Winnipeg Cremation Services | Neil Bardal Funeral Home

Cremation Information

When considering Winnipeg cremation services, today's families are concerned with many complex issues: how cremation affects the environment (especially when compared to traditional burial), personal finances, and faith being amongst the top three. If you, or a family member, are curious about direct cremation services or wondering if cremation service is the right option for your situation, we invite you to read the articles in this section. And of course, if you have concerns or additional questions, we ask that you connect with us by calling 204-949-2200. We will be pleased to take part in your cremation conversation.

What is Cremation?

Part of making funeral arrangements on behalf of a loved one involves choosing between burial of the body, or cremation. Certainly this is a big decision, based on any number of factors: religious or spiritual beliefs, finances, or ecological awareness are just some of the reasons we've heard for choosing cremation. Before you can make the choice, you need to know exactly what it is you're considering. You can learn the basics below, however, if the content here raises additional questions for you, please give us a call. One of our cremation specialists will address any of your inquiries or concerns.

Cremation Explained

The Cremation Association of North America describes cremation as, "The mechanical and/or thermal or other dissolution process that reduces human remains to bone fragments". Read below for a deeper look at the most common cremation process which uses extreme heat.

What is Required to Arrange for Cremation?

Once the cremation-over-burial decision has been made, all that's required is authorization. This is provided by the person who is the legally identified or appointed next-of-kin. Once all authorization documents are signed, and service charges are paid; the body can be transported from the place of death to the crematory and the cremation process can take place. However, there are some additional things you may wish to consider, such as:

01

Is there a special set of clothes (such as a military uniform or favourite dress) your loved one would appreciate the thought of wearing? This will be a focus of the cremation arrangement conversation, and you will be advised by your funeral director as to your best options regarding jewelry or other valuable personal items.

02

Are there any keepsake items you'd like to include in their cremation casket? Perhaps there's a special memento, such as a treasured photograph or letter? We sometimes suggest family members write cards, notes or letters to their deceased loved one, and place them in the casket prior to the cremation.

03

Would you or other family members like to be present for–or participate to some degree in–your loved one's cremation? Because we know how healing it can be to take part in an act of "letting go", we welcome the opportunity to bring interested family or friends into the crematory. Please discuss your desire to participate with your funeral director.

04

What will you keep the cremated remains or ashes in after the cremation or the service? Many families are simply unaware that they can purchase a cremation urn to be placed in a special place such as the family home. We offer a large selection of urns that will help memorialize your loved one. Ask one of our caring funeral director's to see the wide variety of urns.

A Short History of Cremation

According to Wikipedia, cremation service burials date back at least 20,000 years ago in Australia, while in Europe, there is evidence of cremation dating to around 2,000 B.C. Cremation was common in Ancient Greece and Rome, and it remains a standard practice in India. The practice of cremation faded in Europe by the fifth century and during the Middle Ages, it was primarily used in the punishment of heretics or in response to the fear of contagious diseases. Today, cremation is preferred by more and more people around the world.

The Flame Cremation Process

Neil Bardal Funeral Centre uses a traditional cremation process, of reducing a body at very high temperatures until it is nothing but brittle, calcified bones. These are then processed into what we refer to as Cremated Remains. Returned to the family in a temporary urn (or a more personal urn selected by the family), these Cremated Remains can be kept, buried, or scattered. Some families even choose to place a loved one's Cremated Remains in a hand-crafted piece of cremation art.

Within our facility, deceased are received, identified, and recorded and held in cool storage in a cardboard cremation container.

The container is placed in one of our two cremation chambers (the retort) and the process can take about 2 to 3 hours at a temperature of 1600 F. When the cremated remains are cooled, they are hand sorted to remove anything not of the body (metal fragments, medical implants, etc.) and processed to a pebble sized consistency and placed in the urn or container as specified by the family.

Are You Ready to Talk About Cremation?

We want you to know that no matter your reasons for choosing cremation, we're here to help you explore your options. When you're ready, call us to set an appointment or simply drop by our office. You can also send us an email via our online contact us form.

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Sources:

What is Cremation, Cremation Association of North America
Mathisen, Tyler, "Cremation is the Hottest Trend in the Funeral Industry"

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