Crematorium Technician here

Marking to read later.

Thank you for this thread @ILoveKermit. I tell DH every few months to remember that I want to be cremated. My grandmother died when I was 7 and whilst I didn't go to the burial I had recurring full on nightmares for weeks and weeks afterwards about being buried alive. It's had quite a profound effect on me in that I cannot go underground (cellar, tunnels etc. (apart from the Channel tunnel weirdly)). Your thread has really resonated with me, and has helped me feel better about this topic.

@ILoveKermit

How much info do you know about the people you are cremating?

Name? Age? How/why they died?

I have so much admiration for you

I want to have a direct cremation as I really can't stand funerals. I see today that the Co-op has started providing them which is great

www.co-operativefuneralcare.co.uk/arranging-a-funeral/funeral-choices/direct-cremation/how-much-does-it-cost/

Thanks for all your clear answers, kermit.

I read somewhere once about a crematorium that 'recycled'the heat into heating the local swimming pool. it caused consternation in the local area with headlines like 'swimming with ashes' etc

Does 'your' crem reuse its leftover heat?

(I went for a job recently for a Funeral Directors - it sounded really interesting and i was gutted when I didn't get it. The office had a 'cold store' in the back and I was asked at interview if I would be nervous working there alone! )

oohnarna that would be really interesting. Please could you link to your thread from this one so we can all find it? I think a lot of people have found reassurance from this thread and yours will be equally helpful.

There’s an excellent documentary on YouTube about cremation and what happens afterwards.

ILoveKermit can I just say an enormous thank you for this very valuable thread ... you too, @oohnarna for offering to do another from the "FD side"... it's one of the most worthwhile things I've seen on here for some time

My own question: I appreciate that in some cultures it's important for the deceased to be cremated very quickly, but I wondered how this works in light of the 2-3 week wait for slots which often build up (at least round here). Are some "blocks of time" somehow held back so that these wishes can be respected?

Kermit This thread is fantastic thank you for your responses. After my miscarriage it brought me great comfort to know my baby was cremated and their ashes scattered and it's lovely to think of someone being as kind and respectful to them as you are.

ILoveKermit.
I haven't been totally sure whether I want to be buried or cremated when my time comes, mainly because I've never really thought about the whole process of cremation.
Thanks to your thread, and the learning about what actually happens , I'm now feeling more sure that cremation is the right thing for me.

Can I ask, do the Crem staff put a person's ashes into their 'final containers' (and if so, have you ever placed ashes into something unusual?) or are ashes put into the same containers and then sent to the Funeral Directors to be placed into containers of the persons/families wishes?

I hope that made sense!

Thanks, I always thought families weren’t allowed to be there. I know Hindus like to witness the initial process in traditional cremations in India so wondered how that would’ve worked in the uk.

Thank you Kermit.
It is really comforting to know that someone so lovely is looking after our loved ones behind the scenes.
You do a bloody brilliant job.

Oohnarna I would absolutely love to sea a similar thread from a funeral director. Look forward to your post

Brilliant thread . We own a green burial site and Iv seen families donfunerals completely on their own . We have had bodies buried in just a curtain ( yes the deceased was wrapped in a curtain ) .

I have another question, do family’s ever ask to stay and watch the loved one go in the cremator? Would they be allowed to stay and watch the body burn?

No, not really Kermit I was just curious. I have often thought about working shop front for a funeral director myself.

I admire you, and your obvious care and consideration for the departed

It's a shame this is in chat and will disappear; could it be moved?

My question is: are you male or female OP?

How many crematoria do you have? If it's possible for a body to take up to 3 hours, you must surely have a backlog on occasions. Our local crematorium is like a conveyor belt, there are so many done each day.

Interesting thread, thank you.

Thank you Kermit. I’d never really thought too much about what Had happened to my babies (with my 1st I was just 17 and deeply traumatised as I didn’t know you could have a missed miscarriage) the second I was numb and remember signing something but can’t remember what it was for.

Thank you. Id assumed they would just have been medical waste

Foxtrot - I would be happy to do that. I will tomorrow evening.

Wow, I assumed all along you were male.... don't really know why.

You have laid to rest so many worries I had about my mother's cremation, without even knowing I had those worries.