When there is a Cremation, what happens to the coffin?
A lot of people seem unclear on what happens to the coffin or casket during the cremation so let’s see if we can explain the exact process.
If there is funeral service or pre-cremation memorial, the coffin is transported to the crematorium immediately after. If there is no service involved, the coffin will generally be transported directly from the mortuary to the crematorium.
The identity and any related documents are checked over by the funeral director and/or crematorium director to make sure everything is in order. (Please note that crematoriums in Queensland are rigorous in their identification and correct labelling throughout the process – it is exceptionally unlikely for a misidentification to occur)
The coffin is now handled only by the Dignified Cremations crematorium staff.
At this point, the nameplate on the coffin is removed so it can follow the coffin through the cremation process as an identifier.
If the coffin has metal or plastic ornaments or handles, these may have to be removed before the cremation takes place (if this is the case, the crematorium will destroy them or offer them to the family). The coffin is then placed into the cremator and the coffin nameplate is placed in a holder on the outside of the cremator.
Once the cremation is complete, the remains are transferred to a cooling tray along with the coffin nameplate, then moved to a designated cooling area. Once cool, the tray moves on to a preparation room where the ashes are checked and placed into a container or urn, which is labelled and the coffin nameplate is attached to the outside.
So as you can see, yes, the coffin [no matter what it is made of] in cremated with the body. We hope that helps but should you have any additional questions on cremation, please feel free to call or email our friendly staff.
