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.

[CodLiverOil556]

@Icanttakemuchmore pins/plates/metal bits are removed after cremation but before cremulation.

[ciderhouserules]

Pupsiecola yes I think that's probably the article. (I thik I prob read it on FB and the 'Swimming with Ashes' comment was on there) Gosh was it really 2013? It's a shame things haven't progressed further to using the heat from all cremators.

[WorkingItOutAsIGo]

Thank you so much - I had such a wonderful experience with the Funeral Directors when we buried my DF but knew less about the crematorium side of things - in fact always found it a bit creepy and soulless. I know see I was wrong and am so touched and moved by your words. I hope you - or someone like you - works where we cremated my DF.

Nominating for classics too.

[Elendon]

What's the cheapest way to get buried?

Is cremation adding to climate warming?

Am I better just getting burned without the coffin? I really don't mind if ashes are mingled. I'm not into purity.

[Catrina1234]

Sorry I haven't read the whole thread as don't have time now but will come back to it - very interesting. I don't want an expensive funeral as I think charges are excessive. I've looked into it and there are people operating a much cheaper system. I don't want a funeral - just my immediate family gathering later. I understand that the body can be handed over at the crem (by arrangement) but can't be a cardboard coffin. Is that right, something to do with the burning process? There are other papers you need aren't there - obviously death certificate, but anything else? I don't want any ashes, just driven in a car to the crem and handed over - is that possible. Thank you so much for this thread.

[DesignStatement]

Do you not think it is such a waste when people have loved ones cremated wearing precious jewellery if it just ends up at the scrapyard?

[LornaMumsnet]

Hi all,

We've had an awful lot of classics nominations for this thread. It's wonderful how informative everyone is finding this.

We're moving this over to classics now for safekeeping.

[Fadingmemory]

Kermit,

What an interesting thread! Thank you for your answers.

[Elendon]

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

[Catrina1234]

How do we find classics please?

[tolerable]

ooooh..i waas reading this earlier today www.lonite.co.uk/?gclid=CjwKCAjw3cPYBRB7EiwAsrc-uQHiTX42K3QO8q7qQ_JMC72oGlPosUJjCZTSeWnQdecA2EgMMMeotxoCZ_IQAvD_BwE. op..are you going to be funeral director or is that seperate?

[DailyMailClickbait]

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.

[Thespringsthething]

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.

[Penfold007]

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.

[Mimsy123]

@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.”

[escape]

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.

[Mimsy123]

@ILoveKermit

Sorry, it was just a small joke

[RGNstaffnurse]

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

[Mrsmadevans]

Kermit thank you so much for putting our minds at rest

[SuspiciouslyMinded]

That’s a properly hot thread indeed!

[Nikephorus]

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

[ladymelbourne1926]

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.

[foreststew]

Thank you for an interesting and informative thread, Kermit.

[Jux]

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.

[MsJudgemental]

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