Cremation Services

We Exclusively offer 2 types of Cremation. AquaCremation and Flame Cremation.

AquaCremation is a new, environmentally friendly process and is performed in our specialized equipment within our Modern Funeral Home. Our process is highly specialized and needs to be performed by an Ontario Licensed Funeral Director with a Crematorium Operators Certificate. A metal identification tag is placed with the deceased throughout the entire process.

For those families interested in AquaCremation it is a water based cremation. French Family Funeral Home & Crematorium is proud to have the first High Efficiency Cremation Equipment to be located within a Funeral Home in the Canada.

No Casket is required for AquaCremation, but a Rental Casket can still be used should there be a need for a Visitation or Funeral where the deceased would be present. Transportation is also not required as we are not travelling to a third party Crematorium. (This can save Hundreds or Thousands depending on Cremation Casket and transportation required for Flame Cremation).

AquaCremation is a process that uses approximately 95%water, 5% Potassium hydroxide & Sodium hydroxide and pressure to complete the cremation process. Potassium hydroxide and Sodium hydroxide are NOT acids, they are basic or Alkaline and are common chemicals which are used to make such products as liquid hand soap that we use every day.

Once the equipment is ready. The water based solution is circulated around the deceased for a period of a few hours, while maintaining a temperature of approximately 300F degrees. The process is continuously under pressure which prevents the solution from boiling as it simply gets hot. At the end of the process, what is left are bones and bone fragments. Those bones and bone fragments are then removed from the machine, placed into a drying unit and dried. After, the bones and fragments are processed into a uniform consistency similar to Flame Cremation.

The biggest difference between the cremated remains of AquaCremation versus the Flame process is that more of the remains are returned to the family.

“What about the liquid that is left over?” That’s what we call an effluent. That effluent is completely sterile because it’s been exposed to extreme temperatures in excess of an hour. Secondly, the body has been reduced to its very simplest form, amino acids, which are below the DNA chain. Therefore, there is nothing humanly identifiable in that effluent. The effluent is then discharged into our wastewater treatment system.

The reason that this process is considered to be more environmentally friendly than the flame process is because there are no emissions that are sent up the smokestacks, and it takes about one third the amount of energy to run this machine as it does our flame cremation process.

 

Flame cremation requires that the deceased be placed into a Casket and transported to an offsite third party crematorium. Once there, the deceased will be processed in the time allotted by the crematorium as they receive decedents from multiple funeral homes. This is a general overview of the Flame Cremation Process. Crematoriums may vary on their practices. Flame Cremation can be performed by anyone who has taken a two day course and a minimum number of Cremations.
The Crematory will place the casket encasing the Deceased’s human remains individually into the cremation chamber where it will be subject to intense heat and flame reaching temperatures of approximately 1600F to 1800F degrees. After a typical period of 2-6 hours, all substances are consumed except bone fragments (calcium compounds) and metal (such as hinges, latches, dental implants, prosthesis, etc.), as the temperature is not sufficiently high enough to consume them. Accordingly, any such items which are left with the Deceased and not removed from the casket will be destroyed or will otherwise not be recoverable. Following an appropriate cooling period, the cremated remains are swept or raked from the cremation chamber. The crematory takes reasonable steps to remove all of the cremated remains, but it is impossible as some dust and other residue is always left behind. Due to this fact, inadvertent or incidental commingling of minute particles of cremated remains from the residue of a previous cremation is a possibility during the cremation process or the processing stage. Following retrieval of the cremated remains from the cremation chamber, all non-combustible materials that were not removed prior to the cremation process will be separated and removed from bone fragments by visible and/or magnetic selection. The bone fragments are then mechanically processed or pulverized into uniform particles to permit placement in the selected urn container for disposition as indicated.

Cremation FAQ

What is Cremation?
Cremation is the process of reducing the human body to bone fragments using heat. Cremation is not the final disposition of the remains, nor is it a type of funeral service.

Is a casket needed for Cremation?
No, AquaCremation does not require a Casket, however a Casket is required for Flame Cremation.

Is embalming required prior to cremation?
No. In fact it is against the law for a funeral home to tell you otherwise.

Can the body be viewed without embalming?
Yes, immediate family members can briefly view the deceased prior to cremation.

Can the family witness the cremation?
Yes they can; some cremation providers will allow family members to be present when the body is placed in the cremation chamber. Some religious groups even include this as part of their funeral custom.

What can be done with the cremated remains?
While laws vary, for the most part remains can be buried in a cemetery lot or a cremation garden, interred in a columbarium, kept at home or scattered on Crown or Private Land (with approval).

How can I be sure I receive the correct remains?
French Family Funeral Home & Crematorium have developed rigorous sets of operating policies and procedures in order to maximize the level of service and minimize the potential for human error. Every decedent in our care is issued a unique metal identifier that follows the decedent throughout the process making it is next to impossible to receive the incorrect remains.

Are all the cremated remains returned?
With the exception of minute and microscopic particles, which are impossible to remove from the cremation chamber and processing machine, all of the cremated remains are given back to the family.

Do I need an urn?
An urn is not required by law. However, the majority of families have the remains placed in an urn and/or smaller keepsake urns. An urn may be desired if there is to be a memorial service or if the remains are to be interred in a cemetery. If an urn is not purchased or provided by the family, the cremated remains will be returned in a temporary container.