As the famous saying goes, “everything that has a beginning has an end.” Nothing in this world is permanent—including life. As the earthly body naturally ages, its shape and functions slowly diminish until its demise. When the end comes, the remains can be buried at a cemetery or cremated and kept at places like the Nirvana columbarium.
However, more and more families are choosing to have the body of their deceased loved ones turned into ashes because of the current Singapore law that limits the duration of burials. The bereaved have to get exhumation services in Singapore to get the bodies of their loved ones cremated. If their kin is part of a religion that prohibits cremation, they can choose to bury or transfer their deceased to private lands.
But before you avail of exhumation services in Singapore, you must first understand what it means and why it is necessary.
What Is Exhumation?
According to the Encyclopaedia of Forensic and Legal Medicine, the term “exhumation” stems from the Latin words “ex,” meaning “out of”, and “humus,” which translates to “earth.” When put together, exhumation would mean “taking (something) out of the earth.” If applied to the context of funerals and memorials, exhumation would suggest that the remains of a departed have to be extracted or excavated from their burial site. Numerous funeral parlours and other related businesses offer exhumation services throughout Singapore for a wide variety of reasons. If your family needs your deceased to get removed from the land they laid for some time, you may phone experts to get it done.
If you think about the general definition of exhumation, it seems like anyone can dig the remains of a person for various reasons. All they need is a shovel, and they can start excavating the grave of a departed. However, health and environmental authorities, even experts from bereavement care providers like Nirvana Memorial Garden, advise people against performing exhumation activities. They want families to leave the excavation job to the professionals who can perform correct cadaver handling and transportation. If authorities need pieces of evidence for legal reasons, exhumation specialists can take necessary measures to avoid data destruction or tampering. People can also dodge illnesses associated with exposure to or interaction with decaying bodies if they decide to get exhumation services.
Why Is Exhumation Needed?
In Singapore, exhumation is necessary due to the National Environment Agency law that limits the duration of burials to a maximum of 15 years. Once the period is up, families will receive a notification that the bodies of their departed loved ones must get exhumed. They could work with funeral homes and bereavement care partners like Nirvana Memorial Garden in Singapore to get the remains of their loved ones dug up. They could also take the ashes home in an urn. The bereaved can also disperse the cremated remains through scattering facilities throughout the state. If the clan’s religion or beliefs prohibits cremation, the family can purchase a private yet smaller lot and transfer their deceased there.
In some cases, families request exhumation services in Singapore because they are relocating to a new area. Having their departed loved ones in a closer memorial facility helps them pay their respects more conveniently and frequently. If the former burial site of the deceased is in a flood and landslide-prone place, the kin decides to transfer them to environments with a more pleasing and calming setting. External conditions can also affect the fengshui of the family, which is a factor why they get exhumation services.
Government and law authorities can also ask for exhumation for forensic examination. Experts may inspect the body for identification through DNA testing or physical investigation. They may also dig a grave to gather pieces of evidence for a case. Excavating the remains of a deceased is necessary for forensic examination since professionals cannot gather enough information once turned into ashes and placed in facilities like the Nirvana columbarium.
How Is Exhumation Performed?
Depending on the reason for getting exhumation services in Singapore, the process of digging up a grave can differ from one circumstance to another. If a forensic investigation is required, law and medical experts must follow a specific set of guidelines to handle the body. They need to open the casket on the side and quickly transport the remains to a lab since exposing it to air speeds its decomposition. Professionals will need to note which embalming chemicals are present in the body. They may even take samples of the clothing and fluids present in the remains. Sawdust from the coffin and soil from the grave could also help the investigation.
If the remains will be exhumed for cremation and relocation, families need to fill out and submit a registration form to the concerned authorities. They will also need to settle the fees for the excavation and present necessary documents like the deceased’s death certificate and identification files of the next-of-kin. Once they receive a date from the National Environment Agency, they could work with a reliable bereavement care services provider to get the remains exhumed and transferred to their facility of choice, like Nirvana columbarium. A relative must be present on the day of the exhumation to witness the event. If no family member is available on the excavation date, an authorised representative must attend the process.
Where Can I Get Exhumation Services?
Exhumation services are available throughout Singapore. The National Environment Agency can carry out the excavation, but families can also hire private companies to dig up the graves of their loved ones. They can also work with bereavement care providers for grave exhumation and niche relocation packages. These solutions will include a comprehensive set of assistive services to make the exhumation process smoother and more memorable.
These packages could include site surveys, date selection, and groundbreaking and chanting ceremonies. They could also avail of Buddhist funeral services in Singapore through these exhumation professionals to provide their deceased with an appropriate cremation and relocation process.
Nirvana Singapore Funeral is a bereavement care expert that has assisted numerous families in tending and remembering their departed loved ones. Visit their website below to learn more about their exhumation services in Singapore.
