Many bereaved have questions about the cremation services in Castro Valley, CA which is understandable as its not common knowledge how it works and its done. It’s important to ask these questions sooner rather than later in order to make sure that you have all the necessary information to make an informed choice for after the loss of a loved one.

One of the most common areas that people have questions about is the mechanics of cremation, specifically how the cremation or chamber works. The cremation chamber, sometimes called an oven or a retort, operates between 1,400- and 1,800-degrees Fahrenheit. This high heat is necessary to break down the body into small fragments of bone and ash and is generally produced by propane or natural gas.

Most cremation ovens are made out of fire-resistant bricks and special masonry. The fire-resistant bricks line the interior of the chamber on the ceiling and walls. Specially made masonry materials cover the bottom of the chamber as that is the area that is exposed to the highest temperatures. Cremation oven walls are usually about 6 inches think to keep the extreme heat contained. They can have manually or mechanically operated doors depending on the model and design.

Organic body materials like skin, tissue, organs and muscle are oxidized and then vaporized during the cremation process, as the human body is mostly made of water, bone and carbon. These vapors are filtered and released through the oven’s exhaust system. All that remains after a cremation is bone fragments and non-organic materials like artificial bones or joints, implants, or dental work. All jewelry and removable medical devices are taken off the body before the cremation. The bone fragments are separated from non-organic materials and then left to cool. After cooling, they are processed and broken down into what we call ashes, with a texture like coarse sand. These ashes are placed in sealed bag and returned to the bereaved so they can inurn, bury, scatter or spread them as they so choose.

In order to stay in compliance with health and safety codes and to maintain the dignity of the deceased before, during and after the cremation. All bodies are placed in a cremation container before the cremation takes places and for the duration of the process. There are certain container specifications that also must be met for health and safety laws, but the remainder of the container details can be chose by the bereaved. Many choose standard corrugated boxes, and others choose wooden containers or caskets. No matter what kind of container is chosen, its purpose is to hold the body before the cremation and break down entirely during the cremation, so no residue is left.

If you have more questions about the cremation process or would like to learn more about your options for Castro Valley, CA cremation services, Deer Creek Funeral Service is here for you. You can stop by and visit us at 20630 Redwood Rd Castro Valley, CA 94546 or give us a call at (510) 317-7890 for more information on what we can do for you.

From a service at a funeral home in Castro Valley, CA to non-traditional services, everyone that faces a loss will also deal with a long and difficult journey to healing. Many bereaved ask themselves questions about the loss. These questions usually fall into two categories: Why and How. “Why did this happen to us?” “Why did God let something like this happen?” “How will I start to feel better?” “How do I find the positive in this loss?”

Everyone can find themselves asking different questions, as everyone responds to grief differently. Have compassion and understanding with yourself as you grieve, and don’t try to overthink what you’re going through. Most importantly, talk about your feelings and experiences either with a loved one or a professional. After all, if you’re asking yourself these or similar questions, you are definitely not alone.

1. Why Aren’t My Friends Supporting Me? Many people don’t know how to help someone that is grieving, as it’s such a personal thing to deal with. Your friends, coworkers, or even family simply might not know how to relate to what you’re going through, or they might be afraid of offending you. Tell them how you feel, and what they can do to better support you.
2. Why Don’t I Feel Better Yet? Losing someone you love isn’t like breaking a leg or spraining your wrist. There is no set amount of time that it will take your loss to heal. Let yourself grieve as long as you need to. You will start to feel better over time as you slowly reach healing milestones. Celebrate your small victories as you heal.
3. What Should I Do if I Feel Like I’ll Never Get Over the Loss? Death and loss aren’t something one should try to overcome, especially since death and loss aren’t things that anyone can fix. Instead of trying to fix the grief, learn to live with it. It will adapt as you grow, and you will slowly begin to move forward.
4. What’s Wrong with Me? If you feel like your grief is different or weird, don’t worry. Nothing is wrong with you. We all grieve in different ways. You might be grieving differently that someone that is facing the exact same loss as you, and that’s OK. Even if it feels like no one can understand you, try talking about your feelings.
5. How Can I Tell My Doctor That I Don’t Want Medication? Communication is key with your health professional, especially when it comes to mental health. It’s vital that you communicate with your doctor if you don’t want to take medication, as then he or she can come up with a different plan to help you.

If you want to learn more about dealing with grief or Castro Valley, CA funeral homes, Deer Creek Funeral Service is here to help. Please stop by and visit us at 20630 Redwood Rd Castro Valley, CA 94546 or give us a call at (510) 317-7890.

One of the main concerns the bereaved have with cremation services in Walnut Creek, CA is how their loved one’s remains will be identified throughout the cremation process. These concerns are understandable, as it is a very sensitive subject with a lot of tension. Also, many people hear false horror stories of families being returned the wrong cremains, or just being given bags of wood ash or even of sand. These rumors lead to a lot of concern over the cremation identification process.

However, there is no reason for these concerns as all licensed cremation providers have thorough and effective identification procedures in place to ensure accuracy and dignity. Most licensed cremation providers are more than happy to walk clients through their individual identification process. Don’t be ashamed to ask for these details, as most cremation businesses understand these concerns and are happy to help alleviate them.

It’s important for you to be 100% comfortable with your provider and their practices. It can be difficult to ask questions surrounding such delicate and potentially painful topics. If you’re unsure of what to ask surrounding identification during the cremation process, try these questions such as “How are the deceased identified?”, “How does this process change if I am not there when he or she passes?” or “How can I be sure my loved one is the one you are cremating?” You can also ask, “How can I be sure of this if I choose a cremation without a viewing?” or “In what ways do you certify that the ashes I am returned are those of my loved one?”

If the cremation provider is unable or unwilling to answer questions such as these, consider taking your business elsewhere. It’s vital that you feel comfortable with the cremation process.

The majority of crematories are obligated by law to carry out two different identification processes to ensure the deceased are correctly identified based on the name provided by the authorized agent or the bereaved:

• First, the deceased’s name, as provided by the bereaved or authorized agent, will be clearly listed on the cremation container.
• Second, a metal bracelet, disk or other token will be placed in the container with the deceased. This metal tag will not be broken down during the cremation process and will remain with the cremated ashes to further ensure identification.

You can always ask for additional identification steps. For example, you can ask for a detailed explanation of the cremation process in writing, have the cremation provider do a comparison of the deceased to a current photo of your loved one before the cremation begins, ask the cremation provider to do a final identification check based on a listed unique detail like a tattoo or birth mark.

If you would like to learn more about the body identification process during cremation or Walnut Creek, CA cremation services, Deer Creek Funeral Service is here to help. Visit us at 20630 Redwood Rd Castro Valley, CA 94546 or give us a call at (510) 317-7890 today.