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Original poster

Crematorium Technician here

686 replies

CodLiverOil556 · 31/05/2018 13:11

I see lots of threads about cremations and Crematoria. I'm currently a crem tech so please ask me questions and I will endeavor to answer them.

OP posts:
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Original poster
CodLiverOil556 · 31/05/2018 22:36

@waterlego that's a question for a funeral director and I think it depends on how hot/cold it is. The deceased and lots of other factors.

OP posts:
waterlego6064 · 31/05/2018 22:34

Would really love a Q&A with a mortician/embalmer/unsure of the correct term, if any are around to host a thread? My daughter recently expressed an interest in the process of how the deceased are ‘prepared’ for their cremation or burial, and I realised I’m quite interested too!

WitchDancer · 31/05/2018 22:32

I much prefer our way of doing things! Thank you, that has been very reassuring

FoxtrotSkarloey · 31/05/2018 22:32

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waterlego6064 · 31/05/2018 22:32

I’m really interested in this idea of families taking their own loved ones to the crematorium; I had no idea one was ‘allowed’ to do that. Sorry to ask a crass question, but how soon would a body need to be moved out of the home and off to the crem, before it started to..degrade?

Original poster
CodLiverOil556 · 31/05/2018 22:19

@Weaverspin can you see how different a british Crematorium is to the American one upthread.

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Perpetualstateofchaos · 31/05/2018 22:18

@kermit thank you for answering I just thought I'd ask as mum randomly mentions thibgs she would like me to do for it when the time comes.

EatRepeatEatRepeat · 31/05/2018 22:16

Helpful thread. As a vicar I’ve met so many families who are worried about the practicalities of the crematorium and are often afraid to ask these questions. I get on really well with our local crem staff and have had a full tour to enable me to offer reassurance and answers to families if required.

Weaverspin · 31/05/2018 22:09

This is a link to a good 'behind the scenes' tour of a British crematorium which someone mentioned up-thread. It puts to rest some myths and worries - . (It has a warning on it, but it's not graphic - it shows a coffin being 'charged' into a cremator, and a short shot through the cremator spyhole, but nothing detailed).

Original poster
CodLiverOil556 · 31/05/2018 22:05

@WitchDancer for one our crematory is not dark and dingy like that one and also we receive coffins in whole.

The coffin is lined up and the machine is started (this switches any burners off) the door opens and you push the coffin in and close the door.

The door is not opened again until the last flicker of flame has extinguished. They on the video seem to be bashing the remains down whilst a burner is going?

The remains are then raked into a sump and the door closed then the process starts again.

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thelmalouisewaitforme · 31/05/2018 22:03

@ILoveKermit Thank you for starting this thread and taking the time to answer everyone's questions. I have always been absolutely terrified of crematoriums but you have helped to ease this for me, so that I can try to look at them in a new light.

Thank you also for the caring way you go about your job and your respect for people right until the end of their journey.

Original poster
CodLiverOil556 · 31/05/2018 22:01

@Perpetualstateofchaos probably not but his ashes could be mixed with hers when they are scattered or buried whichever you're having.

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WitchDancer · 31/05/2018 22:01

How does your process differ from the video?

Thank you for the insight

Perpetualstateofchaos · 31/05/2018 21:59

My mum has expressed her wish of having a small amount of my brother's ashes in her coffin with her. Would we be allowed to do this. I know you have answered for pets ashes but not sure if the same answer applies.

Accountant222 · 31/05/2018 21:53

Thanks for sharing I've really enjoyed reading this thread.

When my Dad died 28 years ago, I was a bit overwhelmed by the kindness and respect the people we had to deal with showed us.

My Grandad died when I was 14, he was quite well known locally, he had a business and employed quite a few people, when we went from the church to the cemetery in the cars, people lined the streets and took off their caps and bowed their heads, this was 1970, it broke my heart.

Original poster
CodLiverOil556 · 31/05/2018 21:53

@NotAnotherNoughtiesTune yes they would act as fuel but fat really fuels the fire

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NotAnotherNoughtiesTune · 31/05/2018 21:51

@ILoveKermit Sorry I meant with the muscle question would the .muscle act similar to fuel like fat or wouldn't it make much difference.

It's a fascinating subject.

BibiBlocksberg · 31/05/2018 21:50

Thank you for this thread OP & the reminder that through facing Death we also connect to life as one cannot exist without the other.

Well, in my case anyway.

Feels like such a taboo subject in everyday society, really great to see an open discussion on it.

Original poster
CodLiverOil556 · 31/05/2018 21:48

@NotAnotherNoughtiesTune I've not ever come across the family wanting to keep a body part and as far as I know a person has to be kept whole but yes that's one for a funeral director.

With the amount of ashes you get you can never tell how much you're going to get whether that person be very tall or very short. Flesh/muscle/organs all burn away to nothing so it is just bones and a bit of coffin in the ashes.

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Buxbaum · 31/05/2018 21:48

God bless you, @ILoveKermit, for the work that you do and for the comfort that this thread has brought so many people Flowers

NotAnotherNoughtiesTune · 31/05/2018 21:45

Excellent threD @ILoveKermit you've been great answering questions.

Have you ever had a family member ask for a certain body part to not go through the cremator (this may be more the funereal directors job but unsure if you've heard of it?)

Would someone tall (say 6'4') be heavier Ash wise than a short person (5ft).
Also would someone being muscular make their burning easier s not just lots of bone and skin or harder as fat would be limited?

Sorry if they are very morbid.

I definitely agree death shouldn't be such a big taboo. It's perfectly natural (though obviously not desired) aand everyone will die one day, so to understand the process as well as the ins and outs can make it. Lot was frightening for those who fear how their body will be treated.

Thank you s much for having empathy even once the person has died - it shows you're truly a kind person. 💐

Ilikesweetpeas · 31/05/2018 21:43

Fascinating thread, thank you for explaining so much

RaininSummer · 31/05/2018 21:40

Excellent thread. Always found this rather interesting. Didnt know that wicker and cardboard arent ideal so will now change instructions to cheap wood. I want a direct cremation if my family can handle it. I may buy a coffin and decorate it. I could store wool in it while I wait.
As others have said, your respect for the dead shines through. Thank you for that.

Original poster
CodLiverOil556 · 31/05/2018 21:40

@Akire burial coffins are solid metal but cremation ones are plastic look a likes but if say we got a burial coffin the yes the funeral director would have to remove them before we could cremate it

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MizCracker · 31/05/2018 21:31

What a great thread.

I'm lucky to have only been to two grandparent's funerals in my adult life, and both times I was so touched by the funeral home staff who drove the hearse and bowed to the coffin as it sat at the front of the room. It was so respectful. Now I know that respect and professionalism carries on once the funeral service is over too.