How is CREMATION Done?

I visited São Paulo today to understand how a creamation works.

I hesitated writing this article for fear that some people might find it disturbing. However, I believe it's important to understand how cremation is growing in popularity and why it's a more peaceful process than traditional burial. Death is a part of life, and all we can be sure of is that it will happen one day. So, let's approach the topic in a more rational way.

The crematorium I visited started in 2006 and has already performed over 10,500 cremations. To follow the entire process, I arranged for an empty coffin. This is an Eco-friendly coffin designed to be cremated. It has few metal details that will be removed before entering the oven.

The body will be transported to a ceremony room where most families don't hold a wake. It's just a farewell ceremony that lasts about half an hour. At the end, the coffin will descend and be very significant, equivalent to placing the body in the grave at a cemetery.

The coffin doesn't go straight to cremation; it is placed in a cold chamber at around four degrees Celsius, as per the country's law. From the time of death until cremation, at least 24 hours must pass. This is important because cremation destroys any evidence, including DNA. For investigation purpose, the body stays here for a while. There's also a matter of oven - it needs to heat up, so when it hot, it's essential to take advantage and perform a sequence of cremations.

The oven is entirely lined with refractory bricks, like a fireplace. It runs on LPG, the same gas used in kitchens. The flame comes out from a point roughly at the chest level, where humans have the most mass. Gases go to an outlet positioned at the bottom of the oven. At this moment, a refractory plate is placed inside the coffin. It's made of non-burning material, crucial to ensure that the body isn't swapped. It acts as an identification. Another important thing at this moment is that the body can't have a pacemaker because inside this device is a battery that explodes inside the oven during cremation. Also, any metal accessories worn by the person--like a gold tooth or an earring--can be cremated, but it depends on family decision-making. As this is merely a simulation, I won't remove metal handles from the coffin.

At this stage, the furnace reaches an intense heat, necessitating the donning of thermal protective attire. A common inquiry at this juncture revolves around whether multiple bodies undergo cremation simultaneously in a mixed amalgamation. The response is unequivocal: no. Surprisingly, not even two coffins can fit within the confines of the oven. Additionally, for those seeking reassurance, any family member desiring to witness this pivotal moment is granted the opportunity. All that is consigned to the cremation chamber—be it coffin, garments, or, given that over half of the human body comprises water, undergoes a meticulous process. In the initial hour, the oven maintains an 800-degree temperature to extract moisture from the body, causing the evaporation of all water content before combustion ensues. Subsequently, the temperature may escalate to 1000 degrees Celsius. The gases produced in this intricate process undergo a secondary combustion and then pass through specialized filters before their release into the atmosphere.

The entire cremation procedure varies in duration, typically lasting between two to three hours, contingent on the body's weight. Ultimately, what remains are almost solely the charred bones, possessing a fragility akin to chalk, and these remnants are meticulously gathered into a metal container. Subsequently, the bones undergo a crushing process before being carefully packaged alongside a refractory plate and an identification seal.

Admittedly, I had envisioned the ashes to be considerably lighter. However, it turns out that ashes, being a less dense material predominantly composed of calcium, defy this expectation. To provide a sense of scale, the ashes resulting from a body weighing 90 kg approximate a weight of roughly 2 kg.

From this point onward, each family adopts a distinct ritual, determining how the ashes are treated. They may be preserved in urns, scattered in natural settings, or even transformed into a commemorative painting. Notably, I was intrigued by two ecological urns available. One, crafted from fibers, allows ashes to be placed inside, and alongside it, a tree can be planted; the urn will decompose over time. Another variant is designed for sea disposition, ensuring that the urn, made from unfired ceramic, sinks to the ocean floor, initiating decomposition.

Additionally, there are pendant options, wherein ashes are encased, providing a wearable memento, such as a necklace. For those desiring a more traditional approach, there's the choice of maintaining the ashes in a customary setting. Families often arrange tributes to the deceased or secure a spot in a garden, utilizing a biodegradable urn for burial.

The atoms composing our bodies originated from a stellar explosion that eventually led to the formation of our solar system. Essentially, we are composed of stardust. What captivated me today was witnessing this cyclical process in action: humans returning to nature.