Cremation is a process in which intense heat is used to transform the body back to its basic elements. The remains are placed in a cremation container (see cremation casket) and burned, thereby vaporizing all of the soft tissue. What remains is not ashes, but bone fragments usually weighing about 5 pounds. These fragments are then contained in a cremation urn in preparation for final disposition.

Cremation is performed by certified entities (crematories) that are governed by state law. Crematories are often affiliated with particular funeral homes or cemeteries but can also be separate specialized entities.

The decision to cremate should be thought of as independent of what type of service is appropriate. Funeral services (see Ceremony) are ways for the living to share memories and express the significance of the person passed. They allow families to express their grief, find closure and move on with their lives.

Cremains are the residual elements that remain after a cremation. Contrary to popular belief they are not ashes but rather small bone fragments. The consistency is not unlike very small gravel. The cremains for a typical cremation are about the size and weight of a standard 5 pound bag of flour.

The type of marker selected to identify a grave is highly personal. Upright headstones, memorial plaques, civil memorials, decorative urns, cremation memorials, memorial benches, mausoleums are just a few of the literally thousands of options open to you. They can be made of granite, marble, glass, metal, and bronze- just to name a few.

Veterans have several options open to them, and we would encourage anyone who has served to review the website provided by the Department of Veteran’s Affairs.

For an extensive list of markers available, please contact Brookland Cemetery at (502) 957-5300.

There are literally thousands of types and designs of urns available for the holding of cremains. Urns can be made of a variety of materials plastic, wood, ceramics, even metal. Urns are available for individuals or couples. The most important thing to consider in the type of urn you select is the final placement of the cremains. There are several basic options for placement. Cremains can be scattered, placed in a cemetery either under ground or above ground, or taken with the family for home placement.

Laws concerning ash scattering differ in each state. If state law permits it, ashes or cremains may be scattered in lieu of preserving them in a columbarium, burying them in a grave, or keeping them at home. Some cremation societies offer scattering services to their members.

Some people leave specific instructions on where they want their ashes scattered: in a river, a pond or lake or some private property.

Because it’s expedient and inexpensive, ash scattering is beginning to appeal especially to busy and mobile families who can’t always find time to visit a columbarium or a cemetery.

The most used burial option for most cultures is ground burial. In a ground burial the body is prepared (usually embalmed) and placed in a casket. A specially designated place (cemetery) digs a grave. Prior to interment, most cemeteries set a container, or vault into the earth to hold the casket. During interment the casket is lowered into the grave via a lowering device. The vault is then sealed and the grave is then filled in and re-sodded.

Above ground burial in a mausoleum has gained in popularity. A relatively new development has been so called “green” burials where the body is wrapped in a simple shroud and interred directly in the earth without a casket or vault.

There are many factors to take into account in deciding what type of burial is best for you. Religious, family and cultural traditions all play a role in deciding what is appropriate for a given family.

There are two basic ways to allow your body to be used after death – organ donation and body donation.

Organ Donation – At the time of death, many organs and tissues can be donated including heart, kidneys, lung, cartilage and veins. After these are removed, the body is then immediately returned to the family for burial or cremation. For more information on becoming a donor, please visit: http://www.organdonor.gov.

Body Donation – Body donation allows future physicians to use your body for the advancement of science. At the time of death, the body is removed and stored for future use at a medical research facility. At some point in the future (usually several years) the body is cremated. The laws regarding body donation vary from state to state. For more information on body donation, please vist: http://www.biogift.org.