Cremation is the technical heating process that reduces human remains to bone fragments.
The reduction takes place through heat and evaporation. Making arrangements ahead of time allows people to make their own decisions about cremation, ground burial or entombment. People are better able to evaluate the options available during a pre-planning stage than at the time of death when emotional stress is typically very high. A cremation service does not have to differ from the traditional service at all unless that is the family's desire. The family can deviate as much or as little as they wish.