CREMATION

In 1984, Fairmount Cemetery added a crematory to provide more complete service to the Newark community.  The crematory was completed as an addition to the Fairmount Memorial Mausoleum chapel so committal services could be made in a dignified manner. 

Fairmount Cemetery is a member of the Cremation Association of North American and strongly believes in its Code of Practice, see www.cremationassociation.org

Our crematory has been providing local funeral directors and our respective families with professional cremation service since 1984.  We have strict guidelines for operation to insure that your loved ones receive the respect that they are due.

Fairmount Cemetery Association of Newark and Somerset Hills

CREMATION PROCEDURES

RECEIVING

• Licensed funeral director to deliver.
• Remains to be in appropriate container – protect dignity of deceased and health of crematory operator.
• Container size to be no larger than 31” wide, 23” high and 88” long for Fairmount Cemetery,                                  34” wide , 24” high and 88” long for Somerset Hills
• Hour of death checked on cremation authorization form and burial /transit permit.
• Paperwork to be in order – burial permit, properly executed authorization form, payment.  Cremation authorization form must be signed by individual having control of deceased.  Form must include instructions for release of remains, once cremated.  Form must be signed by funeral director and include instructions for disposition.
• Access to crematory limited to trained staff, funeral director, N.J.D.E.P. inspectors and, under certain conditions, authorized family members.
• Crematory operator accepts human remains with the good faith that the individual stated on the accompanying paperwork is the same individual in the container.
• The crematory operator does not open the container.
• Funeral director may leave an urn chosen by the family.  If not, the crematory will return the cremated remains in a temporary plastic urn.
• Each human remains received are assigned a stainless steel cremation identification disc which has the crematory name and a number stamped on it.
• The disc accompanies the human remains throughout the entire process at the crematory.
• A form identifying the deceased is placed on the front of the assigned cremation chamber with disc.
• A log of the cremation chamber used, the name of the deceased, disc #, funeral director, date received, date of cremation and type of casket are kept separately as support.

CREMATION

• The container with human remains is placed in the assigned cremation chamber (with the disc and identification form attached).
• Only one human remains may be cremated at a time.
• The appropriate dials are set on the chamber and the automatic process is allowed to complete its cycle.
• A dated temperature recorder chart is placed on the recording mechanism on the appropriate cremation chamber and maintained for a period of 5 years.
• Once the chamber has cooled, the process of retrieval takes place.

RETRIEVAL

• Crematory operator uses long handle brushes to pull the cremated remains into a retrieval tray.  The disc is removed from the front of the cremation chamber and added into the retrieval tray.
• An industrial vacuum  is used to vacuum the entire floor of the cremation chamber – any material collected is added into the retrieval tray.

PROCESSING

• The retrieval tray is removed to a work- station where the crematory operator runs a magnet through the cremated remains to remove any ferrous material.
• A visual sweep is made to remove any non-ferrous materials.
• Cremated remains are placed in a processor where they are reduced to small fragments.

PACKAGING

• The processed cremated remains are placed within either the urn provided by the funeral director or into a heavy gauge plastic bag within a temporary plastic urn. The plastic bag is sealed with a “one-way” plastic cable tie, which also holds the stainless steel cremation identification disc.
• A crematory identification label stating the crematory’s name and address, the name of the deceased, the cremation number, cremation date and the name of the funeral home is attached to the outside of the temporary urn.
• The temporary urn is placed inside a cardboard mailer to which is attached a similar identifying label.  The Certificate of Cremation form’s I.D. # is checked against the disc #, and placed in an envelope within the mailer.
• The original cremation authorization form is secured to the outside of the identified mailer until release.

RELEASE

• Any urns or temporary containers containing cremated human remains are stored in a locked, fireproof holding file.
• Human cremated remains are only released according to the instructions on the authorization form, either to the funeral director, the authorizing agent or to the authorizing agent’s written designee.  Identification is asked for when cremated remains are released to individuals not familiar to the operator.  A signature of any individual picking up the cremated remains is required.

MAILING

• U.S. Mail, registered, and insured, return receipt requested.

RECORDKEEPING

• A cremation card is typed with all pertinent information and filed in a fireproof cabinet.
• Completed authorization forms are filed in a fireproof cabinet.