The death of a loved one is never easy. It is even more difficult when a loved one goes missing for a long time and then turns up deceased or is found long after a tragic accident. Recovering the remains may or may not be difficult, depending on the level of decomposition, but the reality is that in some cases, the remains can only be cremated. Here are the instances where cremation (and not burial) is the only option.
The Body Has Liquefied
Human remains tend to become liquefied when not preserved by chemicals. If the remains are found in a state where the body has already become partially liquefied, it is not possible to place the remains in a coffin or casket for burial. After the police have completed a very brief investigation, the remains may be placed within a pine box and processed through the crematorium.
The Body Has Been Exposed to the Elements and Is Now Home to Hundreds of Living Organisms
In the natural world, there are dozens of insects whose job it is to break down the dead and dying by living in and on the decay. Animal, as well as human, bodies left outside in the elements are subject to these insects. When a body is recovered at a point where not all of the insects have left the remains, it is not something you want to place in a casket. The insects need to be burned up and eliminated so that they do not create an infestation in any indoor place where the body is stored. Ergo, cremation services seem to be the only fitting thing to do here.
Parts of the Body Are Absent
In the most unusual of cases, parts of the body that were present in life are missing in death. There are many different reasons why this could happen, but the important thing is to realize that these circumstances would not make for a proper viewing of the body at a memorial service. Cremation eliminates the awkwardness of the situation and focuses on remembering the person as he or she was in life. If at a later date, these body parts are recovered, they may be cremated and added to the ashes that surviving family members have already received. There is generally no extra charge for the cremation of the missing and recovered parts of the deceased.
To learn more about cremation services, contact a company in your area like Neptune Society.