Cremation - General Information
Cremation is a method of final disposition that is gaining in both social acceptance and popularity. Most states, including Ohio, now have strict laws concerning who may authorize a cremation, waiting periods, required disclosures and disposition of the cremated remains. It may also be possible for a person to authorize their own cremation prior to their death by executing one of several legal documents. In Ohio, if no surviving spouse survives and there is no signed legal document pre-authorizing a cremation, all of the adult children of the deceased must agree to the cremation in order for it to take place. Cremation is an irreversible process. Careful consideration should be given to whether or not a funeral service should take place prior to the cremation; or whether a memorial service should be held following the cremation; and the disposition of the cremated remains. While no service is required, it is important to consider the emotional and spiritual needs of your family.
A casket is not required for cremation. Most crematories, for employee health and safety concerns, require a minimum type of container to hold the remains during the cremation process. The casket or container will be consumed during the cremation.
The crematory may return the cremated remains in a simple plastic container or in a plastic bag packaged with heavy brown paper. The purchase of an urn is not required, but may be considered if the cremated remains are to be kept, distributed among family or placed in a columbarium.
Is Cremation Less Expensive?
The short answer is: Yes, in most cases. Cremation offers an alternative to burial. Therefore, like burial, a visitation and/or funeral can be held prior to the cremation; and like burial, an immediate disposition can take place without funeral or visitation (this is known as a direct cremation). A direct cremation eliminates the need for a casket suitable for funeral viewing (although some type of container is usually required for the cremation process), the need for a burial vault and the need for a grave space for interment. Also, a direct cremation reduces the cost of the funeral because the funeral home's staff, facilities and equipment are used to a much lesser degree.
The Cremation Process
The following is a description of the cremation process and is an excerpt from the "Cremation Authorization Form" recommended by the Ohio Funeral Director's Association for use by Ohio funeral homes.
“The cremation of the Decedent's remains may take place before or after ceremonies to memorialize the Decedent. Cremation is performed to prepare the remains of the Decedent for final disposition. It is carried out by placing The Decedent’s remains in a casket or alternative container, which is then placed into a cremation chamber or retort where they are subjected to intense heat and flame. All cremations are performed individually unless noted otherwise. During the cremation process, it may be necessary to open the cremation chamber and reposition the remains of the decedent in order to facilitate a complete and thorough cremation. Through the use of suitable fuel, the incineration of the container and its contents is accomplished, and all substances are consumed or driven off, except bone fragments (calcium compounds) and metal (including dental gold and silver and other non-human materials) as the temperature is not sufficient to consume them.
Due to the nature of the cremation process any personal possessions or valuable materials, such as dental gold or jewelry (as well as any body prostheses or dental bridgework) that are left with the Decedent and not removed from the casket or container prior to cremation may be destroyed, or if not destroyed, will be disposed of by the Crematory. The Authorizing Agent understands that arrangements must be made with the Funeral Home to remove any such possessions or valuables prior to the time that the remains of the Decedent are transported to the Crematory.
Following a cooling period, the cremated remains, which will normally weigh several pounds in the case of an average sized adult, are then swept or raked from the cremation chamber. Although the Crematory will take reasonable efforts to remove all of the cremated remains from the cremation chamber, it is impossible to remove all of them, as some dust and other residue from the process will be left behind. In addition, while every effort will be made to avoid commingling, inadvertent and incidental commingling of minute particles of cremated remains from the residues of other cremations is a possibility, and the Authorizing Agent understands and accepts this fact. After the cremated remains are removed from the cremation chamber, all non-combustible material (insofar as possible) such as dental bridgework and hinges, latches and nails from the container will be separated and removed from the bone fragments by visible or magnetic selection. The Crematory is authorized to dispose of these materials with similar materials from other cremations in a non-recoverable manner, so that only the human bone fragments will remain.
When the cremated remains are removed from the cremation chamber, the skeletal remains will often times contain recognizable bone fragments. Unless otherwise specified, after the bone fragments have been separated from the other material, they will be mechanically pulverized. The process of crushing or grinding may cause incidental commingling of the remains with the residue from the processing of previously cremated remains. These granulated particles of unidentifiable dimensions, which are virtually unrecognizable as human remains, will then be placed into a designated container.”
Scattering of Cremated Remains
Prior to making a decision about the scattering of cremated remains, consider what impact that may have on your family. Having a place for the memorialization of the deceased, such as a cemetery, niche or columbarium is very important to many people. Also, once the cremated remains have been scattered, it is virtually impossible to un-scatter them. Cremated remains are almost pure calcium phosphate and calcium carbonate. They are very alkaline in nature. Choose a suitable location to minimize their effect on plants, shrubbery and trees.
In Ohio, there is no law prohibiting the scattering of cremated remains on private property with the permission of the property owner. Also consider the future of the property (what emotional effect will the future sale of the property to someone other than family have on my survivors?). Written permission is always best. Scattering of cremated remains in Ohio parks, lakes, rivers and waterways can be done only with the authorization of the Ohio Division of Parks and Recreation and the Ohio EPA. Cremated remains may be scattered or interred in the ocean. The regulations that govern the cremains scattering or interment depends upon how far out in the ocean the disposition takes place.
Questions To Ask Before Choosing Cremation
- Is cremation something I would choose for my spouse or child? If not, why?
- After reading a description of the process, am I comfortable with what cremation is?
- Should there be a visitation and/or funeral prior to the cremation; a memorial service after the cremation; or no visitation or service at all? What will be most beneficial for my family?
- Who will authorize my cremation to be done? What laws apply as to who may act as authorizing agent?
- What is to become of my cremated remains? (Will they be buried on my cemetery lot; will they be placed in a niche or columbarium; will my family want to keep them; or are they to be scattered?)
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