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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.

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Original poster
CodLiverOil556 · 31/05/2018 15:35

@TodaysFishIsTroutALaCreme you are absolutely right, wicker and cardboard do not fuel their own fire the same as wood does so uses more gas.

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Spaghettijumper · 31/05/2018 15:35

I read an article about a woman in the UK keeping her son at home after his death before he was buried and it was written about as a very unusual different thing - in Ireland (at least among my circles) it's a totally normal thing, there is no way a child would be left on their own at any point, up until they're buried/cremated. My sister's friend was laid out in her own bed until she was buried and we all went and said goodbye to her in person.

My other question is, what has working in the crematorium made you feel/think about your own life?

Original poster
CodLiverOil556 · 31/05/2018 15:34

@Vitalogy we don't separate precious metal and any other it all goes into the wheels bin ready for collection.

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TodaysFishIsTroutALaCreme · 31/05/2018 15:33

Excellent threa. It's helping to remove the taboo about dying. If it is not too crass, I would like to recommend for classics.

When thinking about an environmentally friendly cremation, surely a cardboard or wicker casket is not the way to go. Am thinking that it would take far more energy on behalf of the crematorium to finish the cremation as surely cardboard/wicker would burn very fast whereas a wooden coffin would help with the burning process by adding fuel to the fire as it were.

Basically, what I am trying to ask rather clumsily is what takes more gas/electric to complete the process. Wood or wicker?

Original poster
CodLiverOil556 · 31/05/2018 15:32

@TwitterQueen1 yes I would say so but it's really your choice. Please remember it's only my personal opinion and wouldn't want to sway your choices.

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Original poster
CodLiverOil556 · 31/05/2018 15:31

@Spaghettijumper us brits are very funny about death and dead bodies. I would like to see death being talked about more to be honest hence why I answer questions fully and honestly when people ask.

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Vitalogy · 31/05/2018 15:31

I've just had a Google, BBC article about the precious metal.

news.bbc.co.uk/1/hi/7941646.stm

TheDrinksAreOnMe · 31/05/2018 15:30

Thank you for this thread, I've attended only two cremations and a burial and always wondered about a lot of things here!

Spaghettijumper I didnt even know the UK was like that. I couldnt imagine not kissing my gran goodbye, or holding her hand.

Original poster
CodLiverOil556 · 31/05/2018 15:30

@raspberryshake they would probably have been told off yes as they could have hurt the crem tech especially the glasses.

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TwitterQueen1 · 31/05/2018 15:29

And if not wicker or cardboard, would a plain, simple wooden coffin be the best altnernative? I am planning my funeral arrangements right now.

Original poster
CodLiverOil556 · 31/05/2018 15:28

@TwitterQueen1 absolutely you can request anything but it's your family who carries out that request.

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Original poster
CodLiverOil556 · 31/05/2018 15:27

@BartholinsSister in the microwave in the kitchen...where else??

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Original poster
CodLiverOil556 · 31/05/2018 15:27

@AgentHannahWells you are well within your rights to witness the charging of the cremator but wouldn't be able to stay for the duration of the cremation. You would be asked to return in a few hours to collect the ashes.

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Spaghettijumper · 31/05/2018 15:26

Kermit - I come from a different culture where death is very much part of life and people tend to touch dead bodies and kiss them etc. Do you have any opinion on whether the hands-off approach that tends to happen in the UK has any impact on people's grieving? It seems to me that engaging more with the dead person gives a person a sense of closure and completeness but that may be just because that's what I'm used to.

raspberryshake · 31/05/2018 15:26

I love it that you say Cheerio to them. My mum passed away far too soon and unexpectedly in April this year. I miss her so much, and hope that the Crem Tech where she was cremated was as lovely to her as you are to your charges.

Can I ask though, when Mum was cremated, the funeral director said we'd get her glasses, false teeth and shoes back (we dressed her for Chapel Of Rest visits) as these items were not allowed in the cremator. However the coffin was sealed and these items inadvertently went with her (we didn't mind because what would we do with them!) but would the funeral directors have gotten into trouble?

Original poster
CodLiverOil556 · 31/05/2018 15:25

@Iwantacampervan it would be either recycled or returned to your family. Whatever they have said on the application form.

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TwitterQueen1 · 31/05/2018 15:25

What a crass question Bartholins Hmm

OP. I want a funeral service in a church but don't want anyone to attend a further crematorium service for me. I've been to a couple (my parents) and found it upsetting. Can I request a cremation with no-one in attendance and the DCs would simply collect my ashes later?

Original poster
CodLiverOil556 · 31/05/2018 15:24

@drudgewithagrudge no they're not undressed and it's very little fibres so not a huge problem. What would be a problem is a complete rubber diving suit for example but say jeans and a t shirt or a suit is absolutely fine.

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Original poster
CodLiverOil556 · 31/05/2018 15:23

@KittenBeast yes a coffin has to provided or we wouldn't be able to charge safely

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Original poster
CodLiverOil556 · 31/05/2018 15:22

@Irksomeness yes we do them and yes I agree that it's a families choice and that's the way the cremation/funeral business is going. There are a lot of companys who do the direct cremation. We at the Crematorium treat every single one the same whether they have family attending or not

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BartholinsSister · 31/05/2018 15:20

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LateDad · 31/05/2018 15:18

Kermit Thanks for this thread, and your care ... please pass on my thanks to your colleagues for their care and spread the love.

AgentHannahWells · 31/05/2018 15:18

Really interesting. I would like to watch my loved ones go in the cremator and wait while the process happens and then take the ashes that day. Is that ever allowed? It feels so fake leaving them behind the velvet curtains waiting for their turn.

Iwantacampervan · 31/05/2018 15:16

I've got an artificial hip - I hadn't thought about it before but that will be left behind if/when I'm cremated.
What an interesting thread - thank you.

Stillme1 · 31/05/2018 15:15

Kermit - Thank you so much for answering my questions

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