My name is Evan, and I am a funeral director at a busy funeral home in the Midwestern United States. I have found that many loved ones want to personalize the funeral experience, but they simply don't know how. I am going to outline some ways that you can make a funeral unique to the person you are celebrating. From dramatic readings to favorite music to decorated caskets, the only limit is your imagination when it comes to planning the perfect funeral. I hope your mind will be open to the possibilities the next time you are in the unfortunate situation of having to plan a funeral.
Add Unique Touches to a Funeral
Ashes To Ashes, Dust To Dust: What May Surprise You About The Human Body After Death
Christina Clarke
Taking a job in a crematory is not for the faint of heart. In fact, many people who spend a month in a crematory learn a lot about the human body after death that surprises them. Here are some of the things that may surprise you about human bodies before they enter the crematory and after they have been cremated.
It Takes Six to 20 Years for a Body to Naturally Return to Dust
It is true that the human body will eventually return to dust on its own, leaving behind only the bones. The process, depending on whether you bury a child or leave an adult body above ground, takes between six and 20 years when the body is not embalmed. If the body is embalmed, it can take twice as long, depending on whether or not you bury the body without a coffin/casket, or you intern a body above ground. This is why so many bodies may still appear newly deceased if you dig them up after only a year or two.
Embalming Is Not Required for Cremation
If the body will not be viewed by family, or if you intend to cremate the body, embalming is not required. Embalming is actually a means of keeping the bodies from smelling during the funeral services. It halts the decaying process long enough for everyone to pay their respects and beyond the funeral itself. (There is some evidence as well that an embalmed body is more dangerous to burn because of the embalming chemicals.) Those working in the crematory have had to process bodies that were not embalmed (often due to religious reasons), and they can attest to the validity of these statements.
It Takes a Lot to Vaporize Bones to Dust
Bones begin to burn at 1292 degrees Fahrenheit. Most modern crematorium ovens can get that hot, but it is the bones that take the longest to vaporize, especially the really large and thick bones in the body. Sometimes the people working at the crematory have to take mallets and finish smashing the leftover bits of bone into dust. If the leftover bits of bone were left as-is, it would take several more years before these bones would be dust on their own. Only people who are both sensitive about treating remains with respect and are not uncomfortable with bone-crushing can do this kind of job without feeling awkward.
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