What Happens To The Casket During Cremation? 

All kinds of myths exist about cremation. Some are silly while others sound sinister. Some people believe that the Crematorium removes the body for burning. Some think they return the casket to the funeral director for reuse. Yet others believe that several people are cremated at once. The families are then given a portion of mixed ashes.

None of these myths are true. Still, there is concern because the cremation process happens away from the mourners. Have you wondered what happens to the casket? Is it separated from the ashes? Do they cremate the casket with the body inside, or is the body removed? Here are the facts.

Do you get cremated in cremation caskets?

Yes. The funeral director removes items that cause issues for cremation. These items include pacemakers and watches.  After these items are removed, the body is put in the casket. The casket is closed and, when the time comes, brought to the Crematorium for the cremation.

Can you be cremated without one of the cremation boxes?

There are often charges for attending a cremation. Check with the crematory for its policies. A casket is not required for cremation by California law. At a minimum, combustible cremation boxes, known as an alternative container, are required.

Do cremation containers get cremated with the body?

California crematoriums follow a strict code of practice. It states that cremation containers and contents must be put in the cremator as received. So, do they burn caskets at cremations? Yes, always!

How do you know the ashes are from your loved one?

Every crematory has a protocol for the identification of your loved one's remains. This identification process starts when your deceased is delivered to our care. We identify the deceased with an identification bracelet. When the cremation has been approved, the deceased is given an identification number. This number is written on all documents associated with your loved one. After the cremation, the identification number identifies who your loved one is.

What happens to cremation caskets after cremation?

Caskets are built to be destroyed during the cremation process. It takes intense heat to cremate a body. There usually is little or nothing left of the casket in the ashes. The ashes are actually fragments of bone. The cremation process takes between two and four hours. This depends on the size of the deceased and the container.

Our consultants help you choose between cremation boxes, cremation containers, or cremation caskets.