Despite the overall popularity of cremation, some still have reservations about the process. Whereas the popular images of a more traditional burial may be reassuring, any outstanding questions about the cremation process may deter someone from pursuing it as a serious option. If you have these kinds of questions and are looking into cremations in the Indianapolis, IN, area, there are caring professionals prepared to address any concerns you might have. While some of your questions may be fairly basic in scope, many are curious about the process itself and exactly what happens. This can ease the general sense of uncertainty and make cremation a more credible possibility for you or someone you know. 

While a funeral director can go into some detail regarding the nature of the process, doing some preliminary research may be helpful, as well. To that end, what exactly is cremation all about? 

The first step in any cremation is for the deceased to be placed in a combustible container, which means it cannot be metal. It could, however, be anything from a wooden casket to a cardboard boxes. There will be several options, and cost may sometimes figure into the equation. 

Second, the identity of the deceased is confirmed by staff. To avoid any kind of unfortunate mix-up, this identity is then generally stamped on to a metal disc that remains alongside the remains throughout the course of its stay at the crematorium. Once the deceased has been officially identified, he or she will remain in a storage unit until the scheduled time of cremation. It is then removed and taken to the cremator (a furnace or “retort” that will be used for the cremation itself). 

Third, the body of the deceased (still in an enclosed container) is rolled into the primary chamber of the furnace. Once activated by computer, the furnace will subject the body to very high temperatures until nothing but bone fragments are left. This process may take a couple of hours. Once complete, the remaining bone fragments are put in a machine that grounds them up into the more traditional ashes (or cremated remains) with which we are more typically familiar. The entire process is conducted and monitored by technicians. 

Fourth and finally, the cremated remains are then placed into a plastic bag and immediately transferred to either an urn or temporary container so that the family of the deceased may retrieve them. The identification disc comes along for the ride, remaining with the bag itself and assuring that the family’s loved one is indeed correctly associated with those remains. 

If you have any additional questions, a funeral director can generally help or otherwise point you in the right direction. Should you decide to seriously investigate Indianapolis, IN, cremations, rest assured that the O’Riley - Branson Funeral Service & Crematory is prepared to address your needs in a compassionate and dignified fashion. You may visit us at 6107 S East St Indianapolis, IN 46227 or place a phone call to (317) 787-8224. Topics like cremation may be difficult for some to discuss, and we are confident that we can provide the information you need responsibly and professionally.