What Is Cremation

History of the Cremation Process

Today cremation is is becoming an increasingly popular trend, however, it has taken a significant amount of time to get to this point. According to sources, cremation dates back 20,000 years ago in Australia, while in Europe, there is evidence of cremation dating back to approximately 2,000 B.C. Cremation was a common practice in Ancient Greece and Rome, and it remains a standard in India. The cremation process faded in Europe by the fifth century and during the Middle Ages, it was primarily used for punishment or in response to the fear of contagious diseases. Today, cremation is becoming the preferred option by many people because of the many benefits. If you are interested in learning more about the benefits of choosing cremation we welcome you to visit our page. 

The Cremation Definition

What is Cremation? 

Traditional cremation is the process of reducing a body at very high temperatures until it is what is called brittle. This is then processed into what are commonly known as ashes and returned to the family in a temporary urn (or a more personal urn that is selected by the family). These ashes can be kept, buried, or scattered, and some families even choose to place a loved one's cremated remains in a hand-crafted piece of cremation art.
In the book How Cremation Works by Author Michelle Kim, details the cremation process as "In modern crematories, the body is stored in a cool, temperature-controlled room until it's approved for cremation. The body is prepared by removing pacemakers, prostheses and silicone implants. The body is then put into a container or casket made out of flammable materials such as plywood, pine or cardboard."

The container is placed in the retort or cremating chamber and it takes anywhere from two to three hours to reduce an average adult to ash. When the cremated remains are cooled, they are processed to a uniformly-sized pebble-like substance and placed in an urn. The funeral director then returns the cremated remains to the family, where they can do what they wish with them. 

Still Unsure About Cremation?

If you are unsure or have questions regarding the cremation definition, please do not hesitate to contact us to learn more. We have the experience and insights to assist you in all of your cremation needs, and to help you with your decision. Call us at 718-773-0014 or email us at houseofhills@verizon.net to inquire about any questions or concerns. 

If you are interested in learning about our cremation services in Brooklyn NY, we urge you to visit our page. 


Online Sources:

Wikipedia, "Cremation"
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Cremation

Kim, Michelle. "How Cremation Works". Retrieved from https://science.howstuffworks.com/cremation1.htm
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