Cremation has become the most popular form of disposition globally. In many countries around the world, it is the predominant form of disposition of human remains following death. In the Greater Toronto Area (GTA) the cremation rate has gone up from 5% in 1970 to over 80% last year.
Traditional Funeral Services vs. Direct Cremation
While many people have a traditional funeral service, with visitation and a service in either a place of worship or in the funeral home chapel, some others choose to have what is often called a “direct cremation”, with no service, visitation, or gathering.
What Is Direct Cremation?
A direct cremation is the simplest form of cremation available. Families can purchase and organize a direct cremation by making arrangements through a funeral home. The funeral home arranges the transfer of the deceased from the place of death (home, hospital, nursing home) to the funeral home. The deceased’s body (normally after washing and dressing out of respect – embalming of the body is not required by law, and not usually necessary if no one is viewing the deceased as part of the funeral ritual) is placed in a casket or cremation container – this can be a simple, unlined and unadorned casket if no one is viewing the body prior to cremation taking place. The funeral home arranges to register the death, obtain a Coroner’s Cremation Certificate, and contracts with the crematorium to perform the cremation. A direct cremation does not involve the family viewing the body, or gathering for any kind of service through the funeral home. After the cremation, the cremated remains are returned to the funeral home to return to the family.
Pros and Cons of Direct Cremation
There are pros and cons to choosing direct cremation. Direct cremation is often chosen because people perceive it to be simpler and more affordable than other funeral options. While direct cremation may be easier to arrange and less expensive, many grief experts highlight the time-honoured need for people to gather to begin the grieving process through some form of ritual, ceremony, gathering or service to honour the deceased, share stories, and express condolences to the family of the deceased.
Memorial Services After Direct Cremation
With a direct cremation, the family of the deceased may choose to privately organize a service or “celebration of life” with or without the cremated remains present, normally in a decorative urn. Some people plan these at a golf clubhouse, a church, a banquet hall or restaurant, or even in their homes or yard, in good weather.
Final Disposition of Cremated Remains
Cremation offers families more options for the final disposition of the remains. A family may keep the cremated remains in their home, they may bury them in a licensed cemetery (often in a family plot or a 2’ X 2’ cremation burial plot that can be purchased), or in a “niche” in a columbarium in a cemetery. A columbarium is a permanent structure (indoor or outdoor) that contains small compartments in which to place cremated remains, and usually provides an opportunity to put the name and details of birth and death dates on the front (often made of granite or marble). Cremated remains may also be scattered in Ontario – on private property with the permission of the land owner, and on public property or waterways with no permission required. There is no environmental threat from cremated remains. A family may also divide up the cremated remains for various family members to keep either in an urn, a container or sometimes even placed in decorative jewellery.
What Is Witness Cremation?
For many people, a witnessed cremation is part of their tradition. A witnessed cremation is organized through the funeral home, who books a specific time at the Crematorium for the family to attend. The family is able to view the casket being placed into the cremation retort (cremation chamber), and to ceremonially push the ignite button to begin the incineration process. For families of Hindu or Buddhist faiths, this is the most common practice. However, more and more people of other faiths and cultural backgrounds are beginning to witness the cremation.
Process of Witnessed Cremation
A witnessed cremation usually involves having up to half an hour of final prayers or eulogies at the crematorium, followed by the loading of the casket into the cremation retort. Once the cremation process begins, the family leaves the crematorium, and the staff complete the process. The cremation process can take up to 4.5 hours depending on the weight of the deceased and the composition of the casket.
Pros and Cons of Witnessed Cremation
There are pros and cons to choosing witness cremation. Some people feel that witnessing is an important part of their mourning, while others find it too difficult emotionally to contemplate watching this part of the cremation process.
Cremated remains are returned to the funeral home following the normal processing of the cremated remains, for final disposition as previously discussed.
Understanding the Cremation Process
Direct or witnessed cremation both involve the processing of cremated remains prior to returning them to the funeral home and family. Cremation takes place at approximately 1600 degrees Fahrenheit, and so the only part of the body that remains in the cremation chamber are bone fragments. These are processed using a specialized machine into a fine flaky or powdery substance that are called cremated remains or colloquially referred to by some as “ashes.” These are then placed into a sealed plastic bag with an identification tag and returned either in a labelled cardboard container or a decorative urn.
Cremation Services at North Toronto Crematorium
As one of the GTA’s newest and most trusted cremation services providers, North Toronto Crematorium offers the full range of choices for families including direct or witnessed cremation, or even on site gatherings and services in our Prayer Room prior to the cremation.
