Cremation: A 5-step process for identifying the deceased.
By Aurélie Vasseur, Content Writer
In the case of a burial, the deceased remains intact and identification of the body is possible at any time. Conversely, in the case of cremation, once the process has been completed, it is no longer possible to identify the person. It is therefore very important to carry out rigorous checks to eliminate the risk of error.
Also, cremation does not provide the family with a visual cue. Humans believe what they see. Being able to visualize the deceased before the process is an essential requirement for a serene start to mourning.
1 - Place of death
An identity check is carried out at the time of death by the professional who has come to record and declare the death.
2 - Care by Urgel Bourgie/Athos
Once the initial legal procedures have been completed and the family has given its consent, Urgel Bourgie/Athos travels to the place of death to collect the deceased.
The identity of the deceased is again thoroughly checked, and transport to the laboratory can begin.
3 - Preparation
On arrival at the laboratory, a state-of-the-art computerized system enables the deceased to be tracked precisely at every stage of preparation.
An assessment is made on arrival, and every detail concerning the deceased and his or her identity is recorded and dated for methodical follow-up.
4 - Ceremony or identification process
Once preparation is complete, the family can proceed with a ceremony in the presence of the deceased, or simply opt for an identification process.
This is a private moment that allows the family to confirm the identity of the deceased, but also to come to terms emotionally with the death and say a final goodbye.
The deceased is presented to the family in the same way he or she will appear at the cremation. Once this process has been completed, no details are changed.
Although the identification procedure is suggested, the family can refuse it.
In some cases, virtual identification is also possible. A 1-3 minute video recording is organized in a dedicated room. The family attends virtually and visually confirms the identity of the deceased.
5 - Cremation
Once all the preceding stages have been completed and validated, the cremation can proceed. To ensure that no trace of the deceased's identity is ever lost, a numbered tag, known as a Z-code, certifying the deceased's identity, is added to the ashes directly in the urn.
If you have any questions, or if you would like to be sure that your funeral will be handled by funeral professionals, please contact us at 514 735 2025.