Crematorium Technician here

[CodLiverOil556]

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.

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

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

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

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.

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

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

@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.

@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.

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?

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

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?

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

@Spaghettijumper I have told my own children about death and dying and I answer their questions honestly. Being reminded of your own mortality every single day makes you reflect on your life and I try to live as if each day is my last.

Aww Kermit the honour and I can't think of the words as I'm a sobbing wreck, but it's really moved me, as a relative that was cremated always spoke about burial. The dignity you show, is just so lovely, you are a really special person.

So in that case kermit it means wicker/cardboard is not environmentally friendly. Very interesting. Thank you

Really interesting thread. How do people react when they find out what your job is?

I don't have any preferences OP, so I'm keen to learn more. I would probably have gone for cardboard or wicker on ecological grounds. Can you get bamboo coffins? (There's enough bamboo in my garden if anyone wants to make one for me.)

@Thesearmsofmine I get asked the very same questions on here or I get crass jokes!

@stillme1 - We questioned the size of my sister's coffin with the funeral director and they explained that there needs to be a minimum of space between the deceased and the coffin. Also, coffins come in standard sizes so to speak and aren't bespoke so it's all to do with the space required and whatever size coffin accomodates that.

Op - thank you for this thread.

Should I have said 'misplaced' ecological grounds?

kermit--good post,you are helping many with it.
my fam has been cremated since the 1860s.recently there have been companies doing funeral pyres.
the pyre is a permenent concrete base,so no building one everytime.wood is used for the fire.pine/juniper.
my dad wanted a viking funeral so would have been very pleased.
just wondering what you think of this and is it happening in the uk?

*minimum amount of space between the deceased and coffin

I don't have a question I can think of yet, but this is, in a very odd way, one of the most uplifting threads I think I've ever read on here. It's giving so much comfort to people, as well as making us think more about the practicalities.

@ILoveKermit thank you so much for starting this - I really admire your respect for those you tend to. I might have cried a bit that you wish each of them well - no one but you would know you do it, but somehow it makes such a difference, to know that loved ones are looked after until they are fully gone.

That's what I am now thinking twitterqueen.

@mrjoepike I've not heard of pyres happening in the uk and can't imagine ever being allowed due to the risks

If anyone is in Bristol you can see the old cremator in Armos Vale cemetery- it’s in the basement of the cafe (!) It’s really fascinating. Oddly, I went there with ds when he was only 2 and didn’t say to him what it was (and a 2 yo would never guess) and he got a bit tearful and said it was a ‘sad place’ that he didn’t like. It’s certainly an unusual place to visit.