Even as cremation services in Penn Township, PA and beyond grow in popularity, many people still have lots of questions and concerns when it comes to the process. One of the main concerns the bereaved have with cremation is how their loved one’s remains will be identified throughout the cremation process. Many people hear false horror stories of families being returned the wrong cremains, or just being given bags of wood ash or even of sand. These rumors lead to a lot of concern over the cremation identification process.

However, there is no reason for these concerns as all licensed cremation providers have thorough and effective identification procedures in place to ensure accuracy and dignity. Most licensed cremation providers are more than happy to walk clients through their individual identification process. Don’t be ashamed to ask for these details, as most businesses understand these concerns and are happy to help alleviate them. It’s important for you to be 100% comfortable with your provider and their practices.

It can be difficult to ask questions surrounding such delicate and potentially painful topics. If you’re unsure of what to ask surrounding identification during the cremation process, try these questions such as:

• How can I be sure my loved one is the one you are cremating?
• How can I be sure of this if I choose a cremation without a viewing?
• How are the deceased identified?
• How does this process change if I am not there when he or she passes?
• In what ways do you certify that the ashes I am returned are those of my loved one?

If the cremation provider is unable or unwilling to answer questions such as these, consider taking your business elsewhere. It’s vital that you feel comfortable with the cremation process.

Remember, in most states, crematories are obligated to carry out two different identification processes to ensure the deceased are correctly identified based on the name provided by the authorized agent or the bereaved.

• First, the deceased’s name, as provided by the bereaved or authorized agent, will be clearly listed on the cremation container.
• Second, a metal bracelet, disk, or other tokens will be placed in the container with the deceased. This metal tag will not be broken down during the cremation process and will remain with the cremated ashes to further ensure identification.

If you’re still not comfortable, you can always ask for additional identification steps. You can ask for a detailed explanation of the cremation process in writing, have the cremation provider do a comparison of the deceased to a current photo of your loved one before the cremation begins, ask the cremation provider to do a final identification check based on a listed unique detail like a tattoo or birthmark.

Patrick T. Lanigan Funeral Home and Crematory, Inc. is here to help if you would like to learn more about the body identification process or Penn Township, PA cremation services. Stop by and visit us today or give us a call.

It’s a good idea to know all you can before a death as a time of loss is not a good time to learn.

Many bereaved have questions about the cremation process, which is understandable as its not common knowledge how it works and its done. This article offers interesting facts about cremation services in North Versailles, PA to give guidance on these sensitive matters.

To begin, the cremation chamber, sometimes called an oven or a retort, operates between 1,400- and 1,800-degrees Fahrenheit. This high heat is necessary to break down the body into small fragments of bone and ash and is generally produced by propane or natural gas. Most cremation ovens are made out of fire-resistant bricks and special masonry. The fire-resistant bricks line the interior of the chamber on the ceiling and walls.

Specially made masonry materials cover the bottom of the chamber as that is the area that is exposed to the highest temperatures. Cremation oven walls are usually about 6 inches think to keep the extreme heat contained. They can have manually or mechanically operated doors depending on the model and design. Organic body materials like skin, tissue, organs and muscle are oxidized and then vaporized during the cremation process, as the human body is mostly made of water, bone and carbon.

These vapors are filtered and released through the oven’s exhaust system. All that remains after a cremation is bone fragments and non-organic materials like artificial bones or joints, implants, or dental work. All jewelry and removable medical devices are taken off the body before the cremation. The bone fragments are separated from non-organic materials and then left to cool.

After cooling, they are processed and broken down into what we call ashes, with a texture like coarse sand. These ashes are placed in sealed bag and returned to the bereaved so they can inurn, bury, scatter or spread them as they so choose. Also, all bodies are placed in a cremation container before the cremation takes places and for the duration of the process. This is to stay in compliance with health and safety codes and to maintain the dignity of the deceased before, during and after the cremation. There are certain container specifications that also must be met for health and safety laws, but the remainder of the container details can be chose by the bereaved.

Many choose standard corrugated boxes, and others choose wooden containers or caskets. No matter what kind of container is chosen, its purpose is to hold the body before the cremation and break down entirely during the cremation, so no residue is left.

These are just a few interesting facts about cremation services and how they work. Patrick T. Lanigan Funeral Home and Crematory, Inc. is here to help if you have more questions about the cremation process or would like to learn more about your options for North Versailles, PA cremation services. We offer a wide range of services designed to help you in your time of loss. Please stop by and visit us or give us a call to learn more.

One of the most common choices for final disposition after cremation services in Monroeville, PA is spreading the ashes. Spreading ashes can be as simple or as complicated as you want it to be, as there are a variety of different methods to choose from, some traditional and simple and some much more unique and elaborate.

Some scattering methods include:

• Trenching – Trenching is when the bereaved dig a shallow pit in which to deposit and lightly bury the ashes. This way, the ashes aren’t technically buried but they are contained to a specific spot so they can be visited or honored.
• Plant a Tree – Tree urns turn cremated remains into fertilizer for new trees, giving your lost loved one new life through loss. You can plant the tree anywhere you want from a backyard to a special park. The tree will always be there as a place you can visit when you miss the deceased or want to reflect on their life.
• Raking – Raking is similar to trenching, but instead of digging a small hole in which the ashes are covered the ashes are raking into the soil with a tool like a rake or shovel. Many people choose to rake ashes into a significant place like the yard of a home or a special park.
• Space Launch – Whether your loved one always wanted to be an astronaut, loved stars and space, or you just want to give him or her a very special send off, you can launch the ashes into space. There are a few specialized businesses that launch ashes into space for a significant fee. The ashes will orbit the earth for a few months and then vaporize when the re-enter the atmosphere.
• Aerial Scattering – People also scatter ashes into the air by climbing up a mountain or hill, going to the edge of a cliff, or using the wind in an open plain or meadow. You can also hire a specialized plane to scatter the ashes from way up in the air.
• Water Scattering – Water has almost always had a connection with spirituality and religion, making it a very popular choice for scattering ashes. Scatter ashes directly into the water or release them in a water-safe biodegradable urn.
• Skydiving Scattering – If the deceased was adventurous or free-spirited what better way to scatter his or her ashes than while skydiving? This unconventional ash spreading method helps you literally and figuratively let go of your lost loved one.
• Fireworks – Spreading ashes is usually a somber experience, but why not make it more fun and celebratory with fireworks? Firework companies make fireworks using the cremated remains to have the deceased be a part of a spectacular light show in the sky.

Patrick T. Lanigan Funeral Home and Crematory, Inc. is here to help if you have more questions about spreading ashes or about Monroeville, PA cremation services. We offer a wide range of expert services and would be happy to help you however we can in your time of loss. Please stop by and visit us or give us a call today.

Do you know how important a personalized memorial can be? Studies show that the more personalized and memorable a memorial service is the more it helps not only honor the deceased but also offer some relief for the bereaved during their time of loss. There are lots of ways you can customize a memorial service to honor and remember the deceased after a cremation service in Penn Township, PA.

Key Takeaways:

You can establish a memorial together, or find a way to include their favorite things, such as memorial work of art, collage or timeline. You can also invite guests to take an item home. Some ideas for the service are putting out special food, adding decorations, setting up a memory table or stations, and sharing photos and videos.

Use this list of ideas to help inspire you to make a custom memorial after a cremation:

1. Put Out Special Food – Food is a serious comfort for a lot of people. Take inspiration from the deceased’s favorite foods and put out a special spread for guests at the service.
2. Add Decorations – It might seem like bad form to decorate a memorial service after a cremation, but decorations can actually make the service more special and unique. You can add decorations in any form you want, from lamps and rugs to artwork, flowers and everything in between. Bring decorations that somehow represent or honor the deceased. For example, if she loved to stitch, you could hang some of her work. Or if he loved a certain artist you could display copies of famous artwork.
3. Set Up a Memory Table or Stations – A memory table is an easy way to help make a memorial service custom and personalized. It’s a simple and free way to show items that either meant a lot to the deceased, show their personality, or represent the deceased to other people. You can put almost anything on a memory table such as photos, sunglasses, ticket stubs from special events, letters, favorite vases or flowers, beloved clothing, or anything else that was special to or about the deceased. You can also make several memory stations as opposed to just one table. There can be themed tables with each one showing a part of the deceased’s life, such as wedding memories, school items, and children and grandchildren.
4. Share Photos and Videos – Many bereaved families make photo collages or montage videos for a memorial service. These items are treasured by the family, but other bereaved like friends and coworkers would appreciate access to them as well. Consider uploading any montages or videos online to share with other people. You can use Google Drive, Drop Box, or YouTube. Make the files accessible with only a certain link and print the link on the service program so guests can access it if they choose.

These ideas are just a few of the many, many ways that you can make a memorial after a cremation service unique and meaningful to help ease the pain of loss and honor the deceased. If you need more ideas, look to the deceased for inspiration from his or her life.

Patrick T. Lanigan Funeral Home and Crematory, Inc. is here to help if you want to learn more about Penn Township, PA cremation services. We offer expert cremation services designed to help you during your time of loss. Please give us a call today for more information about what we can do for you.

From variations in the cremation service itself to the cremains disposal, there are lots of choices to make. Cremation services in North Versailles, PA and beyond offer bereaved tons of different options. Many people choose to inter the remains in the ground or in a permanent above ground resting place such as a columbarium. Or is it a mausoleum? Do you know the difference? Keep reading to find out the answers and some interesting history.

According to the National Funeral Directors Association, a mausoleum is defined as, “a building designed for above-ground placement of a casket. The casket is placed into a crypt that may be designed for one or two persons.” If you’ve ever been walking in, through or past a cemetery, you’ve most likely noticed the ornate but small buildings scattered around the grounds amidst the tombstones. These buildings are mausoleums, columbarium, or even a combination of the two. Mausoleums can have one crypt, or a chamber designed to hold one body, or a larger space made to hold a few people like a family or a couple. Some mausoleums have more than one room for different parts of a family. These buildings are often decorated with exterior markers to denote who is resting inside. Some even have glass windows that allow those on the outside to view the coffins.

Mausoleums can be found in different variations and designs all around the world. One of the original Seven Wonders of the World was a mausoleum! Built in 353 BC near what is now known as Turkey, The Mausoleum of Halicarnassus was the final resting place of a famous Persian king named Mausolus. This king was so rich that he commissioned one of the finest mausoleums ever built and is actually how the term mausoleum was coined.

Both columbarium and mausoleums are defined as permanent, above ground resting places for human remains, but they have a few key differences between them. Unlike mausoleums that generally hold bodies, columbarium are designed to house cremated remains. The term columbarium comes from the Latin word “columba” which means dove.

In the past, doves and pigeons were housed in buildings with niches on the walls for their nests. This design is very similar to how columbarium are made, as they have compartments built into the walls to house and display cremation urns. There are lots of different columbarium designs. Some are indoor and some are outside, while others are simple and more still are decorated and elaborate. You can choose whatever kind of columbarium you like for your lost loved one.

Do you have more questions about your options for after a cremation service, or would you like to learn more about North Versailles, PA cremation services in general? You can count on Patrick T. Lanigan Funeral Home and Crematory, Inc. for accurate and helpful information. Please stop by and see us in person or give us a call for more information on what we can do for you in your time of loss.