A new alternative that has come up to the traditional funeral is the process of cremation. It is becoming a much more preferred due to the low cost involved in the cremation services. All the cremation procedures are controlled by the 1990 Environmental Protection act so they do not have a negative impact against the environment.

The cremation services usually cost less than the traditional funeral. You can either buy or rent the casket or do neither of these at all as the body can be transported to the crematorium directly for further processing. The overall price depends on a number of factors such as whether you want just the cremation, a viewing period or a memorial service along with the cremation service.

In the process of cremation the body is exposed to very high heat ranging between 1800 and 2000 degrees for two hours or more. The complete process of this cremation diminishes the remains to its basic elements. The entire process is carried out in a crematorium. A special type of chamber called the cremation chamber or retort is where the body is placed. After the cremation process is over the bone fragments are left of the body. A mechanic process is implied which additionally diminishes the size of the fragments until a uniformity of coarse white pasty sand is obtained. These fragments are then kept in a container for further transportation.

The cremation can take place without the casket or without any embalmment of the body itself. There is a 24 to 48 hour long waiting period before the body can be cremated in some states. The crematoriums always follow a strict guideline within government policies to ensure that the families are delivered the correct remains after the cremation process. If the burial location or an urn is not supplied all the remains are kept in container and returned to the respective family. The remains then can be kept at home or buried in the cemeteries or in a cremation garden or scattered at sea.

It is to be noted though that not all religions permit such cremation funerals. The Islamic and Jewish faiths do not allow their worshippers to be cremated at all. All the Christians denominations and the major religions worldwide allow their followers to be cremated. The cremation process can be viewed by the family as a part of the funeral process.

Be sure to speak to various cremation services to see what they have to offer. Many of them might have one or more package option for you which might even include an urn with other options. Some of the cremation services can even contact the Social Services to inform them of the death and they can even put a notice on the newspaper if you want.