Crematorium: An employee reveals the secrets of what really happens to our bodies

While cremation is increasingly appealing to families, it remains a little-known process, often a source of questions and misconceptions. How does a human body react to extreme heat? And how are the ashes delivered to loved ones? A crematorium employee, a privileged witness to each step, tells us frankly what happens behind the doors of the crematorium oven.
Cremation is a funeral practice that is gaining ground, but it still holds a certain mystique for the general public. What actually happens when a body is subjected to such high temperatures? How are the ashes produced? A crematorium employee, who witnesses each stage firsthand, sheds light on what takes place inside a crematorium oven. Funeral& Bereavement

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Funerals and bereavement
Crematorium: An employee reveals the secrets of what really happens to our bodies
The key steps of cremation, from A to Z

The preparatory phase of the body
Before entering the oven, the deceased undergoes meticulous preparation, governed by strict rules:

Ranges,Cooktops & Ovens

– Formal verification of the deceased’s identity to eliminate any risk of error.
– Inspection and removal of prohibited items, particularly pacemakers, which could explode under the heat.
– Placement in a lightweight coffin , usually made of wood or cardboard, designed to burn quickly.

Coffins
Funerals and bereavement
Crematorium: An employee reveals the secrets of what really happens to our bodies
The introduction into the crematorium oven

The coffin is placed in a chamber where the temperature fluctuates between 800 and 1000 °C. As soon as the door closes, the intense heat begins to take effect. Caskets

Funerals and bereavement
The burning of flesh
Soft tissues – skin, muscles, organs – are the first to burn. They turn into gas and ash within 30 to 60 minutes. Bones, being more resistant, take longer to react, but eventually become brittle under the heat.

Chemistry
Anatomy
The calcination of the skeleton
Contrary to popular belief, the bones do not disappear completely. They become whitish and brittle: this is called calcination.

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