Many people question if do you have clothes on when you are cremated and how much influence they’ll have over what clothing and objects their loved one is cremated with. The answer is primarily determined by the cremation provider you select and what you communicate to them prior to cremation.
Do You Have Clothes On When You Are Cremated?
A dressing is usually included in a typical cremation organized through a funeral home prior to a viewing and/or cremation. Professionals may handle this, but many funeral homes also enable family members to dress their loved ones at the funeral home. The clothes are frequently picked up and provided by the family. Some funeral businesses also sell funeral gowns for the dressing.
Viewings and dressing services are not included with direct cremation services. People are frequently cremated in a sheet or the clothing they are wearing when they arrive at the crematory. Most direct cremation services, on the other hand, enable you to dress your loved ones before they are cremated.
Keep in mind that not all materials are allowed in the cremation chamber.
What Items Of Clothing And Jewelry Can Be Cremated?
Some materials are inherently dangerous, regardless of the cremation service you use. These items are simply not combustible, and if they are present in the cremation chamber while it is in use, they may severely damage equipment and represent a safety risk. Avoiding clothing with buttons, zippers, or snaps, in general, will help you make a safe choice.
This is a quick rundown of some of the most popular materials that may and cannot be cremated.
Cremation is an option:
- Wood
- Wicker
- Cardboard/paper
- The majority of clothing, particularly that made of natural materials like cotton or wool,
Cremation is not permitted:
- Metal
- Rubber
- Glass
- Plastic
- Certain (typically synthetic) garments that may contain flammable substances
- Mechanical or electrical implants, such as pacemakers, that are powered by batteries
Each cremation service may have its own set of guidelines. As a result, before selecting an outfit for your loved one’s cremation, always check with your provider for particular recommendations.
How Should Your Loved One Be Dressed For Direct Cremation?
While traditional funeral homes often incorporate clothing as part of their services, direct cremation is becoming increasingly popular because of its price and ease. If you choose direct cremation, you will most likely be responsible for dressing your loved one before cremation, not your cremation service.
This concept may be frightening to some. However, many people find comfort and even closure in grooming and clothing their loved ones after they have died. Help will almost certainly be accessible if you require it. If your loved one dies in a care facility or hospice, professional caregivers may be able to assist you. This does not preclude you from dressing your loved one on your own with the help of a family member or friend, however.
Before direct cremation,
Here’s How To Outfit Your Loved Ones:
- Remove any clothing that you do not want to be cremated with your loved one. It’s often quicker to cut the clothing off than to try to remove it normally.
- If wanted, wash your loved one. While it is not required, many people prefer to do so for religious or personal reasons. You’ll probably only need soap, water, and a washcloth. After that, make sure your loved one’s skin is completely dry.
- If your loved one is wearing a blouse, skirt, or dress, split the garment straight up the back with care. The garment can then be draped over your loved one and wrapped around them to outfit them. (When tucking the rear areas of shirts or dresses, make sure to slide the sleeves up their arms first.)
- If your partner will be wearing shorts or pants:
1. Compress the bottom cuffs of the pants or shorts so that they are forced against the garment’s seat. Raise your loved one’s legs and slide the garment up both legs as high as feasible. This is usually placed near the top of the thigh.
2. Turn your partner over to one side. Pull the pants or shorts up to your waist by grabbing the belt. Rep the process on the other side. Close the garment properly.
- Socks, shoes, and other desired accessories should be added. Remember that you can dress your loved one whatever you like before cremation, but any forbidden materials will be removed by the crematory personnel prior to the cremation. Brush and/or comb their hair gently, apply cosmetics, and perform any other grooming tasks as requested.
After The Dressing, What Happens?
The rest of the process will be handled by your direct cremation provider after the dressing is finished. Tulip Cremation arranges for your loved one’s transportation to the crematory and handles all of the necessary paperwork, including obtaining certified copies of the death certificate and disposition permits. If your loved one is safe to cremate, they will be cremated with their garments. If you have any queries about what materials can be included in your loved one’s cremation, our dedicated Family Care Team is available 24/7 online or by phone.
Is It Possible To Be Cremated With Personal Items?
Small personal belongings can be burned alongside the deceased if requested. These items will be consumed along with the corpse. Cremation is not possible with glass, rubber, or heavy metal objects. Any items you want to save, such jewelry or other valuables, should be removed before the cremation.
What Does Cremation Jewelry Entail?
Cremation jewelry (sometimes referred to as remembrance or memorial jewelry) is any piece of jewelry that integrates the cremated remains of a loved one in some way. Cremated remains can be compacted into a crystal or combined with colored glass.
Rings, pendants, bracelets, lockets, and any other sort of jewelry can be used as cremation jewelry. A little urn retains a small fraction of a loved one’s ashes in certain cremation jewelry.
Other cremation jewelry is more complicated, requiring the ashes to be compressed at a high temperature until they form a diamond-like stone, which can then be put into the setting of your choice. It usually takes a bit more than a pound of cremated remains to make a crystal.
Final Thoughts
Burying or cremating a loved one in elegant apparel and surrounded by memories of a life well spent has been a widespread ritual for decades. However, because each cremation is unique, it is not safe to include all clothing or accessories. Many people question if bodies are cremated with their clothes on and how much influence they have over what clothing and belongings their loved one is cremated with when the time comes. The answer is mostly determined by your cremation provider preference and what you convey to the provider prior to cremation.