Questions people ask about cremation

About 78% of all deaths in the UK are followed by cremation.

Orthodox Jews, Greek Orthodox Church and Muslim religions do not currently approve of cremation.

No. Burial is usually more expensive. In addition to the interment fee there may be other charges for grave maintenance.

Costs involved in a cremation can include: the cremation fee itself, the coffin, funeral directors fee (if one is engaged), minister or celebrant fee (if one is engaged), organist fee (if one is engaged), medical fees, miscellaneous fees: flowers, order of service etc. (if required).

There are a number of arrangements that need to be made following a death. The executor or nearest surviving relative may wish to contact a funeral director who will undertake some of the tasks on their behalf. The funeral director will make the practical arrangements for the collection and storage of the body and will obtain any medical certificates. The funeral director will also discuss with the family their requirements concerning the service arrangements and help with any statutory forms. It will also be necessary for the executor or nearest surviving relative to register the death.

Yes. The executor or nearest surviving relative may arrange the cremation themselves but they will have to meet statutory requirements.

• If a family are considering making the arrangements without the services of a funeral director they should contact the office at Oakfield Gardens Crematorium for advice and assistance.

Yes. You can have a religious or non-religious service, or even no service at all. A service must be carried out within the allocated time slot at the crematorium. (this varies between each crematorium). If you prefer, you can arrange for a service in a church or other venue beforehand.

The law relating to cremation requires that ashes are disposed of in accordance with the written instruction of the applicant (the executor or nearest surviving relative). There will be a range of options on offer including: burial/scatter at crematorium, sanctum or niche at crematorium, collected from crematorium, inter at family grave/cemetery.

The mourners will normally gather in the waiting room a few minutes before their appointed time at the crematorium. The funeral director will arrive with the hearse and principal mourners. The crematorium chapel attendant will accept the coffin by checking the name plate to ensure correct identity and the body will be transferred from the hearse to a trolley. When the principal mourners are ready to proceed the coffin will be conveyed into the chapel by the funeral director or by family bearers. The coffin will be placed on the catafalque and the mourners will be directed to their seats by the funeral director and the funeral service will proceed.

During the service the body will be committed. Most crematoria will offer the family the choice of closing the curtains or keeping them open. This will be decided when the funeral arrangements are made so that the funeral director, minister or celebrant and crematoria staff are aware.

At the end of the service the mourners will exit the chapel and will be directed to the flower bay. There they may inspect any floral tributes that the deceased may have.

The coffin is withdrawn to the committal room where the nameplate is checked by the crematorium staff to ensure correct identity. An identity card will then accompany the coffin and the resultant remains until their final disposal or removal from the crematorium.

This will usually take place shortly after the cremation service. A body not cremated the same day as the coffin is received at the crematorium may only be retained at the crematorium with the written consent of the applicant for cremation or in circumstances deemed necessary by the cremation authority.

• To operate the cremator most efficiently at Oakfield Gardens Crematorium, and in line with FBCA/ICCM guidelines, the cremation will take place within 72 hours of the funeral service. We obtain consent via acceptance of this policy from the applicant for cremation via the ‘notice of cremation’ form prior to the funeral. Staff at the crematorium can offer advice if required.

Yes, but with prior arrangements with both the funeral director and crematorium manager.

Cremation authorities who are members of the federation of burial and cremation authorities or the institute of cemetery and crematorium management are required to operate in strict accordance with a code of cremation practice. This code provides the ethical standard for cremation practice and is often displayed in the public areas of the crematorium building.

Cremation regulations require that the coffin and all its fittings and furnishings be made suitable for cremation and that the coffin is placed into the cremator in exactly the same condition as that in which it was received at the crematorium. It will not be possible for any floral tributes to be included with the coffin for cremation.

The code insists that each cremation is carried out separately. Exceptions may be made in the case of a mother and baby or twin children providing the next of kin has made a specific request in writing in this regard. (Mother and baby and twin children may share a coffin).

At the end of the cremation process the cremated remains are removed from the cremator in their entirety and transferred to a separate treatment area. Any ferrous and non-ferrous metals are disposed of in accordance with the requirements of the code of cremation practice, which states “any metal found amongst the cremated remains shall be disposed of in accordance with the directions of the cremation authority or higher authority”. Utmost care is taken to ensure that the cremated remains are kept separate from any other remains and suitably identified. The cremated remains will be kept in a separate container awaiting final disposal.

As already stated a cremator can only physically accept one coffin at a time. Once the cremation process is complete all the remains are removed before the cremator can be used again. The cremated remains are retained awaiting final disposal in a suitably identified container. The identity card referred to previously accompanies the coffin and cremated remains throughout the whole process until final disposal.

The cremation of an adult will normally result in cremated remains weighing between 2 and 4kg.

Mothers of non-viable babies and families of stillborn babies and very young deceased babies considering cremation should be advised that comprehensive guidance is available for use within UK crematoria to ensure that the operational practices in place maximise the opportunity to recover ashes at the end of the cremation process. However, as highlighted within the report of the infant cremation commission as led by Lord Bonomy, it should be made clear that there is a possibility that ashes will not be recovered and families should be reminded of the availability of the option of burial.

Body parts presented for cremation normally consist of soft tissue and in the absence of any bone structure will not produce any cremated remains.

Each crematorium differs and depending on the practice any remaining metal may be buried on the crematorium grounds and this will be noted in their records. Alternatively the metal can be recycled and the applicant for cremation will be asked for authority for this to be done.

Under existing cremation legislation in the United Kingdom cremation is only permitted in a crematorium licensed for the purpose of cremating human remains. Open air funeral pyres are not permitted; indeed an attempt to carry out an open air cremation some years ago was considered illegal by the ministry of justice. Until there has been a change in cremation legislation to enable open air cremations to take place there is no alternative but to use the facilities of a crematorium, unless the body was transported to a country where open air funeral pyres are permitted.

The garden of remembrance consists of special areas set aside for the purpose of burial or scattering of cremated remains. This area is usually adjacent to the crematorium building and is in constant use for this purpose. It may not be possible to mark or identify the exact location of individual cremated remains.

Each crematorium will have some form of memorialisation. The most popular form of permanent memorial is the book of remembrance. The book is usually displayed in a special memorial chapel/room and entries are available for viewing by the family. Some crematoria will place an entry in their book automatically whereas others may require an application made by the family. The family can choose which date the entry is made for example the date of death, birthday or wedding anniversary. Some crematoria provide mounted wall/kerb plaques which can be made of stone or metal and these are usually purchased for a limited period. Columbaria or above ground burial chambers can also be purchased on a lease basis and these will be able to hold (usually) two sets of cremated remains. Trees, shrubs and roses may be dedicated at some crematoria also for a limited period. Donations to the crematorium are often accepted for the provision of items to be used at the crematorium or for the embellishment of the grounds or building. It is advisable to check with your crematorium on their range of memorial items, terms of lease and scale of charges.

The cremated remains will have taken on a granular form and will be strewn over a wide area of ground. Chemical reaction resulting from exposure to the elements will quickly break down the remains so that within a few days little trace of them will be observed.

A small hole is dug and the cremated remains are poured loosely into the ground. The hole is then filled in. The holes may contain more than one set of cremated remains.

The applicant for cremation may collect and retain the cremated remains if required. Some crematoria will keep cremated remains for a limited period and some may make a charge for this service.

The matters referred to may be discussed in more detail with the crematorium manager. He/she will be more than pleased to answer any further questions. Alternatively, e-mail us at info@cremation.org.uk or telephone us on 01622 688292.