Tips For Scattering A Loved One's Ashes In The Water

When a loved one has passed away and his or her body has been cremated, you'll be given an urn of ashes that you can treat in a variety of ways. While some families favor keeping the urn— or replacing it with a more decorative one — in their homes, others like the idea of scattering the ashes in a special outdoor area. There are a number of locations for you to consider. Scattering the ashes over a body of water can be a suitable choice and may carry special significance if your deceased loved one enjoyed fishing, boating, swimming, or other water-based hobbies. Here are some tips to remember before you proceed.

Figure Out Your State Laws

Before you load your family into a couple family boats and head out to scatter the ashes, it's important to confirm your state laws about this practice. You'll encounter different regulations depending on where you live. Some jurisdictions request that you make sure you're at least a certain distance away from the shore before scattering the ashes, which is understandable — people swimming at a beach wouldn't want a boat scattering ashes just a couple dozen yards away.

Decide What Else You'll Release

While it's perfectly fine to simply scatter the ashes in your desired area of water, as well as share some special memories of lines of scripture about your deceased loved one, some families opt to release other things into the water at the same time. A common choice is several flower blooms. As the ashes are scattered into the water, each family member can toss a flower into the water. The use of flowers has a functional purpose — as the ashes sink and the current carries them away, they won't be visible for long. However, the blooms will remain clearly visible, which can be a nice visual effect for your family.

Consider A Biodegradable Urn

Another way to disperse the ashes into a body of water is with a biodegradable urn. This option may be preferable if you're concerned about winds on the day of your outing, or if you like the tidiness and simplicity of using an urn. Biodegradable urns break down quickly in the water. You fill the urn with the ashes and release it over the edge of your boat. Then, your family can watch as the water carries the urn away. Soon enough, the bottom of the urn will get saturated and the whole thing will sink, releasing your loved one's ashes into the water.

For more information and ideas for scattering your loved one's ashes, contact companies such as Ashes Scattering Circle of Remembrance.


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