What Happens at Colwyn Bay Crematorium Behind the Curtain

For many people, the crematorium feels like the most unknown part of a funeral. We understand what happens during the service: the music, the readings, the moment of saying goodbye but what happens after the curtain closes or the coffin leaves from view is something that is rarely spoken about. Because of this it can be surrounded by uncertainty and in reality, what happens behind the scenes is carried out with care, professionalism and respect.

What Happens After the Service

Once the service has ended and all mourners have left the chapel, the Funeral Director will return to remove items such as the floral tribute from the top of the coffin, trained crematorium staff will then gently and respectfully move the coffin out of the chapel.

At this stage, a second identification check will be carried out, with the first having been undertaken as the coffin enters the chapel. Each coffin is accompanied by documentation and strict procedures ensure that everything is correctly recorded and traceable throughout. This process is not rushed or informal, it is structured and handled with great attention to detail. 

What Happens During the Cremation?

The coffin is placed into a specially designed cremator, operated by trained professionals. Once the process is complete, the ashes are carefully prepared and placed into a container or urn, ready to be returned to the family or otherwise scattered or interred. There are also procedures in place to deal with any residual materials appropriately and respectfully.

Did you know that most crematoria allow you to be present at the moment of the cremation taking place? This can sometimes be necessary for religious reasons or perhaps you never knew it was an option. Speak to your Funeral Director or the local crematorium for more information. 

“We understand that every person in our care is someone’s family. Everything we do is carried out with dignity, respect and careful attention to detail - even though much of our work happens out of sight.”
— Crematorium Team, Colwyn Bay

Addressing Common Misconceptions

Because cremation happens out of sight, it’s natural that questions and sometimes misunderstandings arise. 

Some of the most common include:

• “Are coffins reused?” 

  No. The coffin presented at the funeral is the same coffin that is cremated. Local crematoria require coffins for fuel in the cremation process. Coffins are not reused.

   

• “Are multiple people cremated together?” 

  This is one of the most common questions we receive. Cremation is always carried out individually, with strict procedures in place and each cremator is only big enough for one coffin.

   

• “Can ashes get mixed up?” 

  Crematoria follow rigorous identification processes throughout to ensure the correct ashes are returned to the family. 

   

• “Does cremation happen immediately after the service?” 

  It depends on the crematorium, in many Crematoria licences require same day funeral and cremation. It is rare that a cremation takes place more than a few hours after the funeral.

   

• “What happens to things left in the coffin?” 

  Personal items placed in the coffin remain with the person and are cremated with them (with some exceptions for safety reasons, which your Funeral Director will advise on).

   

• “What happens to my friend’s gold teeth?”

  Gold, be that fillings, jewellery or similar melts under the high heat of the cremation, mixing in with the ashes. However, harder metals, such as titanium used in hip and knee replacements survive the cremation and are medically recycled. Locally, any proceeds from the re-use of these metals are donated to local charities, raising thousands each year.

   

• “Are ashes exactly like what we imagine?”
  Ashes are processed into a fine, consistent form after cremation. This is done carefully so they can be returned to the family in a dignified way.