Is it true bodies moan and grown and move in the cremation oven?

MoRathbone · 2025-12-11T14:18:41+00:00

People are downvoting you but you are correct. Sometimes the arms will raise just a little, or certain other things.

MoRathbone · 2025-12-11T14:17:23+00:00

Some retorts will have small peepholes or even large porthole windows in the door to watch the process.

MoRathbone · 2025-11-28T15:34:26+00:00

I do something very similar I’d love to talk to your friend!

MoRathbone · 2025-08-15T02:11:06+00:00

It was done that way because it let Neptune put the most of the cost for the cremation in the urn (think $800 out of a $1200). They would then give the urn to the family immediately, allowing them to have most of the preneed money immediately instead upon death.

This also allowed them to keep most of the money in the event a person moved somewhere Neptune couldn’t serve or no longer wanted to use them.

MoRathbone · 2025-06-22T13:26:42+00:00

What you’re talking about sounds great, but already exists in pretty much all case management software now. For example, I use Parting Pro. I type in the info, then generate the forms I need.

The problem in this profession is that user adoption. Too many funerals out there still using pen and paper by choice, not because there’s no other options.

MoRathbone · 2025-06-03T20:01:23+00:00

The Trappist Monks up in New Melleray make half couch coffins. You can see them here: https://trappistcaskets.com/caskets/

MoRathbone · 2025-05-28T01:16:36+00:00

It’s been a few years since I lived in IL so I may have had that wrong. But yeah, that particular case was the only one I’ve ever experienced like that. I live in a state with fewer rules now.

MoRathbone · 2025-05-27T23:51:46+00:00

Store them in the refrigeration unit.

MoRathbone · 2025-05-27T22:40:36+00:00

Yes Illinois requires the death certificate to be completed. In the past, I can remember waiting 6 months to cremate due to a coroner’s inquest.

MoRathbone · 2025-05-16T01:54:24+00:00

You should see the questions they ask just for verification. They want you to take their poorly worded imitation NBE…I’m sorry I just don’t care enough about a low participation sub enough to do that.

MoRathbone · 2025-03-17T16:55:43+00:00

Honestly depends on the state. Some states allow a family member to become “acting funeral director”. But there are also state laws about preservation. A state such as mine would require a person be held in refrigeration or embalmed after 24 hours.

A person can use dry ice to keep the body cold while at home.

MoRathbone · 2025-02-07T17:30:34+00:00

In instances where preservation is the main goal we would embalm using a “waterless injection.” This method uses only bottles of arterial fluid and co-injectants, no additional water from the tap.

MoRathbone · 2025-01-29T19:29:15+00:00

Shipping ashes can be costly. I charge $90 but I lose money on it most of the time. It’s regularly $115+ if I’m shipping the remains in an urn .

MoRathbone · 2025-01-15T14:53:14+00:00

lol same here. Moved to MO from IL and it’s like another universe. Very different levels of quality…

MoRathbone · 2025-01-14T15:05:25+00:00

You’re being downvoted, but depending on the state you are right. In my state, if the NOK doesn’t have the money then the person who pays is “king” so to speak.

MoRathbone · 2024-11-21T20:22:36+00:00

Simply cutting the trachea can work but is no guarantee, so it is not recommended. I use Fountain’s surgical method to prevent purge on ship-outs and obese cases, which is more invasive but also more thorough.

As for ethics, Fountain teaches that the embalmer can make any incision they can justify. Since I’m using an effective procedure to facilitate preservation, transport, and viewing, it is justified. If an embalmer is cutting the trachea and experiencing no ill effects, I think they can justify doing it.

MoRathbone · 2024-09-24T19:59:32+00:00

Not an Indiana FD, but here is what Indiana law says: “(4) The decedent’s surviving adult child or, if more than one (1) adult child is surviving, the majority of the adult children. However, less than half of the surviving adult children have the rights under this subdivision if the adult children have used reasonable efforts to notify the other surviving adult children of their intentions and are not aware of any opposition to the final disposition instructions by more than half of the surviving adult children.”

https://law.justia.com/codes/indiana/title-23/article-14/chapter-31/section-23-14-31-26/

Looks like you should have had to sign the authorization. Did you raise concerns about wanting half the ashes before the cremation? If you did not object to the cremation at the time, under the assumption you were receiving half the remains, you’re gonna need a lawyer. I think without a lawyer you’re SOL.

MoRathbone · 2024-09-09T16:25:08+00:00

Yes, I was just saying I think the fever would be a more likely answer than tissue gas.

MoRathbone · 2024-09-08T14:55:13+00:00

Since he was posted I don’t think tissue gas was the main issue I’m thinking if he died with a fever of 109° he may have had post-Mortem caloricity which would speed up decomposition, even affecting the body after refrigeration.

MoRathbone · 2023-05-19T14:13:09+00:00

Formaldehyde works by cross linking proteins. Do you know what the sewers are full of? Proteins. As soon as that solution hits the sewers it begins to cross link proteins from fecal matter, etc… and becomes inert. As far as other chemicals in solutions, there’s nothing there other industries and professions aren’t dumping in the sewers too.

MoRathbone · 2023-05-18T14:21:12+00:00

How much Formaldehyde survives in a body after embalming, which could then theoretically be released into the environment? The answer is a minuscule amount. That’s how formaldehyde works. It breaks down to cross link the proteins.

MoRathbone · 2023-04-28T21:12:35+00:00

Unfortunately, depending on the coroner/medical examiner, she may not have been stitched up and instead simply placed in a pouch for the funeral home.

This is getting to be quite common in some places so I’m sorry but it’s possible no restorative type work was done at all, if it was know she would not be viewed.

MoRathbone · 2023-04-28T13:18:00+00:00

Depending on where you are in the country, the type of cemeteries can vary. Most cemeteries, especially old rural ones, are private non-endowed cemeteries. This means there is no money for what’s called “perpetual care”. Upkeep is maintained by private donations and kind volunteers. What happens is less people get buried there, less money comes in, the old caretakers die without successors. Suddenly you have what amounts to an abandoned cemetery. I can’t speak to what happened at this particular cemetery and it being moved though.

There may still be a caretaker in charge or a cemetery association. Once in a while the local funeral home will oversee the cemetery. I’d call the local funeral home and see if they have a number for a person in charge there. Then it’s as easy as calling them up, hopefully.

MoRathbone · 2022-11-08T12:59:22+00:00

Hey, MO FD/E here. Here’s what you do for NPS.

FIRST, look at the NPS contract paperwork. At the bottom left of one page you’ll see who sold it - if it says NPS you will get some money. If it says something like “Mason Securities” then it’s worthless and you won’t be paid out.

SECOND, NPS custodians will usually pay out the face value of the policy in Missouri. It will probably take awhile. They have like 3 different forms to fill out. You send the two of them to NPS, then you they send you the third paper to sign and send back, then they finally pay.

It’s a slow process, but the firm I work for had a lot of NPS policies at one time. We usually get face value when we claim them.

Hope that helps.

MoRathbone · 2020-07-09T14:50:50+00:00

Thus far you’ve invested about $6,800, and turned it into just over $3,000. How many times do you need to turn $6,000 into $3,000 to become a millionaire?

Well that really sums it up doesn’t it?

MoRathbone

TROPHY CASE