Organ donation does not mean a closed casket. Regardless of the extent of the medical procedure to facilitate organ removal the techniques employed by licensed embalmers ensure the integrity of the deceased's appearance will not be compromised. The only impact, albeit minor, the decision to be an organ donor might have would be in the timing of the release of the remains to the funeral home. This, of course, would depend on the complexity of the organ retrieval procedures and the length of time it would take for the medical team to respond. Notwithstanding these factors, the delay in the preparation of the deceased for viewing should not exceed 24 hours.
Many people believe the residue which remains after the cremation process consists solely of ashes.
This is not so. Cremation is a technical process which reduces the remains to its basic elements, primarily bone particles and fragments. These basic elements, depending on the size of the deceased, may weigh anywhere between 3 to 8 lbs and are further reduced in size for placement in an urn or container. As the deceased is usually cremated in a wooden casket or rigid container there is some residue of ash remaining after cremation. However, the dark ashes are easily distinguishable from the light bone particles and fragments which are removed from the ashes prior to their reduction.