Crematorium Technician here

Irrespective of the type of funeral you chose at the crematorium is it the case that formally the person’s body cannot be cremated until it’s been committed?

Is it true that your head explodes?

This is very interesting! l have 2 plates and 9 screws in one ankle, and an artificial hip on the same leg. l hope they get recycled after l've gone!

What a fantastic thread!

Thank you, kermit, for starting it and for the job you do

I'm a GP and fill in death certificates that now include the creation questions including whether there are any hazardous substances in the body.
The main risks to crematoria is anything that can explode, so usually anything with a batter: pace makers and ICDs (implantable cardioversion devices i.e. mini defibrillators that get implanted in a v similar way to pace makers).
I am now aware of any metal work (joint replacements, surgical wire and nails, shrapnel etc) being a problem and have never been asked about breast implants (surely even silicone ones will just burn off? I don't actually know).

Also, infectious diseases that could be a risk to the under takers or anybody else handling the body need to be declares.

As an aside, IME undertakers are as a rule lovely people who have nothing but respect for the people in their care (their expression, not mine) and their relatives.
I think it takes a rather special person to deal with death day in and day out - either that, or it is the job that makes people not sweat the small stuff

I used to volunteer for a childrens hospice and we were sent on a tour of a crematorium and saw all the behind the scenes stuff that happens after the curtains shut, it's very interesting and changed my mind from being buried to being cremated

@fcekinghell you should probably ask them who it’s with.

Kermit, what happens if the person has a cochlear implant? Not sure if that is removed?

Also in the case of funeral plans, my parents have one but I wouldn't have the first clue how to find out about them if they were to die, so how do I ensure their wishes are met if I don't even know where to look or who to ask?

ILoveKermit I always say Cheerio and wish them well when charging a cremator - that is so lovely such a nice thing to hear has brought tears to my eyes.

This thread is FASCINATING.

I am a Wills and Probate Solicitor-I’ve dealt with peoples estates who have had no family and have left specific instructions for the lowest cost funeral with no service and nothing to be done with the ashes. As the solicitor and only person to do it I have arranged such funerals-the FDs have always been extraordinarily helpful. The ashes have been scattered at the memorial garden at the funeral home.

It’s worth noting that funeral wishes in a Will are not legally binding - they are often incredibly helpful as often families have not discussed such things and they can really help at a time when emotions are running high. I would say though that if you have very specific and strong views that there is a danger your family will not follow, you should think about planning a prepaid funeral.

Sorry slightly off topic but I noticed a few people mentioning funeral instructions in Wills...!

@Roomba

It’s a very old joke, don’t worry about it. Just an attempt at a little light relief.

Is it true that if I people are late to a cremation, you can put the deceased on a low-light until everyone arrives?

I don't understand this question - I think someone's been pulling our leg! the actual cremation itself is done after the service of remembrance. They don't load people in then relatives turn up at an appointed time to stand round and view the process, so how is it possible to be late for a cremation? If you were late for the service of remembrance, I imagine it would just begin without you as there are strict time slots for use of the rooms.

We asked to watch the cremation of my father straight after his funeral and it really helped.

I've seen quite a few willow coffins. Are the bodies removed from them or are they burnt all together. Both my mum and my bro had willow (or was it bamboo? can't remember, it was a while ago and I was in complete shock).

I still have their ashes, and wondered if I am holding willow ashes too.

Thank you for an interesting and informative thread, Kermit.

Thank you for such an informative and respectful thread.
May I ask do you ever cremate organs separately or would they be put in with another body? A relative had organs removed for medical science, (they died in their 90s old of a very rare condition)once they had analysed the organs I had the option of cremating them or given that what they had found was of interest, allowing them to be stored incase they might be of further use in the future. I chose the latter but I did wonder if they would do a completely separate cremation if I'd chosen that route.
Thank you.

I have heard in the past that people could see flames as the curtains close. I can assure you that if you ever see this then something has gone very wrong and the Crematorium is on fire!
Fabulous

That’s a properly hot thread indeed!

Kermit thank you so much for putting our minds at rest

No body is taken out of the coffin before cremation in fact, it would be illegal to do so.

@ILoveKermit

Sorry, it was just a small joke

Very comforting thread.
I've lost 4 immediate family members in the past 5 years - 3 of them were cremated - I can honestly say I have never given much thought to what happened 'afterwards' ...
My Mum was buried at her will, and I think it cost us circa 10k to do so, for a grave I visit on average once a year. I think of her 1000 times a day.
I genuinely believe burials should almost be outlawed - there seems to be no logical sense to them - however I wholly accept the heritage of burials and the sentimentality attached to grieving loved ones.

Elendon I asked about a cardboard or even coffin free cremation recently, apparently both would need much more fuel to ensure cremation and are less environmentally friendly. So DF went to meet his maker courtesy of a chipboard basic coffin. He expressly didn't want to 'waste' a tree.

@Elendon

I don't understand people who visit graves. But that's just me.

That just reminds me of a line on The Young Ones. “Do you dig graves?”

• “Yeah, they’re alright.”

burying loved ones in the ground in a shroud and wrapping leaves and flowers all over them someone said you can't have that in the UK, yes you can, there are green burial companies that have sites for natural decomposition which use more easily decomposing coffins or shrouds and you can put flowers on them before burial.

Really wonderful thread. So pleased this has been moved to Classics. I've learned so many new things from reading it.

Thank you for starting it OP and thank you to everyone who works so hard to look after the remains of people's friends and relatives at such a difficult time.