Answers to Questions about Cremation - LeRoy P. Wooster Funeral Home

How is a cremation service different from a traditional funeral service?

It isn’t. At least it doesn’t have to be different. The extent and the content of a cremation service is entirely subject to the wishes of the family. They may choose as much formality or as little as they feel they want to have and they also have more options when cremation is chosen. Quite often a memorial service is held after cremation has occurred or perhaps the family will want to gather at a convenient time for the final committal of the cremated remains.

Where does the cremation take place?

In 1972, a crematory was installed in the funeral home, making the LeRoy P. Wooster Funeral Home the only funeral home in the state to have a crematory within the same building as the funeral home. So when other funeral homes say they offer cremation, they use other facilities, usually far away. We on the other hand don’t have to so much as leave the front door. Having an on-site crematory is just another way we guarantee that your loved one’s care is always in reach and near to our hearts.

Our on-site crematory, the only crematory located in a funeral home in the State of New Jersey.

Is a casket required?

No. Most crematories associated with CANA require that the body be enclosed in an acceptably rigid container. This container or casket must be strong enough to assure the protection of the health and safety of the operator. It should provide a proper covering fir the body and meet reasonable standards of respect and dignity. Some crematories will accept metal caskets but most require that the casket or container be fashioned of a combustible material. The body in cremated in the same enclosure in which it arrives at the crematory.

How is cremation accomplished?

The enclosed body is placed in the cremation chamber where through heat and evaporation the body is reduced to its basic elements, which are referred to as cremated remains. It may surprise many to learn that ashes are not the final result since cremated remains have neither the appearance nor the chemical properties of ashes - they are, in fact, bone fragments. After preparation, these elements are either placed in a permanent urn or in a temporary container that is suitable for transport.

Depending upon the size of the body, there are normally three to nine pounds of fragments resulting. Some crematories process the cremated remains, thereby reducing the space they require. Others do not alter their condition after they are removed from the chamber.

Part of our extensive display of cremation urns.


LeRoy P. Wooster Funeral Home & Crematory 441 White Horse Pike Atco, NJ 08004 (856) 767-0539 LeRoy P. Wooster, Owner/Manager NJ Lic. No. 3820 lpwoosterfh@comcast.net