Many families considering cremation have the same questions: How does the process work? How are loved ones identified? And perhaps most importantly, how can families be sure the remains they receive belong to the person they love?
Those questions were the focus of Episode 5 of The Iowa Conversation, where host Mike Downer sat down with Ryan Fredregill, owner and funeral director of Celebrate Life Iowa. Drawing on nearly three decades of professional experience—and a lifetime spent around funeral service—Fredregill walked listeners through the realities of the cremation process, from identification procedures to final disposition.
For families searching for answers about what happens during cremation, the conversation offered more than a technical explanation. It provided insight into the systems, safeguards, and professional standards that ensure dignity, accountability, and trust at every stage.
According to Fredregill, the most common cremation questions aren't actually about temperatures or equipment. They're about identification.
Families want reassurance that the cremated remains they receive truly belong to their loved one. They also frequently wonder whether multiple individuals are cremated together.
Fredregill addressed that concern directly:
"Only one individual is cremated at a time."
He explained that this practice is required by Iowa law and serves as a foundational safeguard within the cremation process.
This emphasis on identification and accountability became a recurring theme throughout the conversation and revealed what many people don't realize: cremation begins long before anyone enters a cremation chamber.
One of the most revealing parts of the discussion was Fredregill's detailed explanation of the identification process.
From the moment an individual comes into the care of Celebrate Life Iowa, identity verification becomes the top priority. Whether the person passes away at home, in a hospital, hospice facility, or nursing home, identification is confirmed before any further steps take place.
An identification tag is then placed on the individual and remains with them throughout the entire process.
At the crematory, staff create detailed receiving records documenting the person's name, date of death, location of death, personal belongings, and identifying information. A unique crematory identification number is assigned and logged alongside critical information including weight, cremation date, and cremation time.
As Fredregill explained:
"The chain of identification is maintained from beginning to end."
That identification number follows the remains through cremation, processing, certification, and final delivery to the family.
Another misconception addressed during the episode is the belief that cremation begins immediately after a person arrives at a crematory.
In reality, several important preparations must occur first.
The deceased must be placed in a combustible container, which may range from a simple cardboard container to a wooden container or traditional casket.
Medical devices must also be carefully evaluated. Fredregill specifically highlighted pacemakers, which must be removed before cremation because exposure to extreme heat can cause them to explode.
While many families never think about these operational details, they represent an important part of ensuring safety and maintaining professional standards.
When people imagine cremation, many assume the body is instantly reduced to ashes. Fredregill explained that the reality is more nuanced.
Before cremation begins, the chamber is heated to approximately 1,400 degrees Fahrenheit. During operation, temperatures generally fluctuate between 1,400 and 1,800 degrees Fahrenheit through a system of burners designed to maintain efficient and controlled conditions.
Once cremation is underway, heat consumes soft tissue while skeletal remains remain.
Fredregill described the process simply:
"During cremation, soft tissue is consumed by heat, leaving behind the skeletal remains."
That explanation helps clarify one of the biggest misconceptions surrounding cremation. The process does not directly produce what families recognize as ashes.
Instead, a separate step follows.
One of the most educational moments in the conversation came when Fredregill explained what happens after cremation is complete.
The remaining bone fragments are carefully collected from the chamber and processed into the fine material commonly referred to as cremated remains or ashes.
Many people assume this transformation occurs automatically inside the chamber. In reality, additional processing is required after cremation has ended.
Fredregill noted that the complete process generally takes about four hours from start to finish, another fact that surprises many families.
Understanding this distinction helps demystify the process and provides a more accurate picture of what actually occurs behind the scenes.
The identification safeguards established at the beginning continue through the final stages.
After processing, cremated remains are placed into a sealed identification bag marked with the crematory identification number. They are then transferred into either a temporary urn, permanent urn, or another approved memorial container selected by the family.
Each set of remains is accompanied by a cremation certificate documenting key information including the deceased's name, date of death, cremation date, and crematory identification details.
The result is a documented process designed to maintain accountability from the moment a loved one enters care until the family receives the remains.
While much of the discussion focused on procedures and safeguards, Fredregill also highlighted the deeply personal side of funeral service.
He shared examples of families creating unique memorial tributes, including one family that selected a custom whiskey decanter as a memorial urn.
Another family chose to hold a memorial service at the Iowa State Fairgrounds inside a sheep barn show ring because their loved one had spent decades showing sheep there. The service included music, catering, seating, and even a bagpiper.
These stories illustrate a broader philosophy: every service should reflect the life, interests, and personality of the individual being remembered.
When asked about quality assurance, Fredregill didn't focus primarily on equipment or technology. Instead, he pointed to the people behind the process.
Having graduated from mortuary school nearly 26 years ago and grown up in a funeral home environment, he emphasized that funeral service requires more than technical expertise. It requires commitment, compassion, and a genuine desire to help families during difficult moments.
Throughout the episode, one message remained clear: transparency builds trust.
By explaining each step openly—from identification procedures to cremation chamber operations—Fredregill helps families better understand what happens during cremation and the safeguards designed to protect their loved one's dignity every step of the way.
No. Fredregill explained that only one individual is cremated at a time, in accordance with Iowa law.
The complete process generally takes approximately four hours from start to finish.
After cremation, skeletal remains remain. These bone fragments are then processed into the cremated remains commonly referred to as ashes.
A unique identification number is assigned when the individual enters the crematory's care and remains attached to the remains throughout the process.
According to Fredregill, the average set of cremated remains weighs approximately eight pounds, with bone structure playing a larger role than body weight in determining final weight.
Mike Downer: Hello, everybody. I'm your host, Mike Downer, and thanks for joining us on the Iowa Conversation. I am here with
Ryan Fredregill, the owner and funeral director of Celebrate Life Iowa. How are we doing today, Ryan?
Ryan Fredregill: Good, Mike. I hope you're well too.
Mike Downer: Doing great. So today we're going to be talking about what actually happens during the cremation process. This is going to be a very interesting episode. We’ll be discussing the step-by-step cremation process and how Celebrate Life Iowa’s self-owned crematory ensures quality and dignity.
Ryan, what I'd like to ask you is: how does Celebrate Life Iowa ensure proper identification throughout the cremation process?
Ryan Fredregill: Absolutely, Mike. That is a great question. We do get a lot of questions from Iowa families when it comes to cremation, and one of the most common is, “How do we know this is really Mom, Dad, or Grandma?” Another common question is whether we only cremate one body at a time.
We’ll start with when we bring an individual into our care, whether from a home, hospital, hospice house, or nursing home. If that body does not already have identification on it, someone from the hospital staff, medical examiner’s office, or even the family will confirm the identity. If there is no identification present, we place a tag around the ankle or wrist with the individual’s name and our funeral home information.
From there, that individual keeps the tag on at all times. Once we deliver them to the crematory, our staff completes a receiving receipt with the person’s name, date and time of death, place of passing, and any personal belongings they have with them.
We also check for pacemakers, which must be removed prior to cremation because they can explode. At Celebrate Life Iowa, we do not charge extra for pacemaker removal, although some funeral homes do.
Next, the crematory assigns a unique identification number to the individual. That number is documented in our cremation logbook along with the person’s name, weight, location of passing, and date of death. Once cremation takes place, we also record the exact date and time of cremation.
After the cremated remains are placed in either a temporary urn or the family-selected urn, the bag containing the remains still carries that identification number. We also provide the family with a cremation certificate listing the individual’s name, place of passing, date of death, and cremation date. Finally, when the remains are returned, the family signs documentation acknowledging receipt.
So there is tracking and documentation throughout the entire process. And under Iowa law, only one individual may be cremated at a time, and we absolutely follow that to the letter.
Mike Downer: That’s a big peace of mind for families. I know it would be for me. I love hearing how much care you take to ensure the remains truly belong to their loved one.
Ryan Fredregill: Absolutely.
Mike Downer: Ryan, what preparations are required before a body is cremated?
Ryan Fredregill: The preparation required includes making sure the individual has proper identification, which is state law, and we strictly follow that requirement.
The individual must also be placed in a box, container, or casket before cremation. The minimum requirement is typically a heavy-duty cardboard container, but it can range all the way up to a solid wood casket. We have even cremated someone in a metal casket before, but afterward, the metal remnants have to be taken to a landfill. In my opinion, there isn’t much benefit to that.
Mike Downer: That makes complete sense. I know you were talking about containers and remains earlier, so what are the temperature and equipment standards used in a modern cremation chamber?
Ryan Fredregill: The cremation chamber must reach 1,400 degrees before an individual is placed inside. There are two burners in the crematory. One is the afterburner, and the other is the cremation burner.
The afterburner heats the chamber up to the required temperature. Once it reaches that point, the individual can be placed inside. About 35 minutes later, the cremation burner cycles on and off throughout the process. This helps maintain a clean burn and prevents smoke. The temperature typically cycles between 1,400 and 1,800 degrees during cremation.
Mike Downer: I know a lot of people are curious about what actually happens during the cremation process.
Ryan Fredregill: Absolutely. During the cremation process, all tissue burns away from the bones. When the crematory is opened afterward, what remains is generally the skeletal structure.
We carefully sweep everything out, and then the bone fragments, which are very brittle at that point, are processed into the fine ash most people think of when they imagine cremated remains.
Mike Downer: That makes complete sense because I think many people imagine someone simply going in and coming out as ashes immediately. I always learn a lot from these conversations.
Ryan Fredregill: And for everyone listening, the process from start to finish usually takes about four hours.
Mike Downer: Four hours—that’s actually relatively quick in my opinion.
How are the remains processed and returned to the family after cremation?
Ryan Fredregill: After processing the remains into fine ash, we place them into a sealed bag that includes the crematory identification number. That bag is then placed into at minimum a temporary urn.
At Celebrate Life Iowa, if the family does not select a permanent urn, we provide a black box urn. Many families still choose to bury using that container.
If the family selects a decorative urn, such as a wood or metal urn, we place the cremation certificate accordingly—either attached to the bottom or placed inside the urn along with the sealed bag.
Mike Downer: You and I had a side conversation earlier, and I want to go a little off-topic here. Does Celebrate Life Iowa accommodate special requests when it comes to cremated remains?
Ryan Fredregill: Well, Mike, I’ve heard your special request. Why don’t you tell everyone what it is? But yes, the answer is absolutely—we’re happy to accommodate requests.
Mike Downer: As you can probably tell from the picture behind me, I’m a big Jack Daniel’s fan. I have this idea where my ashes would go into a large Jack Daniel’s bottle, and then I’d have a bunch of small airplane-sized bottles filled as well. That way, friends and family could take one while traveling and scatter my ashes all over the world.
Would something like that be too far outside the box?
Ryan Fredregill: Not at all. That’s actually a pretty simple request. We’ve done liquor bottles before. In fact, just last week we buried someone in a Hawkeye Whiskey decanter. The family even gave me permission to share a photo with you because of our earlier conversation.
It was really funny timing because we had just talked about that exact topic before the urn came in.
Mike Downer: To me, it’s amazing how willing you are to personalize services for families in meaningful ways.
Ryan Fredregill: We really pride ourselves on that. In fact, this upcoming weekend we’re holding a service at the Iowa State Fairgrounds inside the sheep barn show ring. The individual spent sixty years showing sheep there.
We’re arranging catering, seating, music equipment, a keg, and even a bagpiper. I think we’re going to continue seeing more celebrations of life that are non-traditional but deeply meaningful to families.
Mike Downer: That’s incredible. So when the remains are returned, what should families expect in terms of weight?
Ryan Fredregill: The average cremated remains weigh about eight pounds. Depending on the urn material, that can increase slightly.
People are often surprised by how heavy cremated remains actually are.
Mike Downer: I’ve experienced that myself. It really does surprise you.
Ryan Fredregill: A bigger guy like you might be closer to ten pounds, Mike. But it mostly depends on bone structure. Unless someone is seven feet tall, most people are fairly similar.
Mike Downer: Some days I think I’m seven feet tall, Ryan.
Ryan Fredregill: Maybe after too much Jack Daniel’s.
Mike Downer: So how does Celebrate Life Iowa maintain quality assurance and transparency in cremation services?
Ryan Fredregill: We pride ourselves on having a highly trained and dedicated staff. Everyone here truly loves what they do. This profession is a calling.
Statistically, seventy-five percent of people who graduate mortuary school leave the profession within five years. Those of us who stay truly believe this is what we were meant to do.
We work nights, weekends, and holidays because serving families matters to us. We cover all ninety-nine counties in Iowa, and when we receive a call, one or two of us are usually on the road within thirty minutes.
We’re blessed to serve families through our offices in West Des Moines and North Liberty, and we’re proud to provide affordable cremation services throughout Iowa.
Mike Downer: Remind us again—how long have you been doing this?
Ryan Fredregill: I graduated mortuary school almost twenty-six years ago. But I also grew up in a funeral home, so depending on how you count it, it’s been even longer.
Mike Downer: I definitely trust you. After hearing today’s conversation, I think my family will feel very comfortable when the time comes for you to put me into those Jack Daniel’s bottles.
Ryan Fredregill: And now the whole world knows your plan, Mike.
Mike Downer: I’m not sure I meant to share that publicly. But hopefully it gives people a laugh. I look forward to our next conversation, Ryan.
Ryan Fredregill: Thanks, Mike. I appreciate it. You have a good day.
Mike Downer: You as well.
