Your guide to cremation services

When someone dies, there are some important decisions to make. One of them is what happens to your loved one after their funeral.

As we grow older, we might start to think about what happens to us after we’re gone – whether we’d like to be buried or cremated. We help people pre-plan their funerals every day. However, we don’t all get the chance to pass on our wishes before we go.

If someone close to you has passed and you’re not sure what to do, we can help you decide what’s best.

A brief explanation of cremation

Cremation is the process of burning a body until only a fine ash remains. The process involves placing the coffin or casket into a special furnace to produce ashes for the family to take home, often in an urn.

Today, it’s a common alternative to burial with more than 70% of Australians choosing to be cremated. Cremation usually occurs after a funeral service but can also be done prior.

The cremation process

Cremation is a relatively fast, straightforward process. It can also be a far more affordable option for families than most burial options. The process generally follows these steps:

After the funeral, the body is transferred to a nearby cremation facility
Paperwork will be completed and multiple checks will be carried out before cremation
The coffin or casket is placed onto a cremation trolley
The name plate from the coffin is removed and safely placed into a slot outside the cremator (this stays with the body the entire time)
The coffin is placed into the cremator
The process then takes upwards of 90 minutes at 1,000 degrees Celsius
Afterwards, the remains are collected and refined into a powder (the ashes)
The ashes are then transferred into a container with the name plate attached. They are returned to the family who may choose to inter the ashes in a memorial park or scatter them.

What happens after cremation?

Once your loved one has been cremated, there are a few things you can do with their ashes. These are the most common choices the families we serve choose.

Keep your loved one in a memorial park

Many families purchase a memorial wall niche or spot in a rose garden at a memorial park, and store the ashes there. This gives friends, family and future generations a place to visit and reflect. We can refer you to local memorial parks to help you find a permanent resting place for your loved one.

Keep your loved one's ashes in an urn

You may choose to share the ashes with family members who want to keep a part of their loved one close. Many people keep ashes in special urns or decorative vessels at home. Some choose to keep small amounts of ashes in keepsake jewellery that can be worn close to their hearts or held in their hand.

Scatter your loved one's ashes

Other families choose a place of special significance, like their loved one’s favourite beach or lookout, to scatter the ashes. Your Mareena Purslowe Funeral Specialist can give you some advice on how to scatter ashes.