can be a comfort to understand how things will operate once you turn your loved one over to the crematory. Keep in mind that you can also sometimes watch the process, if that is of interest to you, so you can say a final goodbye to your loved one and get closure over their death. Ask about watching the process if you would like to do so.
When you are working on cremation services in Sinking Spring, PA, it might be important to you to know more about how things work. If you need details, all you have to do is ask. The professionals at Bean Funeral Homes & Crematory, Inc. are here to ensure that you have all the information you need, no matter how in depth you want to go. You can visit us at 3825 Penn Ave Sinking Spring, PA 19608, take a tour of our facilities, see the crematory, and get a better understanding for how we operate. If you want to set up a time to visit by phone, call us at (610) 376-1129 and we can figure everything out together.