What is Cremation?

There are many final resting options available when your loved one passes away, and cremation is an alternate option to traditional burial services. Recently cremation has become a popular option, but there still may be some confusion as to what exactly happens during cremation, what it involves and why it might be a preferred option.

The cremation process is one where fire reduces the body of the deceased to ash and small bone fragments. The end product is collected and can be given to the family in a decorative urn of their choosing. Cremation can be a more budget-friendly option for end of life services and may allow for more service options or an extended timeline before services are held.

Cremation is a process of preparing the remains of a person who has died. Most people think of cremation as only the burning of a body, when in reality that is only the first part of a two-part process. Any crematorium in Ontario built after 1998 must have a CEMS (Continuous Emission Monitoring System) installed to monitor emissions. The minimum temperature for cremation in Ontario is 1800 F. What is left behind is the bones of the deceased. The second part of the cremation process is that the bones are then placed in a processor where they are ground down to the consistency of granular. So, what we commonly call a person’s ashes, are not technically ashes at all but rather they are bone fragments. Once processed, the remains are placed into a container of the family’s choice and then given to the family.

In Ontario, only certain people have the legal authority to decide what happens to the deceased. These are, in order of priority:

  • Executor/Administrator
  • A Spouse
  • Adult Children
  • Parents of the Deceased

An executor/administrator must provide proof of authority such as a will or court order, along with photo ID.

Once we verify that you have the legal authority to go ahead with the cremation, all remaining documentation required for cremation in Ontario is handled by us.  Paperwork handled by us includes obtaining the medical certificate of death, filling out the statement of death, registering the death with the local municipality and getting the burial permit required for cremation.

The Medical Certificate of Death is a form issued by the coroner or attending doctor and outlines the cause of death.

A Statement of Death is a form that we complete with you, and it contains information about the deceased’s family history, age at death and place of death.

Both the Statement of Death and the Medical Certificate of Death are needed before we can register the death with the municipality of London, Ontario.

It depends on the size of the body, but most cremations take between two and three hours.

The remains will be gathered and put into an urn that the family has purchased. There are many options when it comes to choosing an urn: the family can select one that best represents the deceased, some have an option to place a photo or engrave a name on the outside or family members are able to bring something in from home that would be suitable. The options are completely up to the family, or your loved one may have selected their own urn before passing.

When the remains are returned to the family, they may choose to keep them in the urn in an important place, to spread the ashes in a place that’s meaningful to the deceased or bury them in a cemetery.

If you are considering cremation, we can help you with all of the options and decisions, and guide you through the process to determine the best option for services and final arrangements for your loved one.

When my wife passed away I was very distraught when the hospital told me I needed to inform them where I would like her body sent to. I had no idea how to proceed. I really lucked out when I found these very kind Souls on the internet. Bailey and the rest of the staff we’re very informed and professional and helped me through all the steps that I needed to take. They also put all the information in a nice folder that came in handy for all the other paperwork that I needed for the lawyer, Etc. I would highly recommend them.

- Robert Angus

At a time when decisions are difficult turn to the kind staff at Cremation London. I lost someone very close to me. Cremation London was knowledgeable, helpful and extremely accommodating.

- Kris Dowler

Amazing! I can not be any more happy with the professional, caring and compassionate service we received . Kelly was PERFECT!!! I feel we have become FRIENDS after dealing with the most tragic experience of losing a family member so suddenly. That shows her true caring heart. She went beyond expectations!

- Natalie Eterno