Cremated Remains
Cremated remains, often colloquially referred to as "ashes," are the physical remnants of a deceased person's body after it has undergone the process of Cremation.
Cremation is a method of Final Disposition in which the deceased's body is exposed to intense heat within a specialized cremation chamber, known as a Retort, which reduces the body to bone fragments and powdery substance.
These cremated remains are then collected and placed into a Cremulator, to refine them into a finer, more ash like substance.
Surviving Families may choose to place these ashes in an Urn or container and keep them at home, place them in a Columbarium, Scatter them in a meaningful location, or Inter them in a Cemetery or some other meaningful location.
Cremation is a widely chosen form of final disposition due to its flexibility, relatively lower environmental impact compared to traditional Burial, and the opportunity for personalized memorialization.
Some characteristics of cremated remains include:
Appearance: Cremated remains are typically a light gray or white powdery substance with small, coarse bone fragments. The texture is often similar to that of fine sand.
Composition: Cremated remains consist primarily of calcium phosphate, which is the mineral component of bones. Other materials, such as dental amalgam from dental work, may also be present but are usually separated and safely disposed of before the remains are given to the family.
Volume: The volume of cremated remains varies depending on factors like the deceased's body size and bone density. On average, the remains amount to several pounds, but they can be considerably less for infants or small individuals.