If your loved one chose to be cremated, you likely have preconceived notions about how this works. There have been many movies and television shows that have shown cremation remains, but they probably didn't get it right. If you have never been through a cremation service, below are four things you probably do not know.

The Cremated Remains Do Not Look Like Ashes

You often hear the word "ashes" when people talk about cremated remains. You may be surprised that cremated remains look more like coarse sand that you see on a beach than ashes. The color of the ashes is generally a pale white or light gray.

The Cremation Chamber May Be Hotter Than You Think

When the body is put into the cremation chamber, it is not set at a temperature that you would get from a fire.  According to the National Funeral Directors Association, the temperature inside a cremation chamber ranges from 1400 degrees to 1800 degrees Fahrenheit. A crematory operator constantly monitors the heat to make sure it stays at the right level.

You Do Not Have to Buy the Urn from the Funeral Home

The funeral home will have some very nice urns that you may want to purchase at different prices, but you do not have to. You can purchase the urn from anywhere that you want. There are many urns available online, or in retail stores in your area. Some funeral homes will rent urns. You can also find people that will handcraft an urn for you to make it very special for you and your family.

You do need to make sure the urn is the right size so it can be large enough to hold all of your loved one's remains.

You Can Likely View the Cremation

Many funeral homes will let you witness the cremation of your loved one. In some cases, you can press a button yourself to start the cremation.  Some funeral homes have a viewing area set up where you and your family members can sit and watch the cremation. Once the cremation is finished, the funeral home may let you arrange a private ceremony in the same room the cremation took place before the funeral begins.

Not all funeral homes work the same, so if you have any questions about your loved one's cremation, talk with the funeral director, who will be glad to help you.

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