When a loved one passes away, families are often faced with decisions they’ve never had to make before — and very little time to make them. If cremation is something you’re considering, one of the most common questions we hear at Dalton Hoopes Funeral Home is simply: What actually happens?
That’s a completely natural thing to want to know. Understanding the cremation process doesn’t diminish the reverence of the experience — it can actually bring real comfort. When you know your loved one is being handled with care, dignity, and professionalism at every step, it’s easier to feel at peace.
This article walks you through the entire process, from beginning to end, in plain and compassionate language.
What Is Cremation?
Cremation is the process of reducing a person’s body to its essential mineral elements — commonly referred to as cremated remains, cremains, or cremated ashes — through the application of high heat. It is one of the two most common forms of final disposition in the United States, alongside traditional burial.
According to the National Funeral Directors Association (NFDA), cremation now surpasses burial in the U.S. for the first time in history, with rates continuing to rise each year. Families choose cremation for many reasons: personal preference, cost, environmental values, religious beliefs, or simply because their loved one requested it.
Whatever your reason, you deserve to fully understand what you’re choosing — and what your loved one’s care will look like from the moment they leave your care to the moment their remains are returned to you.
Step 1: Transfer and Identification
Before anything else, your loved one must be respectfully transferred from the place of death — whether that’s a hospital, hospice facility, nursing home, or private residence — to the care of a funeral home or cremation provider.
At Dalton Hoopes, our funeral director is available 24 hours a day, 7 days a week to receive your call and coordinate transportation with care. From the very first moment, your loved one is treated with the same dignity and reverence as in any funeral service.
Identification is critically important throughout the cremation process. A metal ID tag is placed with your loved one and stays with them through every stage — transfer, preparation, the cremation itself, and the return of remains. This is a standard practice mandated by the cremation industry and endorsed by the Cremation Association of North America (sometimes called a cremation association or cremation society). It ensures there is never any question about whose cremated remains you receive.
Step 2: Authorization and Documentation
Before the actual cremation can begin, your funeral director will walk you through the required paperwork. This includes:
- Cremation authorization — a legal document signed by the next of kin or authorized party, giving permission for the cremation to proceed
- Death certificate — prepared and filed with the state of Utah
- Permits — Utah law requires a burial and disposition permit before cremation can take place
- Medical examiner clearance — in certain circumstances (unexpected or unattended death), the medical examiner must release the body before cremation is authorized
This step protects you, your family, and your loved one. Utah law also mandates a waiting period — typically 24 to 48 hours — before a person’s cremation can proceed. This gives families time, ensures all documentation is in order, and allows any legal requirements to be met.
Your funeral director handles all of this on your behalf, so you don’t have to navigate the paperwork alone during one of the most difficult times of your life.
Step 3: Preparation for Cremation
Once all authorizations are in place, your loved one is carefully prepared for cremation. This step differs from preparation for a traditional burial — there is no embalming required for cremation, and no viewing is held beforehand (unless a family specifically requests a viewing or funeral service prior to cremation, which is absolutely an option).
Jewelry and personal items are removed and returned to the family. If you’d like a piece of meaningful jewelry to remain with your loved one during cremation, that can be discussed with your funeral director.
Your loved one is then placed into a cremation container — also called a combustible cremation container. This is not the same as a traditional coffin or burial casket, though some families do choose a cremation casket. In most cases, a sturdy, dignified cardboard or wood container is used. It is entirely combustible and appropriate for the cremation chamber.
Any medical devices — such as pacemakers — must be removed before cremation, as they can pose a safety risk due to heat. Your funeral director will advise you on this.
Step 4: The Cremation Chamber
This is the step most families are curious about — and often anxious about. Understanding how the cremation chamber works can ease that anxiety considerably.
The cremation chamber — also called a retort — is a purpose-built, industrial furnace located at a licensed crematory or crematorium. It is specifically engineered for this single purpose and operated by a trained crematory operator who follows strict protocols throughout.
Here’s what happens inside the cremation chamber:
Flame-based cremation uses intense heat — typically between 1,400 and 1,800 degrees Fahrenheit — to reduce the person’s body to its mineral components. The entire process takes approximately two to three hours, depending on the individual.
The cremation chamber is lined with heat-resistant bricks and has a primary chamber where the body is placed and a secondary chamber (afterburner) that processes gases and ensures clean combustion. Only one person’s cremation takes place at a time — this is a strict industry standard and a point of personal ethics for reputable cremation providers like Dalton Hoopes.
At no point does the crematory process involve open flame directly contacting the body in a dramatic way — the heat is radiant and controlled. It is a dignified, precise, and carefully supervised process.
Step 5: Processing the Remains
After the cremation chamber has completed its work, a cooling period follows before the remains can be handled. What remains are the person’s cremated remains — primarily bone fragments that have been reduced by the intense heat.
The crematory operator carefully removes all remaining bone fragments from the chamber, along with the metal ID tag that has been with your loved one throughout. Any remaining metal — such as surgical implants, joint replacements, or dental fixtures — is separated. Metal items are typically handled according to state regulation and crematory policy; some crematories recycle them through programs that often benefit charity.
The bone fragments are then processed in a machine called a cremulator, which reduces them to the fine, uniform consistency most people recognize as cremated ashes. This final material — the cremains — typically weighs between three and nine pounds, depending on the individual.
The remains are then placed into a temporary cremation container or the cremation urn of your choosing, along with the metal identification tag, and sealed for return to your family.
Step 6: Return of Your Loved One’s Ashes
Once the cremation process is complete — typically within a few days of the death — your loved one’s ashes are returned to you.
If you’ve selected a cremation urn in advance, the remains will be placed directly in it. If not, they’ll be returned in a secure temporary container. From here, your family has complete freedom in how you honor and keep your loved one’s ashes.
Options families in Tooele County and across Utah choose include:
- Keeping the urn at home in a meaningful place
- Burying the cremated remains in a cemetery through burial services
- Scattering in a location your loved one cherished (following applicable Utah laws)
- Cremation jewelry — a growing option that incorporates a small portion of the cremated remains into a pendant, ring, or keepsake piece that can be worn or passed down
- Dividing the remains among multiple family members who each want a way to keep their loved one close
- Planting a memorial tree using remains as part of the growing process
Whatever you choose, there is no rush. One of the gifts of cremation is that the remains can be kept safely until your family is ready to decide.
Does Cremation Allow for a Funeral or Memorial Service?
Absolutely — and this is an important point that surprises many families. Cremation and a meaningful memorial service are not mutually exclusive.
Many families who choose cremation, including those who choose direct cremation, still hold a funeral or memorial service — they simply hold it on a different timeline. You might gather as a family days after the cremation for an intimate celebration of life, or you might wait weeks until everyone can travel.
Your funeral service can take place at our funeral home, a church, a park, a family home, or any location that feels right. It can be small and private or open to the entire community. The cremated remains can be present during the service, or you might simply gather to share memories, stories, and support.
Grief support doesn’t require a traditional ceremony — but many families find that coming together in some way is a vital part of healing. At Dalton Hoopes, we’re here to help you plan whatever form that takes.
What Is Green Cremation?
Some families ask about green cremation, also known as water cremation or alkaline hydrolysis. This is an alternative to flame-based cremation that uses a combination of water, heat, and an alkaline solution to achieve the same result — the reduction of the body to its mineral components. It is considered more environmentally friendly than traditional cremation because it uses less energy and produces no direct emissions.
The process of water cremation yields similar cremated remains to traditional cremation, though they are often described as slightly finer and whiter. Availability of water cremation varies by state and cremation service provider. Ask our funeral director whether this option is currently available in Tooele County.
How Much Does the Cremation Process Cost?
Cremation cost varies depending on the type of cremation service, the cremation provider, and the choices your family makes around urns, services, and memorialization.
Direct cremation — which involves no formal funeral service before cremation — is the most affordable option. A full cremation service that includes a viewing or funeral service before cremation will cost more, but offers the added comfort of traditional ceremony.
At Dalton Hoopes, we offer transparent, straightforward cremation pricing with no hidden fees. Visit our Affordable Cremation Services page or call us to discuss what fits your family’s needs and budget.
Cremation FAQ: Quick Answers
Is more than one person ever cremated at the same time? No. Reputable crematories — including ours — cremate only one person at a time. This is both an industry standard and a matter of basic integrity.
Will I definitely get my loved one’s remains back? Yes. The metal identification tag that travels with your loved one throughout the entire process ensures you receive their cremated remains — and only theirs.
Can I witness the cremation? Some families find comfort in witnessing the beginning of the cremation. This is something you can discuss with your funeral director. Not all crematories offer this, but it’s worth asking.
How long does the cremation process take? From the time of death to the return of remains, most families can expect the entire process to take between five and ten days, depending on documentation, permit processing, and the crematory’s schedule. The cremation itself typically takes two to three hours.
Are there any religious concerns I should know about? Many faith traditions, including most Christian denominations and many LDS families, accept cremation as a personal choice. Some traditions have specific guidance around the handling of cremated remains. We always encourage families to consult with their faith leader if this is a concern.
Final Arrangements with Dalton Hoopes Funeral Home
Making final arrangements is never easy — but understanding the cremation process can make it a little less daunting. At Dalton Hoopes, we’ve guided Tooele County families through this experience since 1979. We are a locally owned funeral home and cremation provider — not a national chain — and every family we serve receives personal, compassionate attention from our funeral director and staff.
Whether you’re making arrangements now or planning ahead, we’re here to answer every question, support every family member, and ensure your loved one receives the care and dignity they deserve.
Call us anytime: (435) 241-9308 Visit us: 50 West Main Street, Grantsville, UT 84029 Learn more: Cremation Services at Dalton Hoopes
Dalton Hoopes Funeral Home proudly serves families in Tooele, Grantsville, Stansbury Park, Rush Valley, and throughout Tooele County, Utah.