Cremation vs Burial: What's Right for Your Loved One?

Burial vs Cremation

Generally, most people tend to choose cremation over burials thinking it’s a cheaper option. In some cases this is correct, however there are cercumstances where it can be cheaper for a burial, e.g. holding a pre-purchased or family owned plot.

Often however, burial is selected over cremation for religious beliefs.

Cemetery

When purchasing a grave at a cemetery, there are a number of options to consider: Above ground burials, e.g crytps or vaults, lawn graves which may come with a uniformed headstone, a monumental lawn where you can erect a headstone or a full monumental section.

Majestic Funerals can assist you with liaising or purchasing any of these types of graves and can even provide temporary grave markers.

Cremation

When choosing to cremate, the ashes can be provided in a simple PVC urn which is included in the cremation fee. Alternatively, we have a choice of beautifully designed urns to choose from. We also provide a 20% discount on these when choosing Majestic Funerals to arrange a cremation service.

Ashes can also be placed in jewellery, or you can choose to memorialize ashes within the grounds of the cemetery, family grave, crematorium grounds, or scattered at a special location or scattered out to sea.

Understanding the Cremation Process

At Majestic Funerals we strive to maintain the highest standard of respect and believe it is a privilege to serve families or lost loved ones. In doing so, we take the utmost care and respect, which is reflected in how we deal with a loved one throughout the cremation process.

We manage all aspects of the cremation process so you can ensure your loved one is receiving the utmost care.

As standard, we:

Abide by Government regulations
Follow our own strict policies, procedures and code of behaviour
Ensure the nameplate remains alongside the deceased throughout the cremation process
Ensure cremated remains of an individual are kept together and not mixed with other cremated remains
Bury unclaimed cremated remains in a dignified manner within the grounds of the crematorium

Detailing the Process

After the funeral service

Following the funeral service, we transport your loved one to the crematorium. Once accepted by crematorium staff, the cremation process begins and we ensure the coffin remains sealed throughout the entire cremation process.

Verification of deceased

Majestic Funerals verify the identity of the deceased via the nameplate on the coffin, ensuring the details match the Application for Cremation and the Medical Certificate or Coroner’s Cremation Permit received from the funeral director. In addition to confirmation of death, the medical certificate indicates if battery-powered devices (such as a pacemaker) have been removed.

Flowers

Flowers remaining with the coffin for the cremation prcoess are carefully disposed of, however families can instruct Majestic Funerals or ask their funeral director during the arrangement process if they wish to retain flower arrangements following the funeral service.

When will the cremation occur?

The cremation will generally be carried out on the same day as the funeral service but can occur up to 48 hours after. If the cremation is not to occur immediately, the coffin is held in a refrigerated holding room at the crematorium.

Preparation for cremation

When cremation is due to occur:

The coffin is transferred onto an insertion trolley
Any item that may hinder the cremation process, such as metal handles are removed
The nameplate is removed and placed alongside the cremator for identification throughout the process
The coffin is inserted into the cremator

In all cases, the coffin and deceased are cremated together. Cremation begins immediately once the coffin is inserted into the cremator.

The cremation process

Cremators generally comprise of a main cremating chamber, a secondary air chamber and a holding chamber. The coffin is cremated within the main chamber.

Coffins are cremated individually, or in other words, only one coffin is ever placed inside the main cremation chamber at any one time.

At the completion of the main phase of the cremation process, the cremated remains are moved into the holding chamber to finalise the cremation. Once finalised, the cremated remains are placed into a cooling container. When cooled, metallic contents (prostheses, coffin nails etc.) are separated from the remains.

Cremated remains or ashes

Commonly cremated remains are referred to as ‘ashes’. However, technically there are no ashes, what are left are the fragile calcified bone fragments.

Radioactive ashes are treated differently – further details can be provided by your Family Service Advisor at Rookwood Memorial Gardens & Crematorium.

Ash container

The cremated remains are transferred to a processor to reduce the bone fragments to a fine granule-type consistency which in turn is placed in a sealed container. The nameplate and an identifying label are then attached to the container.

The container accommodates all of the cremated remains. In the unusual event that an ash container is insufficient to hold all of the ashes, an extra container is used. Ash containers are held until instructions are received from the applicant or their nominated representative. The ashes are then dealt with according to the instructions given.

Unclaimed ashes

Should no instructions be received within a reasonable time, approximately 12 months, unclaimed cremated remains are interred within the grounds of the crematorium in line with Health Department Regulations.