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Cremation is a method of
disposition of human remains.
A person’s body is reduced to small
pieces of bone fragments by a process of intense
heat. Those
fragments are then pulverized by machine.
The end result is referred to as cremated
remains or ashes.
Our
funeral home does not have a crematory on site.
We use one of the 7 crematories in
Allegheny County, all of which are highly
reputable and experienced.
Funeral
and Cremation
Even
though cremation is chosen as the method of
disposition of the body, a funeral can still be
held. Cremation
would follow a funeral service that can include
viewing or visitation with a closed casket.
Services could be held at the funeral
home or in a church.
In
our area, 15% of the dispositions are via
cremation.
At our funeral home, 70% of those
families have a funeral with a service, followed
by cremation.
Disposition
of Ashes
Although
a family chooses cremation, the disposition of
the ashes must also be determined.
There are no regulations in Pennsylvania
regarding the disposition of ashes.
Families can choose whichever method they
are comfortable with.
Most
often, ashes are buried in a cemetery, either in
an already occupied grave or a grave to be used
specifically for that individual.
Also, many cemeteries provide niches for
cremated remains in their mausoleums.
Scattering
is also an option for disposal of ashes.
Typically this can be done anywhere as
long as there are no trespassing violations or
government regulations.
Some
families choose to retain the ashes in their
homes.
Urns
There
must be a container to hold the ashes after
cremation.
Most commonly, families will select an
urn to contain the ashes, especially if there is
to be a service with the ashes present, burial
or entombment of the ashes, or if they are to be
retained by the family.
Where no urn is selected from our funeral
home, the crematories return the ashes to the
funeral home in temporary urns made of black
plastic or cardboard.
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