1123 Sutter Street San Francisco, California 94109 License # FD334 (415) 673-3000      (800) 673-3005

Cremation is the predominant form of final disposition of the dead in many foreign countries.  In fact, in some countries, such as England, Japan and China, nearly all funerals are followed by cremation.  In the United States, about 15% of people arranging funerals choose cremation.

Cremation is the process of transforming the body to bone fragments by exposure to flame and intense heat in a special incinerator called a crematory.  The fragments are then processed, by pulverization, into what we think of as   "ashes."   The process of cremation itself takes about two to three hours. 

There are many alternatives for the disposition of remains following a cremation.   many people choose interment in a cemetery plot or inurnment in a columbarium niche.  Some families place the cremated remains in an urn and keep them in the family home; still others scatter the remains at sea or on private land.  We can provide you with the information you would need to comply with existing laws about this kind of disposition.

A popular misconception about cremation is that it is a low-priced substitute for a funeral.  In fact, the decisions of whether or not to have a funeral and whether or not to have a cremation have nothing to do with each other. 

Halsted N. Gray - Carew & English can offer you complete assistance in arranging for cremation, if it is your desire.  We can provide guidance for you in the selection of appropriate services from a wide range of options, or, if cremation with no service is your request, we can offer you the assurance that your wishes will be carried out with dignity and conscious care.

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