Scattering Someone`s Ashes

[237SJ]

Sorry for the mobid subject. Did you ask permission from landowner/parks etc when you scattered your family member`s ashes?

[mazie]

I'm sorry for your loss 237...Lost my Mum 18 months ago and it's not easy. We still have Mum's ashes as the 3 of us can't decide what to she would have really wanted

[237SJ]

It`s Bushy Park mamya. It`s huge and I`m sure nobody would notice. Interestingly, I think I have seen peoples` ashes scattered when I have been out hiking. I seem to remember seeing ash in various woods and wondering why someone would have had a bonfire there. Now that I think about it, I think it wasn`t a bonfire after all.

[237SJ]

Mazie - I was talking to my best friend about this. Her mum died in 2012 and her and her sister wanted the ashes scattered "up the hill" but her sister`s daughter has been sticking her oar in about it. Consequently, the ashes are still sitting in an urn behind the settee. She needs to just set a date and do it. I only just got my Mum`s ashes back yesterday and I don`t see the point of hanging around - I want to carry out her wishes as soon as possible.

[Mamyalynne]

I'm sure it will be fine and you'll know you did as she wished.

[whiskeryron]

If mums ashes are in an urn are they in fact in a plastic bag inside the urn ? If so take the plastic bag from the urn carry inside your normal shopping bag then when you get to the chosen park cut the one corner off mums plastic bag & quietly stroll through the park with mums ashes gently being carried away from the corner by the wind. Job done result one happy mum & one satisfied 237sj

[237SJ]

They are in a scatter tube WR

[Tilly2]

What volume of ashes do you get? I've no experience of this.

[mrs_overall]

Tilly, you know when you were a kid and used to buy a quarter of sweets from a jar? The ashes of an average person will fill half a jar that size

[mazie]

My Brother and Sister are being fine 237... We just can't decide were she would have wanted to be (she never said). My Sis lives in New Zealand and only comes over once a year. We had the conversation last year and decided we would wait until this year....I bet we don't do it this year either.

[237SJ]

Tilly - imagine a presentation tube that a bottle of whisky etc comes in and enlarge it by about 50%

[Tilly2]

Thank you, Mrs_O. I can visualise that.

[Tilly2]

....and thanks to you 237. Quite a lot then?

[Sycamore3House]

My Mum put my Dads ashes on a beach almost at high tide & he was swept out to sea when the tide turned. Beautiful place. She did not ask anyone's permission.

[mrs_overall]

Tilly, you have to remember to take into account the ash from the coffin as well (sorry if anyone is upset by talking about this)

[Clanad]

On days off SJ, I fill in as a pilot for the local FBO (Fixed Base Operator) who flies small airplanes for hire, especially over National Forests that have quite a bit of Wilderness area within them. Here, in the U.S., one can't drive a motorized vehicle of any kind into the Wilderness areas.

A lot of people come here for vacations and the Airport operator is finding a substantial charter business from spouses who return with their husband/wife's ashes and want them spread over the higher mountains.

We've developed a 4 inch wide PVC pipe that's about feet long and attached to the side of the aircraft the mouth of which is right under an openable window by the pilot (It's a Cessna 206). As mentioned the ashes come in a plastic bag about a gallon, maybe a little less, in quantity. A pilot can fit one end of the plastic bag into the mouth of the tube and pull the closing string loose, et voila… the ashes are spread quietly exactly where the spouse wanted.

Due to the highly emotional aspect of the moment and the fact that there's quite a breeze in the cabin when the window is opened, we discourage the relative's accompanying the flight. We will let them, of course, if they're insistent. 90% don't want to fly along…

The ashes aren't typical of the wood ashes one finds after say, a campfire. They are larger and most pieces are about the size of a fingernail.

Since the forest is a National Forest, we checked with the local Ranger's and, so far, they haven't required any special permission. We fly around the are first to assure no campers are near and we stay away from the high mountain lakes.

Occasionally the area requested is private property but I personally know most of the ranchers and they are very accepting of the procedure having a lot of respect for the solemnity occasion...

[mjwman]

I cannot see Mrs Overall's answer as being jokey. It is simply sound advice and something you may overlook. The ashes are very fine and blow everywhere.
Sorry if this is not what you want to read at this time but if you are doing it soon it has to be faced.

[mrs_overall]

Thankyou mjwman.
My advice was NOT a joke. I have been present at so very many scatterings (including some at sea) where the entire party have been covered with ash simply because the person holding the container chose the wrong moment to up-end it

[mrs_overall]

In fact having just taken the time to read all the replies 237SJ has written, I really am upset that you would think I would joke about such a matter.
I appreciate this is a difficult time for you but there was no need for such downright rudeness when I was giving you sound, professional advice as simply as I could.