How do I know my loved ones’ ashes are real? Behind the scenes of the cremation process

GREENVILLE, S.C. (InvestigateTV) - Death can be an uncomfortable conversation, but leaving your loved ones without a plan puts you at risk of ending up in the wrong hands.Cremation has surpassed traditional burial in popularity in the country. The North American Cremation Association said in 2025 the cremation rate was 62.8%.Dr. Joe Paciarelli, a grief counselor in Greenville, has seen the importance of ashes to loved ones through his work.“There’s one case of somebody who, they had such a powerful emotional connection and attachment with their spouse that they actually kept the urn on their body, in a bag,” Paciarelli said. “When they were sleeping, when they were at work, when they went on vacation.”When you choose cremation, you’re trusting a stranger with something irreplaceable. So how do you know it’s really your loved one coming home? Horror stories of mishandled cremations have sparked doubt in some minds.Paciarelli said the concern comes up a lot.“People mention maybe offhande