Cremation

Cremation is an alternative to earth burial or mausoleum entombment; It does not limit the funeral in any way. Should you choose cremation, you will still have the same options for memorialization that any other family has. Cremation can take place before or after the funeral service.

What is Cremation?

Cremation is a process of reducing the body to bone fragments by applying intense heat for a period of two to three hours. The cremated remains, which are commonly referred to as “ashes”, are removed from the cremation chamber. They are then processed into finer fragments and placed in a temporary container. The ashes weigh typically between three to six pounds. An urn may be selected for the final disposition of the cremated remains.

Where and when does cremation take place?

Cremations occur at a crematorium in a special furnace called a crematorium chamber or retort. Ontario regulations allow only one cremation at a time. Ontario regulations also state that crematoriums can only be situated on cemetery property.

Do we need to buy a casket?

Ontario’s law requires that at a minimum, the deceased must be placed into a rigid, combustible container. Many options of caskets and containers are available to you.

Can we place personal mementos in the casket prior to cremation?

Many personal items may be placed in the casket; however, some items may need to be removed prior to cremation process. All items left in the casket will be destroyed during the cremation. We can advise you on what items may stay and what items must be removed from the casket.

Do we need to have a funeral if we select cremation?

Cremation does not limit the type of funeral service that may be chosen. The same options that apply to earth burial are available with cremation. Some of these choices include: casket type, location of the service, visitation, music selection, open casket and the display of personal mementos. Some families elect to have a complete service at the funeral home or place of worship. Others prefer to have a procession to the crematorium, similar to that often done to the cemetery, for an earth burial.

Is embalming required?

Embalming is not mandatory; however, some circumstances may require it. If you prefer an open casket with a visitation prior to the service, embalming is highly recommended.

What is an urn?

An urn is a container designed to hold the cremated remains permanently. It may be constructed from a variety of materials such as wood, bronze, copper, steel, pewter, granite, marble, clay pottery, or fine porcelain. We have a large selection of urns available, designed to reflect the lifestyle and personality of an individual. Urns may also be personalized by engraving. Urns also come in a variety of sizes that allow more than one member of the family to have a portion of the cremated remains.

What can we do with the cremated remains?

Burial

The cremated remains may be buried in an existing cemetery plot or a new plot may be purchased.

Inurnment

The urn may be placed in a niche in an above ground structure called a columbarium.

Scattering

Some cemeteries have scattering areas on their property. Cremated remains may be scattered on private or public property if authorization is obtained. Properties may be bought and sold so it is important to know that once the scattering takes place, the cremated remains are irretrievable. Scattering on either public or private property may offend some people and there may be laws prohibiting such action.

Shipping

You may wish for the cremated remains to be shipped to another country. We can look after these arrangements for you. You may also be permitted to take the cremated remains yourself to another country. Check with us first and we can assist you to obtain any additional documentation that may be required.

Keeping

Many people prefer to have the urn at home with them.

Is cremation less expensive than burial?

Typically, it is less expensive than earth burial. Depending on which cemetery is selected, the cremation cost may be less expensive than the purchase of a cemetery plot. There are coroner fees to authorize the cremation, an urn to purchase and possible transportation costs of delivering the urn to its final destination.

Travelling with Cremated Remains Information Sheet