Do They Give You All the Ashes After Cremation?

When a beloved family member passes away, there are many options available to choose from when caring for the body, one of which is cremation. Though there are many different types of cremation, it is essentially a process whereby the deceased's body is exposed to extremely high heat which removes the carbon content and reduces the organic matter to ashes. By the end of the cremation process, bone fragments of the skeleton are the only remains. These remains are now called "cremains" or "ashes". The bone fragments are then mechanically ground down to fine particles that resemble sand or coarse dust, and the ashes are placed into an urn (or another temporary container) and given back to the family.

It is then up to family of the deceased to decide what they'd like to do with the ashes. One of the options is to transfer the cremation ashes to an urn or multiple urns and then possibly keep the ashes at home, though this is just one of the many ideas of what to do with ashes.

What Do Human Ashes Look Like After Cremation?

It is a common expectation for cremated remains to resemble ashes similar to campfire ashes (fine, white, and fluffy). As mentioned, human ashes look more similar to sand or coarse dust and they usually appear pasty-white or even a dark grey in color.

How Much Do Cremated Ashes Weigh?

Due to the fact that human ashes are very different from campfire ashes in their composition and color, it is not surprising that human ashes will weigh much more. This is caused by cremated ashes consisting of crushed bone fragments which are much denser than ash from wood.

Depending on the size and weight of the deceased, human ashes can weigh between three and seven pounds—about the weight of a small bowling ball.

What Percentage of Ashes Are Usually Returned?

A surprising fact about cremation for most people is that the amount of ashes received is far smaller than anticipated. The human body is mainly comprised of water (nearly 60%), so when the body undergoes cremation, the intense heat evaporates that water and turns human tissue into gas.

Reputable crematoriums will ensure that 99% of the ashes are returned to the family, but there will always be some isolated particles that become lost during the cremation process. However, that amount is usually negligible. If, for any reason, the amount of ashes supersedes the capacity of the urn, the rest will be kept in an additional container. This is why it is essential to ensure that you get the right-sized urn beforehand.

How Do You Know You Get Your Loved One's Ashes?

It can be a concern for ashes to become mixed up and to potentially receive someone else's remains. However, reputable crematoriums take care when dealing with each individual body.

All bodies are identified and tagged with information such as their name and DOB (date of birth) that is checked every time the body is moved. When it is ready to be cremated, a stainless steel identification disc about the size of a quarter is placed with the body upon entering the chamber. Since the disc won't melt, it will remain once the body has been cremated and then be packaged together with the ashes—ensuring that there will always be a paper trail. Crematorium chambers will be cautious to ensure that your loved one's ashes do not mix with any others.

What Happens to Cremated Ashes if Not Collected?

There are many reasons a family may not be able to collect the cremated ashes straight after the process has been completed, and most funeral homes will do their utmost best to keep the ashes for as long as possible. Depending on local laws, there may be a set amount of time that funeral homes can do this.

Most U.S. states can hold onto uncollected ashes for a minimum of four years, but this can differ. Once this period has been surpassed, it is up to the funeral director to make the final decision. Some choose to bury or scatter the ashes themselves. In this event, they will keep a detailed record of the name of the deceased and where their ashes were laid to rest.

However, once you have collected the ashes, there are multiple cremation ashes ideas to choose from to celebrate your loved one.