In Europe, a movement to reintroduce cremation as a viable method for body disposal began in the 1870s. This was made possible by the invention of new furnace technology and contact with eastern cultures that practiced it.[15] At the time, many proponents believed in the miasma theory, and that cremation would reduce the “bad air” that caused diseases.[16] These movements were associated with secularism and gained a following in cultural and intellectual circles.[15] In Italy, the movement was associated with anti-clericalism and Freemasonry, whereas these were not major themes of the movement in Britain.[9]
Cremated remains can be kept in an urn, stored in a special memorial building (columbarium), buried in the ground at many locations or sprinkled on a special field, mountain, or in the sea. In addition, there are several services in which the cremated remains will be scattered in a variety of ways and locations. Some examples are via a helium balloon, through fireworks, shot from shotgun shells, by boat[63] or scattered from an aeroplane. One service sends a lipstick-tube sized sample of the cremated remains into low earth orbit, where they remain for years (but not permanently) before reentering the atmosphere. Some companies[64] offer a service to turn part of the cremated remains into synthetic diamonds which can then be made into jewelry.[65]
As society becomes more aware of the impact of all types of body handling on the environment, new methods that are considered less harmful to the environment are being introduced. Alkaline Hydrolysis, for example, uses a process of water, heat, and lye to treat the remains. While the process is not currently legal in all states, it is gaining traction as an environmentally responsible alternative.
It’s important to remember you’re not obligated to buy any funeral items directly from the funeral home. Buying outside of a funeral home can help you save thousands of dollars. More and more, people are buying caskets from third-party retailers like Amazon and Walmart and having them shipped directly to the funeral home. By law, funeral homes are required to use the casket you provide and can’t charge any additional fees to handle third-party caskets.
The Holocaust furnaces were supplied by a number of manufacturers, with the best known and most common being Topf and Sons as well as Kori Company of Berlin,[36] whose ovens were elongated to accommodate two bodies, slid inside from the back side. The ashes were taken out from the front side.[37] The furnaces were also unique, in that they were of a “stand alone” type, meaning that there was no visible duct work for the exhaust gases. These furnaces, based around a design commonly used for hospital incinerators, instead vented the gasses down through a series of ducts embedded in the floor, with the help of a draft fan located at the far end of the structure. Once outside, the gasses then rose through a free standing chimney, most notable for the fact that it was not directly attached to the structure of the building itself, nor had a visible duct leading into it.
• We are one of few funeral homes in Orlando, FL with access to our own personal crematorium. This allows you and your loved ones the convenience of not only saved time and cost but also the reassurance of knowing first hand that the remains are well cared for. We use a Security Trust System to ensure accuracy throughout the entire process. As an added comfort, families may choose to witness the cremation process or hold a private family viewing beforehand.
I had the pleasure of working with Sherre Cook for my planning needs. Sherre handled all (and there were many) of my questions and took the time to completely understand my needs before directing my service selection from Neptune Society. I have had a lot of experience with Customer Service and I have to say, especially in light of the nature of this service, she is a true professional and an overall great person to work with.
Mary Beth Barnett is a licensed Funeral Director in Texas. Her involvement with aCremation began before our doors opened – researching how we could provide affordable cremations and still keep quality and service standards high. Through this process, she developed a passion for working with families who are going through one of the most stressful phases of life – planning for death.
My father had a massive stroke while on vacation in California. With one phone call, he was taken care of, delivered back to a local funeral home in Brevard County, Florida. We were kept in the loop every step of the way. 5 years later my mother passed at home. The central Florida office came to the house and took care of everything. They removed my mothers jewelry, which I hadn’t even thought of, and took my mother away. Before leaving, he asked me if there were any questions. He stayed and answered all my questions. And, again, they kept… Read More
If you are looking for an establishment to walk you through the entire process of the loss of a loved one, with the very minimum of stress, call these people. Stephen and staff are incredible. The had answers to all of our questions, were extremely respectful, very kind, and took charge on many of the behind the scenes steps. The professionalism and kindness allowed us to focus on grieving for our mother, and not get caught up in paperwork.
A memorial service can either be before or after a cremation. If it’s done before, the body is commonly present in a casket. If it’s done after, the cremated ashes are typically present in an urn. A member of a church can hold the ceremony, or you can choose to have a service with only family and friends present. If a visitation is included, the funeral home will typically charge additional fees. Also, with new CDC recommendations related to social distancing at funerals, it is recommended to now live stream or delay the funeral, instead of having a large crowd of friends and family present.
This direct cremation is just about the cheapest cremation option you have, as it requires the most limited services of a funeral director. In 2 states (Florida and California) ‘direct disposers’ are licensed who do not even have to be licensed funeral directors, and who can operate without the large overhead of a funeral home, thus enabling them to offer discounted direct cremation prices.
After everything was said and done, and when we already had my dad’s remains, she called just to see how we were doing to see if we had any more questions which I found to be absolutely beyond my expectations. National Cremation provided top-notch service. I have no complaints and only compliments to them. We were very happy with the service and the help. It was an excellent experience.
You may be able to avoid all cremation costs if you decide to donate the body to medical science or research. Medical schools will cremate your remains for free, and either bury or scatter your ashes in a local cemetery or return them to your family, although it may take a while for them to do so. You can call the National Family Service Desk, which operates a free referral service at 800-727-0700.