Death can be incredibly difficult to deal with. When someone you know has passed away, you must find a way of coping that works best for you. Of course, there are some situations where you might not know how to process the information you’re being given. If a parent or partner passes away and you are left as the executor of the estate, you might discover some wishes of which you were unaware. When a loved one expresses his or her desires to be cremated when you anticipated a standard burial, you might have some questions.
Since you want to comply with the last wishes of your loved one, it is important to dedicate a bit of time to understanding what is involved with cremation. By looking into some of the basic ideas surrounding the practice, you might gain insight as to why this was the choice your departed loved one made.
The Basics
Though it stands to reason you know what cremation is to a certain degree, it also can be helpful to examine the practice for what it is. In essence, cremation is the act of applying extreme heat to a body until all that remains are ashes. These ashes are then collected and placed in an urn or similar vessel. Some people wish for their ashes to remain in a set location while others will request their ashes be spread around locations of significance to their lives.
Depending on where you live, there might be a suggested waiting period before a body is cremated. Some locations allow a body to be cremated right away, while other states are known to require two-day wait periods before anything can be done. Knowing the specific regulations of where you live can help to expedite the process and allow you the chance to grieve and focus on other aspects of the wishes of the departed.
Services and Viewings
Cremation does not prevent a person from having a wake, viewing, funeral, or similar event. While you may not be able to have the body of the deceased on display, it is still quite commonplace for families of the departed to hold gatherings celebrating the life of the person who has moved on. If you are not sure about how to arrange a viewing for a person who has been cremated, be sure to contact your local funeral home or religious organization and learn more about how to go about the process.
It is also fairly common for family members or loved ones to witness the cremation process of the departed. Though not all people wish to witness this event, there are many who view the event as a funeral of sorts. Bidding farewell to the earthly remains of the deceased might be cathartic and allow you the chance to say goodbye in a way that might feel emotionally satisfying.
Shock and Surprise
Learning that your significant other wished to be cremated when you want to be buried might be a shock. For many couples, there is an unspoken understanding of what will happen after death. Though many couples talk through these decisions during married life, there are many couples who never get the opportunity. If you are struggling with complying with the last wishes of your departed spouse, it is important to speak with a professional or legal specialist to figure out how best to move forward with the actions.
Cremation is an ancient practice dating back to the earliest days of civilization. While burying bodies might be more commonplace in the current day and age, there are still millions of people who are cremated each year. Conduct further research on this topic if you find it might be a good fit for your last wishes or when you are attempting to fulfill the desires of a departed loved one.
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