Cremations have been around for thousands of years but have changed a lot in recent times due to technological advancements. You’ve probably heard about cremation services in Monroeville, PA, but how much do you really know about them? How does cremation work? What happens after a cremation? Keep reading for more cremation details.

• Body Preparation – There are a lot of steps that must take place before a body is cremated. First, a funeral director or crematory manager needs to obtain a cremation authorization document signed by closest surviving family members. The funeral director then goes through a series of checks to ensure proper body identification to make sure the remains are returned to the proper family. The body is then checked and processed to remove any items that cannot be cremated with the body. These items include jewelry and medical devices, especially pacemakers. Once prepared, the body is put inside a cremation casket and checked again for identification. A metal identification tag that won’t burn or melt is also placed inside the cremation casket as a final check for identification.
• The Cremation – A cremation chamber, sometimes called a retort, is built from fire resistant bricks and special masonry compounds designed to stand up to extremely high temperatures. The body, inside its cremation casket, is placed inside the chamber. Cremation chambers generally get to at least 1800 degrees Fahrenheit with burners fueled by propane or natural gas. It usually takes 2 hours for a body to be reduced to bone fragments and ash, but the time can vary depending on factors such as the size of the body, type of cremation casket, or even the percentage of body fat to lean muscle.
• Ash Processing – After the cremation is completed, the remains are left to cool for about 30 minutes after the incineration. They are then processed and checked again for any remaining medical debris and for proper identification. Then, the remaining bone fragments go through a processor that grinds the fragments down into fine ash. This ash is what is returned to the family for funeral services, interment, and other post-cremation options.
• After Cremation – There are lots of different things loved one’s can do with the deceased’s ashes after the cremation. Some ideas include casting or tossing the cremated remains into the wind; raking, a process in which the ashes are poured over loose earth and raked into the soil; trenching or burying the ashes in a shallow grave; water scattering; or simply scattering the ashes into a body of water. The bereaved are free to choose whatever process is best for them and their grief process.

Patrick T. Lanigan Funeral Home and Crematory, Inc. is here to help if you want to learn more about Monroeville, PA cremation services or other post-death body disposition options. We have years of industry experience ready to put at your disposal. Please stop by and visit us or give us a call for more information on what we can do to help you in your time of loss or of preplanning.

Most funeral homes offer a wide range of services; from body transportation and paperwork help to planning and executing the actual funeral. However, many funeral homes charge a premium for those services even though they’re not always 100% necessary. This is especially true if you’re choosing cremation services in Penn Township, PA, like direct cremation.

Direct cremation is human remains disposition by cremation without a prior ceremony, visitation, or viewing. Meaning, the body is cremated directly after death and before any memorial or funeral service, so the body is not present at any such service. While traditional cremation, a service offered by funeral homes and cremation services, involves embalming the body for viewing during a memorial, funeral or visitation before the cremation.

In a direct cremation, the body is brought directly from the place of death to the crematory and cremated without embalming, makeup application, or hair care. The ashes are placed in an urn provided by the next of kin, or in a simple container furnished by the crematory. The body is usually cremated almost directly after arrival, unless there are delays or issues with the death certificate and cremation permit. Direct cremation is another route you can go when you’re planning for your eventual death or dealing with the recent death of a loved one. Direct cremation offers a smaller service range than a funeral home, but they can also be cheaper, greener, and more flexible. That’s why they are becoming more and more popular over funeral home cremations and services. Direct cremations offer:

• Pro-Environment – Direct cremations are better for the environment because they do not involve embalming. Embalmed bodies release harmful toxins into the air and ground when they are cremated or buried. Direct cremations also use fewer funeral products in general, and therefore create less waste.
• Cost – Direct cremations are much more cost effective than traditional funerals, cremations, or burials. Cremations in general save money on vaults, burial plots, transportation and other such costs, and direct cremations also save money on embalming and the cremation casket as standard cremations require nice caskets and embalming for viewing.
• Flexibility – Direct cremations usually do have a service or memorial but only after the cremation. Since its later, the scheduling, planning and execution have a lot more flexibility. Family and friends can take more time to make the memorial special and personalized or have out of town guests make it in time.

It’s important to keep in mind that choosing between direct cremation, funeral home cremation or funeral services is a personal. If you want to take the more traditional route because it feels better or more comfortable, you should. Do you want to learn more about cremation services or direct cremation? Patrick T. Lanigan Funeral Home and Crematory, Inc. is here to help with any of your Penn Township, PA cremation service needs. Please stop by and visit us or give us a call today for more information on how we can help you choose what’s best for you in your time of loss.