Cremation: Why Is Your Loved One's Weight Being Discussed?
When arranging the cremation of a loved one, some families might find it odd, and even a little distasteful, when a funeral director raises a certain delicate matter. It's a difficult time, so why do they need to talk about the fact that your loved one was overweight?
The Logistics of Cremation
The logistics of cremating someone are fairly universal. Your loved one's remains are placed inside the cremation chamber, and once the process has been completed, you're presented with their ashes. However, there can be an added level of complexity if your loved one was obese.
Body Mass Index
In general terms, someone is considered to be obese when their body mass index (BMI) is 30 or above. BMI is calculated by weight divided by height, which determines if a person is an appropriate weight for their height. It's not as though someone's cremation suddenly becomes different if their BMI is 30 or above, but when someone is at the higher end of the BMI, certain provisions must be made.
The Cremation Chamber
Cremation is intended to be respectful and efficient, and not all crematories are equipped to accommodate an obese person. This pertains to the cremation chamber; it must have an adequately-sized hatch to permit the entry of your loved one's casket, while still having sufficient clearance to facilitate the safe entry of the casket. In some cases, you may be referred to a specific crematory, and this allows your loved one to be cremated with dignity, without compromising the safety of the crematory staff.
Equipment
Facilities that are equipped to cremate obese people often have specialist equipment to permit the safe and respectful handling of your loved one's remains, in addition to having a cremation chamber that can accommodate them. It's for these reasons that you might have to enlist the services of a specific facility that has this equipment. There can be an additional fee for these extra, necessary types of equipment and services, but this will be discussed with you.
The Cremation Process
Beyond that, there are no obstructions to the process. Your loved one will still be cremated in an appropriate container (usually a plain casket), and while the physical cremation may take slightly longer, this doesn't have any impact on the end result, and your loved one's ashes will still be presented to you afterwards.
So when a funeral director tactfully wishes to discuss your loved one's weight, please don't take offense, as it's because they wish to ensure that the cremation can occur with the proper level of dignity and safety.
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