ABOUT CREMATION

Cremation is the process of reducing the body to ashes and bone fragments through the use of intense heat. We refer to the ashes as cremains. The typical cremation process takes anywhere from two to four hours. When the process is complete, cremains weigh about three to nine pounds.

Direct cremation is an option available to people looking for a simple, dignified solution after a loved one has passed that results in the cremated remains being returned to the family. A direct cremation involves very minimal body preparation, placement of the decedent within a cremation container, and following the cremation, the cremains being placed in a simple package and returned to the family.

The number of people choosing cremation is on the rise throughout the United States. Individuals select cremation for a variety of reasons, such as cultural customs, religious beliefs, economic incentives, or even environmental interests.

No. Elements Cremation provides cremation services directly to families. In addition to direct cremation, Elements Cremation can also arrange visitations with or without viewing, memorial services, and a variety of options for honoring the memory and celebrating the life

Illinois law (Disposition of Remains Act, 755 ILCS 65) states that anyone willing to assume legal and financial responsibility may authorize a cremation. However, if the decedent has left written instructions regarding their disposition upon death, the written instructions must be followed. In addition, in absence of written instructions, there is a hierarchy of responsible parties who may select cremation as the form of disposition. Elements Cremation’s on-staff attorney can provide guidance if you have questions regarding authorization of a cremation.

Before the cremation process can be initiated, the closest living next-of-kin, or other individual having legal authority, must complete the following documents (all of which can be downloaded from this site): Statistical Information Form, Certification of Next of Kin for Cremation, Authorization to Cremate, and Authorization to Remove.

Elements Cremation then reviews the completed documents and uses the information to file for the necessary jurisdictional permits to begin the cremation process. This includes filing for the certified copies of the death certificate. Once all necessary documents are filed and permits received, the cremation may take place.

Embalming is not required for cremation. If you do opt to have a public viewing prior to the cremation, embalming will be necessary. Elements Cremation is fully licensed to provide this service.

A casket is never required for cremation. However, Illinois law requires that prior to cremation the individual must be placed in a minimum standard cremation container, which resembles a very thick corrugated box. If desired, families may choose a cremation casket especially designed for the purpose. If the family wishes a visitation prior to cremation, a separate casket appropriate for viewing would be needed. Elements Cremation can help in making those choices.

Elements Cremation works with many families who choose to hold a traditional visitation with or without viewing, a formal memorial service, or both prior to or following cremation. Elements Cremation’s expert staff includes fully qualified directors who will assist at every step of planning, administration, and logistics.

Some families choose to create their own unique memorial service or celebration of life event. Elements Cremation has helped many of them plan non-traditional alternatives, which can be held in a wide variety of venues—restaurants, museums, outdoor spaces, and others. However you choose to memorialize your loved one, Elements Cremation’s highly trained and experienced staff will provide guidance and support throughout. Learn more.

Family traditions, religious customs, and personal preferences sometimes call for the decedent to be clothed in a certain way or accompanied by flowers or memorabilia—including ceremonial or personal items such as a watch, a teddy bear, a favorite pillow or blanket for example. Elements Cremation offers as much choice as possible, including placement of items with the decedent prior to cremation or dressing the decedent in ceremonial, religious, ethnic, or other attire prior to cremation. All of this can be done with or without the family present.

This happens sometimes, and Elements Cremation always advises seeking the counsel of clergy or religious experts. We also offer our expertise in helping families resolve issues that may result from a lack of understanding of cremation. A short example helps clarify the role we can play.

Two life partners, one Jewish and the other Christian, had both communicated clearly—and formalized through legal documents—their intentions to be cremated, knowing well that cremation might pose some difficulty for the Jewish family to reconcile. When the Jewish partner passed, the remaining partner asked Elements Cremation’s guidance on how to make his partner’s family as comfortable as possible with the cremation choice. Our end-of-life advisors offered to speak to any family members who wished, to provide them as much or as little information as they wanted. Ultimately, the Jewish father was comfortable with his son’s choice. The cremains were divided between the life partner and the family, who wished to bury the cremains with other family members.

Although the Pope approved cremation as a form of disposition in 1963, some Catholics are still unfamiliar with or uncertain about cremation. Some seek formal reassurance that cremation is an acceptable form of disposition and are heartened to learn that many Catholic families choose cremation for loved ones. In one instance, a young man, who passed in his 30s, had made cremation his choice of final disposition. This was the family’s first experience with cremation as they always selected the traditional wake, mass, and full body burial. After speaking with Elements Cremation advisors about the cremation process, learning about the many options they had for incorporating traditional elements into the memorial service, and learning that other Catholics have selected cremation, the entire family gained peace of mind that they were honoring their son in the way he wished.

The choices regarding what to do with the cremated remains are almost endless. They may be placed in a cemetery or memorial garden either in a niche within a columbarium or buried in the earth (see explanations below). Sometimes the cremated remains are scattered outdoors. Some families and individuals prefer to retain them in an urn, a box, specially designed jewelry, or other containment vessel.

Burial

Cremated remains may be buried either in the ground or in a cremation niche in accordance with cemetery requirements. If you choose burial, Elements Cremation can assist in selection of an urn or burial container and will coordinate the actual interment locally or in any location throughout the United States or abroad.
Placement in a columbarium
A columbarium is an assembly of niches designed to hold containers of cremated remains. Although a columbarium is most often located in a cemetery mausoleum, some churches provide niches within the building or as a part of an exterior wall. Elements Cremation can assist in securing an urn or container and in coordinating placement.

Scattering

If the decedent has specified scattering, or the family has so chosen, care should be taken in selecting the scattering site to determine if there are any applicable rules or regulations governing the practice. Elements Cremation can help guide you through this decision and provide suggestions for scattering options. Elements Cremation also can supply scattering containers, which many families find makes the scattering process easier.

Retaining the cremated remains

If the decision is to retain the cremains, you have many choices. In addition to offering a broad selection of traditional urns, Elements Cremation can assist in creating a unique, highly personalized container. We have worked with artists, jewelry designers, and even industrial designers to prepare one-of-a-kind, customized cremation containers.
We also offer a variety of keepsake urns in which a portion of the cremains to may be kept or divided up among loved ones. Jewelry can either be crafted to actually incorporate some of the cremains within the jewelry item or the cremains may be placed in a holder, such as a pendant.

Yes. Elements Cremation once divided cremains into eleven different containers, a few for scattering, a couple for burial in different locations, and the rest to be kept or given to family members.

Waiting to decide is always an option, and not unusual. Rushing or feeling pressured could result in a less than comfortable choice. Elements Cremation professionals always advise such families that at any point in the future—days, weeks, or years—they can contact us for answers and assistance.

The purchase of an urn is your choice. Cremated remains are returned in a container that satisfies the needs of many for scattering or for retaining the cremains until a final decision about their disposition is made. If you choose an urn, Elements Cremation offers a number of options, including highly personalized examples and specially designed jewelry.

If you are interested, you can review the available options on the Urns and Keepsakes page or you can download our brochure. To explore other alternatives, please contact us. Elements Cremation also offers a variety of keepsake options ranging from jewelry and small, individualized urn containers to clocks, jewelry boxes, or highly stylized options such as customized sculpture.

Elements Cremation can assist in the transportation of cremains to their final destination through the United States Postal Service. The postal service is the only carrier that will knowingly transport cremains.

You may also transport cremains yourself in a personal vehicle and on common carriers, including on an airplane. Prior to transporting cremains on an airplane, please allow Elements Cremation to assist you in preparing the proper paperwork to accompany you on your flight, including any additional documentation that may be required if traveling outside the United States.

Elements cremation has arranged for many families to lay the loved one’s cremains to rest in destinations abroad. We’ve even helped people scatter cremains atop the Swiss Alps and once chartered a boat and crew for scattering cremains just off the Amalfi coast. We secure all travel documents required by the airlines and the TSA, coordinate with consulates as needed, secure permits for scattering, and provide other services needed at the final destination.