FUNERALS / CREMATIONS

WHAT SHOULD I DO IF ONE MY BELOVED FAMILY MEMBERS DIES?
Contact your preacher, doctor and D & M FUNERAL SERVICES
The family must first decide if the death are of Natural or Unnatural causes.
NATURAL CAUSES:
Treating of a specific sickness that was treated by a doctor ex. Cancer, high blood pressure, Heart attacks.
D & M FUNERALS Can be contacted directly for the removal of your beloved one. Even thou the person died at home or in a hospital.
Some hospitals that has their own mortuaries and will remove the deceased to their mortuary, the family can only remove the deceased the following day. The Id`s of the deceased and the person that is going to identify the deceased must be taken with to the hospital, so that all the paper work can be ex. BI 1663 NOTIFICATION OF DEATH and schedule "B" form for cremation. D & M FUNERALS. Can the be contacted for the removal of the deceased and for the funeral arrangement.
UNNATURAL CAUSES:
The causes of this type of deaths are from the following results. Deaths that occur because of patient under anaesthetic, Suicide, Drowning, motor vehicle accidents, etc. The SAPS must be contacted immediately so that they can investigate the matter. The SAPS will contact the forensic department. They will remove the deceased to the government mortuary to do the necessary post mortem. Take the telephone numbers of the SAPS officer and of the forensic officer so that you can make an appointment to identify the body. The Id`s of the deceased and the person that is going to identify the body must be taken with the forensic department so that the necessary documentation BI 1663 notification of death, and schedule "D" if cremation is going to be done, can be completed.
D & M FUNERALS can be contacted for the removal of the deceased and for the funeral arrangements. DECISIONS OF THE FAMILY:
• The wish of the deceased is the most important decision. Funeral or Cremation
• Where and when should the service take place, and which Church / Chapel is going to be used, and which Preacher is going to conduct the service.
• Clothing to dress the deceased for viewing at the funeral undertaker premises, before the service.
• The color of flowers for the Church and coffin spray.
• Which person is going to do the thank you / Tribute, and which pallbearer's is going to carry the coffin at the Church / grave.
• Which cemetery is going to be used
DOCUMENTATION NEEDED:
• Id. Of the deceased and family member that did the identification of the deceased.
• Any Funeral policies that the family may have, so that the arrangement officer of D & M FUNERALS, can assist you with the claim.
WHAT SHOULD I BRING WITH TO DO AN ARRANGEMENT?
• Telephone number of the Preacher and Church.
• Names / Surnames of all pallbearer's.
• Songs that is to be sung in church in accordance with the Preacher.
• Name of the person that is going to do the thank you and tribute.
• To choose of a Funeral letter from the examples D & M FUNERALS will provide, or write your own Funeral letter.
• Preprinted Funeral covers are available if the family is not going to use a photo on the front of their funeral letter.
THREE METHODS OF ARRANGING A FUNERAL:
1. CHURCH AND THEN GRAVE: The old traditional ways are that we first will proceed to the church of a service, and then proceed to the cemetery in a convoy. After the interment at the graveyard the family and friends will return to church to have refreshments.
2. GRAVE THEN CHURCH: Where the church and graveyard is far apart of each other, most families prefer that we first do the interment of the deceased and then return to church for a memorial service, and there after they will enjoy refreshments at the church hall.
3. GRAVE SERVICE ONLY: This method of burial is seldom used. The family arrange with the undertaker and Preacher that they only go to the graveyard for the interment. The coffin is carried from the hearse to the grave and the preacher have a short ceremony and coffin is lowered. There after the family and friends leave, and if arranged the have refreshments where ever the family has organised it. This is the cheapest way of conducting a funeral.
THREE METHODS OF ARRANGING A CREMATION
1. PRIVATE CREMATIONS: After the deceased were removed to the funeral undertakers premises the deceased will be placed in a coffin chosen by the family and all the documentation schedules, "A, B, C", NATURAL CAUSES OR "A, D" UNNATURAL CAUSES must be completed. After permission from the Medical Referee schedule "E" is given, The family will then arrange their own Memorial service and refreshments.
2. CREMATION BY APPOINTMENT: This type of cremation is exactly the same as a direct cremation. The Difference is only that the deceased gets cremated not directly but by appointment a few days after the service.
3. DIRECT CREMATION: This service usually takes place at the crematorium chapel or at church, and the coffin is present at the service, the deceased then gets cremated directly after the service. The human remains are available the same day if arranged with the undertaker or the next day.

CREMATION

From our many years of experience of cremation and our experience in dealing with bereaved families, we have compiled the following questions and answers that cover concerns most often expressed.
1. May members of all religious groups be cremated? No, Although most Christian denominations permit cremation, it is forbidden for Muslims and orthodox Jews. We recommend that you first discuss your denomination`s stand on cremation with your pastor/reverend before making any arrangements.
2. FORBID THE ROMAN CATHOLIC CHURCH Cremation? The Roman Catholic Church has permitted cremation since 1965, provided the motive in requesting it is not anti-doctrinal.
3. Must there be a religious ceremony with cremation? No, You may choose a secular ceremony should you desire. However, should you wish to have a religious ceremony, but do not have a specific clergyman in mind, D & M FUNERAL SERVICES – will arrange for one to conduct a service.
4. DOES CREMATION NOT INTERFERE WITH THE NATURAL PROCESS OF DECOMPOSITION? No, All it does is to time-compress the natural process of “ashes to ashes”, ”dust to dust”.
5. HOW IS CREMATION ARRANGED? As there are a number of legal formalities with which one must comply, it is wisest to let D & M FUNERALS arrange for forms for cremation. DOCUMENTATION THAT MUST BE COMPLETED FOR NATURAL CAUSES
Schedule A To be completed by the family.
Schedule B Dr. that treated the deceased.
Schedule C Dr. that did not know the deceased.
Schedule E Medical Referee.
Costs for the schedule B, C and E will be paid by the family.
UNNATURAL CAUSES
Schedule A To be completed by the family.
Schedule D Forensic pathology Services.
Schedule E Medical Referee.
Cost for the schedule E will be paid by the family. If the deceased had no medical record and wanted to be cremated, a private post mortem must be conducted on the deceased to determine the cause of death. D & M FUNERALS will assist the family to arrange for a post mortem so that a schedule D section B can be completed. Costs for the post mortem and schedule E will be paid by the family.
PLEASE NOTE: That all legal requirements including the documentation must be completed and approved prior the cremation taking place. 6. WHO GIVES PERMISSION FOR A CREMATION TO TAKE PLACE? Permission may only be given by a Medical Referee appointed by the crematorium authority. No cremation may take place without a Schedule E that were completed by the Medical Referee.
7. MUST PACEMAKERS AND OTHER RADIOACTIVE IMPLANTS BE REMOVED BEFORE CREMATION? Yes, These implants can explode at high temperatures, not only causing damage to crematories, but also placing crematorium staff at risk.
8. IS THE COFFIN CREMATED WITH THE BODY? Yes, The coffin as received is always cremated.
9. MUST A COFFIN BE USE FOR CREMATION? Every crematorium requires some form of outer shell, in the interest of the family for reasons of hygiene and because of the design of modern crematories. The outer shell must be opaque and completely enclose the body, and be of combustible material.
10. IS MORE THAN ONE COFFIN CREMATED AT ONE TIME? No, The design of modern crematories does not allow for two adults to be cremated together.
11. HOW LONG DOES THE CREMATION PROCESS NORMALLY LAST? Approximately 90 minutes.
12. CAN THE FAMILY WITNESS THE COMMITTAL OF THE COFFIN TO THE CREMATOR? Yes, with some religions it is a requirement that this be done, but prior permission must be obtained by the superintendent of the crematorium.
13. DOES THE CREMATION TAKE PLACE IMMEDIATELY? No, Not always. Only with a direct cremation.
14. WHAT HAPPENS WITH PRECIOUS AND OTHER METALS? The temperature inside the cremator operate between 800°C and 1000°C is such that metals fused with other materials so that they are not recognizable. It is therefore strongly recommended that any items of jewelry should be removed by the family.
15. HOW DO I KNOW I WILL GET THE RIGHT REMAINS? As each cremator will only accept one adult coffin, and the remains must be withdrawn before the cremator is used again.
16. WHAT HAPPENS TO THE REMAINS AFTER THEY ARE REMOVED FROM THE CREMATOR? When the cremation is completed, the remains are withdrawn from the cremator into a cooling tray. When cool, any ferrous materials is removed by means of a magnetic field, and the remaining remains are then placed into a machine, which reduces them to a granular form, consisting of bone and ash, the quantity of the remains depends on the size and age of the deceased. The ashes are then placed in a plastic bag and then in a wooden urn with a certificate, and can be collected by the family from D & M FUNERALS.
17. WHAT OPTIONS DO I HAVE WITH THE REMAINS? Although some religious bodies prefer that remains be interred in consecrated ground, the final choice is normally that of the family. Remains may be scattered or buried at most local crematorium or within your church ground or at some other place of your choice. Eg, On a mountain, at see, in a garden, under a tree.
18. WHAT HAPPENS TO REMAINS THAT IS STREWN ON THE GROUND? As the highest biochemical activity exists at the surface of the soil and the remains are in a small granular form, weather and biochemical action quickly break them down to form part of the earth and within a short time there is no visible trace of them.
19. IS IT POSSIBLE TO SEND REMAINS TO OTHER PARTS OF THE COUNTRY OR OVERSEAS? Yes, D & M FUNERAL SERVICES will arrange this for you.
20. IS CREMATION MORE EXPENSIVE THAN A BURIAL? Yes, in some instances. With a funeral the family pays for the grave only, but with a cremation the family pays for the following documentation SCHEDULE “B, C, E” and for the crematorium.
21. IS CREMATION NOT AN AID TO THE CONCEALING OF A CRIME BY EMLIMANATING EVIDENCE? No. Because the primary causes of death must be ascertained before permission is given by the medical Referee to cremate.
22. HOW CAN I ENSURE THAT I AM CREMATED WHEN I DIE? Leave specific instructions in your Will, and advise your next of kin. This will spare your family much distress.