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Frequently Asked Questions...
All About Cremation

  • Q. What is Cremation?

    A.  The Cremation Association of North America describes cremation as, "The mechanical and/or thermal or other dissolution process that reduces human remains to bone fragments". In very basic terms, cremation is a flame-based process in which a human body is placed into a cremation retort where it is reduced to an ash or granular substance.

  • Q: What is a Direct Cremation?

    A: A direct, basic or immediate cremation refers to a cremation service without any visitation, funeral, celebration or other type of memorial.  In the instance of a direct cremation, the deceased is transferred from the place of death to the funeral establishment to be placed into a cremation casket and is transported to the crematorium.  Prior to cremation taking place, information must be provided in order to fulfill requirements from the government and coroner.  A funeral director will ensure that all of these forms are filled out correctly, and will obtain approval from all authorities on behalf of the family.  (Because direct cremation does not include any additional services, it is the most economical option.)

  • Q: I just want a basic/direct cremation. Can I get this at a funeral home?

    A: Absolutely.  A funeral home is licensed to provide all services, from a direct cremation (exactly what a basic transfer service provides) to celebrations of life, gatherings, receptions, funerals or any other type of commemorative event you can imagine.  Many people think that funeral homes are all more costly than transfer services, and this simply isn’t the case.  We encourage you to contact us to discuss your wishes and find out about all the options available.  You can then make an informed decision about what type of arrangement/plan is best for you and your loved ones.

  • Q. How soon after a death can cremation take place?

    A. Unlike burial, cremation is final and irreversible.  This requires us to be ‘extra diligent’ in obtaining cremation authorization from the legally identified next-of-kin or executor, as well as those from all necessary agencies (such as a coroner, who by law is required to authorize each cremation).  During these 48-72 hours (depending on numerous factors and circumstances), the deceased will be held in our care in a secure, refrigerated environment, within the funeral home’s secure holding facilities.

  • Q: Are cremations done individually?

    A: Yes.  Only one person and the casket are cremated at a time.

  • Q: Is a casket required?

    A: Ontario law requires a closed casket or rigid container made of wood or other combustible material to allow for the dignified and safe handling of human remains.  The type of casket is really a personal decision, and there are numerous options available to suit all budgets and preferences.

  • Q: Can we put special items in the casket before cremation?

    A: That all depends on what those items are, but we do our best to accommodate the family’s wishes.  Most commonly, families will ask to place notes, photos, children’s drawings, flowers or other personal messages of love; but we’ve certainly had some other unique requests! We encourage you to speak with your funeral director to learn the regulations of the crematory responsible for your loved one’s cremation.  Please keep in mind that personal items are not recoverable after the cremation.  In many instances, families choose to place jewellery or other small items in the urn with the cremated remains after the cremation is complete.

  • Q: Are people dressed when they are cremated?

    A: We hear this question often! Some people choose to be shrouded in a simple cotton sheet, but most of the time the person is dressed in the clothing chosen by their family members or something they’ve selected prior to their death.

  • Q: Can I participate in the cremation?

    A: There are numerous options available (from following your loved one out to the crematory, to then viewing the casket go into the cremation chamber, to initiating the cremation process itself), depending on the specific crematory responsible for the care of your loved one.  Our crematorium has been designed to accommodate family witnessing in a comfortable environment (if wished).  The degree to which you can participate may vary from crematory to crematory, but we encourage you to speak with us to tell us what is important to you.

  • Q: How long does cremation take?

    A: Generally speaking (for an average-sized adult) the cremation process will take 2-4 hours.  The length of time may vary depending on the crematory’s equipment, how large the person is and the casket selected.  A cool-down period follows, and the cremated remains are then processed for a uniform appearance.

  • Q: What do cremated remains look like?

    A: Ashes of an average adult weight between 2 and 4 kilograms (3 to 7 pounds) and are usually gray in colour, and resemble coarse sand once processed.

  • Q: What is the difference between a funeral home and a transfer service?

    A: A funeral home can embalm a deceased (if wished) and host celebrations of life, visitations, traditional funerals and other gatherings.  A transfer service can do neither, nor can they participate in a funeral service of any kind. All other basic services provided are the same, with additional options offered by certain firms/establishments/businesses.  Contrary to what many people think, funeral homes are not necessarily more expensive than a transfer service.  Every establishment is different and so are its package offerings.  It is important to understand all of your options and then be able to compare ‘apples to apples’.  We encourage you to speak candidly about cremation costs with your funeral professional.

  • Q: How soon after the cremation are the ashes ready?

    A: Generally, cremated remains will be released/available within 24-36 hours of the date of cremation.  Depending on the circumstances, it may be possible to expedite the process.  Ashes are only released by the funeral home to the individual legally responsible as designated on the Cremation Application.

  • Q: What happens to jewellery during the cremation process?

    A: The extreme temperature attained during the cremation destroys items of jewellery, making them unrecoverable.  If you wish to keep any jewellery, we suggest they be removed by your funeral director before the casket is transferred to the crematorium.

  • Q: What if the deceased had a medical implant such as a pacemaker, defibrillator or radioactive device?

    A: It is essential that pacemakers, defibrillators and other medical implants (including radioactive implants) be removed before cremation takes place.  Such devices may explode when subjected to high temperatures, which can be very hazardous.  An individual who has received radioactive treatments such as Thera-Seeds are not candidates for cremation, and instead must be buried.

  • Q: What happens to metal objects (surgical screws, dental work, implants, knee or hip replacement parts, etc.)?

    A: Any non-consumed metal objects remaining after the cremation has taken place are removed with the help of strong magnets and/or by hand after manual inspection.  All metals are disposed of as per local regulations.

  • Q: What should I do with my loved one’s ashes (cremated remains)?

    A: There are no ‘shoulds’ when it comes to personal decisions such as this one. There are many options to consider, including scattering on land or water (in accordance with all laws), placing a portion in keepsake jewellery, cemetery burial or ennichement, or keeping them at home with you.  There is no ‘have-to-do’ when it comes to these types of decisions – if you’d like to know more about your options, just give us a call.  We’ll share what we know from our experience.


    Click here to read more about some of the basic options available.

  • Q: Can two people be placed in one urn?

    A: Absolutely; this involves placing the cremated remains of each person in separate compartments of one companion urn, with many different design options available.

  • Q: What is co-mingling?

    A: Co-mingling cremated remains means that two people’s cremated are mixed, or “mingled” together in an urn, most often a companion urn.  Co-mingling is most often a personal choice or preference of the couple, and involves the cremated remains being mixed together and placed into a one-piece companion urns.

  • Q: When I die, I want my family to have a party or a celebration, not a sad dreary funeral service. Can this be done?

    A: At the time of a death, we celebrate the life lived. How this celebration is created is an essential element of our discussion with you.

 We are happy to answer all of your questions.  We encourage you to contact us to
speak with one of our staff members if you have specific questions that you would like answered, or
simply fill out the form below and we will reach out to you. It's as simple as that!

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