Cremation

When a loved one passes away and is cremated, family and friends might wish to honor the memory of the deceased by finding a final resting place that is either unique to the interests of the loved one or that is a reminder to the family of the life and accomplishments of the dearly departed. Often, the family will scatter the ashes out into the ocean or place them in an urn above the fireplace, but there are some other unique options as well.

For those family members who wish to keep a relic of their loved one after they are gone, there are many interesting ways to create unique reminders of those who have passed away. One such option is to place the cremation remains into an hourglass. Because cremated remains are close to the consistency of sand, the cremation ash can be used in a functioning hourglass. This arrangement for the final resting place of a loved one can be both creative and symbolic. Another interesting option is to have the ashes pressed into a record. The record not only contains the remnant of the deceased but can also hold a recording of the voice of the loved one and serve as a way to remember the person who has passed away. One option that has recently been growing in popularity is to have the ashes made into a diamond. Because cremated ashes are composed of carbon and diamonds are also made of carbon, loved ones can be made into this precious gem and incorporated into a piece of jewelry to be worn by a family member. Cremation ashes can also be made into glass, which can be used in jewelry or as a decorative piece. Another way of saving cremation ashes is to incorporate them into a work of art by combining the cremains with paint. The painting can then be hung as a creative tribute to the loved one that has been lost.

If the person who passed away has a great love for nature, there are two interesting ways in which they can be laid to rest that will coincide with their love for the natural world. The Neptune Memorial Reef project, located in Miami, Florida (http://www.neptunesociety.com/memorial-reef), is a manmade reef built to resemble the underwater city of Atlantis. There are a total of 125,000 slots for cremated remains built into the reef, and friends and family members can snorkel or become scuba certified in order to pay their respects to those who have died. Another company that specializes in providing a unique final resting place for cremated remains is Biopresence (http://www.biopresence.com/description.html). This company has created human DNA trees. They “transcode the essence of a human being within the DNA of a tree in order to create ‘living memorials.’” This could be a very interesting memorial to someone who has passed away.

However, if the deceased loved one was insistent on being scattered, there are unique ways in which that can be accomplished as well. Skydivers can be hired to release the ashes when they are falling through the air or a family member can opt to do it himself. There are also companies who will put the cremated remains into a capsule and release them into outer space. One way to send your loved one off with a bang is to incorporate the cremated ashes into fireworks and have a memorial service with family and friends where they can be set off in a beautiful display.

However, there are regulations on what can and can’t be done with cremation ashes. Please first contact your funeral director or the crematorium to make sure that you are not violating any state laws.

The death of a loved one is always difficult, but fortunately there are many unique ways in which a family can arrange for the deceased to be honored and remembered.

http://www.mcdonaldcontainers.com/

You may not be familiar with the industry, but, according to an article in the Funeral Business Advisor, the market for pet cremations is still vastly underserved. There are many places that specialize in both human and pet cremations, but, in the United States, the very first pets only funeral service opened in 2004, so the pets only cremation industry is still relatively new. However, since the process is the same, if you already own a crematorium, expanding your offering could be fairly simple.

In 2010, it was reported that 62% of homes have pets, and that these pet owners spent a collective amount of $45 billion dollars on their pets. What’s more, many owners wish to continue this care of their animals even after they have passed away. According to one set of statistics, more than 50% of pet owners who’s pets passed away while in the veterinary office chose to have a private cremation for their pet as opposed to mass cremation, when given a choice. As one can see, this offers many opportunities for those wishing to break into the market. Even within the pet cremation industry, there is opportunity to increase the service offerings available. In recent times, an increasing number of pet owners are choosing to become more involved in the cremation process. Some crematoriums already offer additional services geared specifically to grieving pet owners. For example, funeral homes or crematoriums might have a special viewing room or offer imprints of the deceased pet’s paw to the owners.

Unfortunately, in past years pet cremation services have received a bad name. There have been many discoveries of deception and fraud. For example, in New York, a mass pet grave was uncovered. Animals were supposed to have been cremated, but, instead, the unsuspecting owners were given fake remains. The industry is unregulated, and most states don’t even require a special license for pet cremation. In order to enter the market, one only needs to purchase the equipment and get zoning approved.

Because of this, if you are interested in expanding your service offerings to pet cremation, it is important that you provide extra assurances to your customers. First and foremost, it is important to show compassion to the grieving pet owners. Secondly, you may want to either allow clients to witness the cremation or if your company has a policy against this, to give a valid explanation for why that is. Also, you should offer same day or next day service for pick up of cremated remains. This is important so the client can be assured that you don’t wait to collect a number of animals before doing a mass cremation and then dishonestly return the remains of many different pets to the owner. It is also essential to have a detailed procedure for identifying remains and to clearly communicate this process to the customer.

Offering pet cremation or more specialized services associated with pet cremation can be a worthwhile addition to your current offerings. Pet cremation trays (http://www.mcdonaldcontainers.com/petcremationcontainer.php) are similar to regular cremation trays just smaller and therefore more economical.

In the event that a US citizen passes away while living or vacationing in Mexico, a family member or friend of the deceased might contact you as the receiving funeral home. If this is the case, you have the opportunity to greatly assist your clients by walking them through the difficult process of returning their loved one back to the United States.

First, the family member responsible for the body should get in touch with the United States Embassy. The embassy will have a list of Mexican funeral homes that have previously been used by American citizens. This is necessary because the deceased will need to be immediately moved to a funeral home from the hospital or clinic. The US embassy will also help to find and notify next of kin if none were with him or her in Mexico at the time of death. They will be able to give information of Mexico’s legal requirements for cremation, burial, or transportation of human remains. The US Embassy will also prepare a Report of Death of US Citizen Abroad based on the Mexican death certificate and an American passport.

During this time, Mexican authorities might require proof of kinship from the one making all the arrangements for the body. If this person is not related to the deceased, it might be necessary for them to contact the US State Department to receive power of attorney so that the individual can be granted permission and approval to move the body.

As far as documentation goes, the local physician will provide a preliminary death record (Certificado de Defuncion). Then, the civil registry judge will use this record to issue the official death certificate (Acta de Defuncion).

After receiving those documents, the family member can decide what is to be done with the body. Unless special permission has been granted, remains must be buried, cremated, or embalmed within 48 hours of death. If the deceased will be transported back to the United States, Mexico law states that all corpses must first be embalmed.

In order for the body to be successfully exported back to the United States, these are the documents that are required:

1. Official Death Certificate

2. Health Permit issued by the local health authorities

3. Embalming Certificate

4. Transportation information (example: flight itinerary)

5. Information on the final destination of the remains (receiving funeral home)

Upon receiving these documents, the US Embassy will issue the Consular Mortuary Certificate, which will facilitate the entrance of the remains into the United States.

Once all the legal documents are taken care of, the body will need to be placed in a casket that is then encased in a certified container (http://www.mcdonaldcontainers.com/airtray.php). The cargo costs vary depending on the point of origin and the final destination, but the cost usually ranges from $800 to $1,200.

When dealing with this situation, it is very important that there is close contact between the responsible individual and the State department. They will assist in the necessary proceedings and facilitate the process. For more information, contact the United States Embassy in Mexico City: (01-55) 5080-2000 (calling from Mexico), 011-52-55-5080-2000 (calling from the US) or visit their website: http://mexico.usembassy.gov/eng/citizen_services/death-of-a-citizen.html.

With the increase in immigration to the United States from Mexico, there have been more and more requests for deceased family members to be brought back to their hometown for burial. In 2007, there were 10, 622 recorded shipments of bodies from the US to Mexico, and this number has only been increasing.

When transporting a deceased person to Mexico, it is important to first contact the Mexican Embassy in order to inform them of your plans and to be sure that you are following the correct procedures. After this, you should contact the receiving funeral home to make all the necessary arrangements with them.

As far as the legal documentation goes, this is what is required by the Mexican and American authorities:

1. Notarized and apostilled certified copy of the Death Certificate- This comes from the funeral director.

2. Burial Transit Permit (+ 1 copy)- This is required in order to transport a body out of the state or country or for cremation. It will be given to the family member by the local or deputy registrar in the district where the death occurred once the Certificate of Death has been completed.

3. Apostilled statement from the embalmer- It should state the embalmer’s license number, name of the deceased, and the treatment applied to the body.

4. Statement that the body does not carry any communicable diseases

5. Official coroner’s statement- This document is only necessary if the death certificate does not state the cause of death.

(Apostilles authenticates a document so that it will be accepted by a foreign country.)

It is also important to note that all documents must be translated into Spanish by a certified translator.

The documents can be brought or mailed to the Mexican consulate. If they are mailed, the packet needs to include a self-addressed and stamped envelope from the family member responsible for the body. It usually takes about one business day to process everything.

Once arrangements have been made by the funeral home with the airline carrier and the body has been placed in a casket and a suitable outer container (http://www.mcdonaldcontainers.com/trays.php), it is ready for transportation.

For more information, visit the Consular Section of Embassy of Mexico: http://portal.sre.gob.mx/was_eng/index.php?option=displaypage&Itemid=65&op=page&SubMenu=

or

The NFDA: http://www.nfda.org/additional-tools-shipping/2257-shipping-remains-from-the-united-states-to-a-foreign-country.html.

When a family member or close friend dies, those left behind are faced with many difficult decisions. Some of these decisions have to do with the final resting place of the person who has passed away. If the deceased has chosen to be cremated, there’s the question of what to do with the ashes. Often times, a family will decide to not keep the cremated remains of a loved one. They might choose to scatter the ashes of the deceased instead. A survey done by the Cremation Association of North America states that about 135,000 families each year have chosen to scatter ashes and that the number is only expected to increase. Your client might have many questions in regards to the proper procedure or legality of doing this. Below are some general guidelines that will allow you to better assist these families.

One of the biggest misconceptions in regards to cremation is that the cremains are similar in weight and texture to the ash that comes off of wood in a fire. This can lead people to believe that when scattering ashes, the remains will be easily dispersed in the wind. This, however, is not the case, so it is important to explain to clients that the consistency of cremated remains will be more like sand.

It is also important that you communicate to your client that the decision of how and where to scatter ashes is an important and irreversible one. It is a good idea for your clients to think ahead and spend ample time making sure that they won’t regret their decision later on. For example, access to the scattering site could be restricted in the future due to commercial development or private ownership. Access might even just be more difficult because of the family relocating to another part of the country. If families do decide to scatter the ashes of the deceased in a spot that will be difficult to locate or visit again, they might consider setting up a permanent memorial as well, where the loved ones can go to reflect.

Another issue is the legality of scattering ashes in certain areas. Most publicly owned land does not require permission for scattering, but all private property does. Usually, only a warning will be issued if laws are not complied with, but there was a case where one man ran onto the Eagles’ football field during halftime to scatter his mother’s ashes. He was fined and required to complete community service. However, this is usually only a punishment for very flagrant law breaking.

Your clients will want to scatter the cremains of their loved one in a unique and meaningful way, and they can. When it comes to scattering ashes, there are many different methods from which to choose:

Casting: This is the basic method of tossing the cremains into the wind. This can be done individually or in a group, but be sure that your client remembers to have the wind blowing at his or her back in order to avoid unpleasant consequences. Also, though most of the ash will have the consistency of sand, there are some parts that are more like fine powder, and that portion will be able to be picked up by the wind.

Raking: This method can be done at home but is often used in scattering gardens that are now located in a large number of cemeteries. With raking, the family and friends scatter the ashes on the ground and then rake them into the earth.

Trenching: This is a shallow burial of the ashes. First, a trench is dug; ashes are placed there, and then they are covered again with soil at the end of the ceremony. A slight variation of this can be done on the beach where the ceremony ends with the tide coming in and washing the cremains out to sea.

Ringing: In order to do this, the client would poor a ring made up of the ashes around a chosen object (often families choose to do this around a tree). Another variation is to make the ring and then have family members and close friends step inside the ring to share a story of the deceased.

Shared Resting Place: Many cemeteries will allow someone’s ashes to be buried on top of the cemetery plot of the deceased’s spouse.

Water: The US code for scattering ashes into the ocean requires that the people who are doing the scattering be at least three miles off the coast. It is suggested that the boat be turned into the wind and that the scattering be performed at the back of the boat. If people are not mindful of the wind, the ashes could come back towards them or get stuck to the boat. Biodegradable urns are also available so that the ashes can simply be placed in the water and be slowly dispersed under water. It also might be a good idea for the family to record the navigational coordinates of the scattering site just in case they wish to return to the spot in the future.

Aerial: With this method, the ashes are cast from a private plane. Professionals can be hired who will plan to scatter the ashes at a specific time and location in order to coincide with the funeral ceremony. Some of the pilots will also allow passengers to attend.

Widely Scattered: Some people keep the cremains in a portable, plastic bag and bring it with them around the world to scatter the ashes in different places. According to an article published in the New York Times, one woman from Maryland took her husband’s cremains with her everywhere she traveled and would scatter them at different famous sites such as the Coliseum in Rome and the Christmas tree at the Rockefeller Center.

As you can see, there are a variety of different ways in which your clients can scatter the ashes of their loved ones. Deciding how cremated remains will be scattered is an important decision to the family and friends of the deceased and so your expertise in the area is a perfect opportunity for you to continue to serve them in their time of need.

http://www.mcdonaldcontainers.com/

If you or your client find themselves in a situation that requires the transportation of cremated remains on-board an airplane, the Transportation Security Administration (TSA) has a few simple guidelines that will help to make your client’s travels as smooth as possible during this difficult time. Below we have included some of these regulations; however, since specific regulations can vary with different airlines, it is important for your client to first contact the airline before traveling to ensure that he has adhered to all their requirements. For example, American Airlines strongly encourages its customers to carry on the cremation urn instead of checking it.

Firstly, when traveling with cremated remains, be sure to notify airport personnel upon arrival. Your client can then choose to bring the cremation urn as either carry-on luggage or as checked baggage:

Carry-on Luggage: When bringing a cremation urn as carry-on luggage, it is required that the urn be able to pass through airport security’s x-ray machine. If the cremation urn generates an opaque image, it will not be admitted for on-board travel. Certain materials such as thick metals, crystals, and some types of glass cause a black area to show up on the security x-ray monitor. If this were to happen with other carry-on items, the security personnel would simply hand search the luggage, but, out of respect for the deceased, airlines have a strict policy against opening cremation urns. Even if express permission for the urn to be opened is given, airport security is not allowed to do so. In this case, your client would need to place the temporary urn with checked baggage. Therefore, if one wishes to take the urn as a carry-on item, it is suggested that he purchase a temporary urn made of materials that will not produce an opaque image such as those made out of wood, plastic, cardboard, or non-lead lined ceramic (http://mcdonaldcontainers.com/plastictemporaryurns.php).

Checked Baggage: If your client is unable to pass the urn through airport security as carry-on luggage, most airlines allow the urn to be brought onboard the aircraft as checked baggage instead. Firstly, the cremation urn must be well sealed before giving it to airport personnel. Then, it will undergo testing for explosive materials and devices. Just as with carry-on luggage, airport security’s strict policy of not opening cremation urns still applies with checked baggage.

For more information on TSA guidelines for flying with cremation urns, please visit TSA’s website: http://www.tsa.gov/travelers/airtravel/specialneeds/editorial_1296.shtm.

If you or your client do not wish to or are unable to transport cremation remains via a commercial airline, there are other transportation options such as shipping through the United States Postal Service. Guidelines for shipping cremated remains can be found in our other article: “The Shipment of Cremated Remains.”

When someone dies, the financial burden of the funeral falls on the family or friends. However, what happens to those whose family cannot afford it or for those who die without any family? In these cases, the responsibility falls on the county to take care of everything.

Unfortunately, with budget cuts and an increased number of indigents, more populated counties are being forced to keep bodies in the morgue until the county can afford to bury them. There have even been some recent cases where bodies have been left in morgues, unburied for up to two years because of lack of funds.

Because each county handles indigent cases so differently, it is difficult to come up with a unified solution that is both appropriate and economical. However, in recent times, it has become common practice to cremate the remains of indigents. This practice has already saved a considerable amount of money for local governments.

In some counties, though, funeral homes are asked to assist in the process. In Escambia County in Pensacola, the local funeral homes are on a rotation. Depending on which day a person passes away, it is already arranged that a specific funeral home will be responsible for taking care of the situation. Unfortunately, in many cases throughout the United States, funeral homes who assist the county are not reimbursed until much later. And, even then, it does not often cover the entire cost of the burial. Congress, however, is currently being lobbied to pass the Indigent Funeral Expense Reimbursement Act. This would allow funeral homes to claim a tax deduction for any unreimbursed expenses up to $3,000.

As far as the decision to cremate or bury goes, there are two major factors that contribute to the decision of the funeral home: the requests of the family of the deceased and the policies of the funeral home.

Generally, when a deceased indigent is brought to the funeral home, it is up to the family whether he or she will be cremated or buried. However, some funeral homes cannot afford to offer this choice and will only perform cremations in these situations.

In cases when there is no next of kin to make the decision, policies might change. Though a few funeral homes have the policy of cremating unclaimed indigents instead of burying them, many funeral homes are hesitant to do this. The reason being that they could run into legal trouble for failing to notify next of kin if a family member does end up stepping forward and wishes to see the body.

For funeral homes or the local government, if a burial rather than cremation is either requested or it is the common practice in the county, one way for them to save money is by finding an economical casket. Most cemeteries only require a “suitable container.” Therefore, a simple, wood container such as a combo tray (http://www.mcdonaldcontainers.com/combinationtray.php) could work perfectly. If there is no vault in place, though, there is a concern that the ground will sink once the wood starts to decay. However, most cemeteries require there to be a vault, so, depending on where the deceased is buried, this will not be a problem.

If you are in the funeral industry, you will most likely find yourself faced with the task of transporting human remains. Sometimes, due to the circumstances, it is either necessary or just more convenient to do this by air. However, as of 2010, the requirements for cargo screening have significantly increased. Under the 9/11 Act, 100% of shipments must be screened before being boarded onto passenger aircrafts. In order to comply with the new security mandates, airlines have had to change many of their policies.

One of the policies that most affects funeral homes requires all those who are placing cargo onto a passenger aircraft to become Known Shippers. This means that all funeral homes who wish to transport human remains must first register and be approved by each airline that they use. Though, if you are a small funeral home who only has to make one or two shipments a year, it might be more convenient to outsource this service. There are several companies who specialize in the transportation of human remains both domestically and internationally.

However, if you do wish to become a Known Shipper, most airlines have an online application that, once submitted, will be passed on to the TSA’s Known Shipper Management System (KSMS) for approval. If you have never been listed in the TSA database as a Known Shipper, there might be an inspection of your facilities before approval can be granted. This is to ensure the legitimacy of the business. Depending on the airline, there will also be a fee associated with the inspection.

Once your funeral home has been approved, the airline will notify you and set up an account for your company. Even though all applications are ultimately approved by the TSA, it is still necessary to apply through each individual airline that you plan to use. Unfortunately, it is not possible to get one verification to become a Known Shipper for all airlines. What’s more, if your company has multiple locations, it is necessary for each of those locations to individually go through the application process as well.

Once you have become a known carrier, the process of making the shipments is fairly simple. First, make sure that you have your Precise Account Locater (PAL) number ready when making a booking. And second, upon a arrival at the airline dock, you will be asked to provide your airway bill and transit permit. Then, the airport personnel will perform the necessary security measures. Once that is completed, the shipment will be placed on board the plane.

Another option for a funeral home who will be transporting human remains is to become a Certified Cargo Screening Facility through the Certified Cargo Screening Program (CCSP). This would allow for all the funeral home’s shipments to be pre-screened. The TSA implemented this program in order to expedite the security process. Through this program, it would not be necessary to go through the security measures at the airport because the shipment has already been passed at another screening facility. This can be good news for funeral homes for many reasons. The first of these reasons is that pre-screening shipments can help you to avoid any mishaps at the airport. The airport is not a facility that is properly equipped to keep human remains for long periods of time. What would happen if something went wrong during the screening process and the shipment was not allowed on the plane? There are many funeral homes now who are certified through the CCSP. This not only provides a safer facility for the handling of human remains, but it might also offer more relief to the family of the deceased to know that their loved one is in the care of licensed funeral directors who have also been trained and certified to screen cargo. Individual funeral homes can apply for and be trained through the CCSP or can choose to use the services of other funeral homes who have already done so.

In order to become a Certified Cargo Screening Facility, you must first apply to the TSA. Once approved, you will be required to adhere to strict security standards such as the screening of prospective employees and the implementation of physical access controls.

For more information about the screening process of cargo shipments or the process of becoming a known carrier of a screening facility, contact the TSA or the individual airlines.

http://www.mcdonaldcontainers.com/

When shipping cremated remains, it is important to carefully follow the packaging instructions provided by the shipping company as to avoid anything being lost or damaged. Currently, one of the only parcel companies who handles cremated remains is the United States Postal Service (USPS). Other shipping companies such as Fed Ex and UPS do not provide this service.

USPS only allows packages containing cremated remains to be shipped via express mail or registered mail. If you or your client choose the registered mail option, it is important to remember that all registered packages have a weight limit of 4 lbs, and it is necessary to fill out a Registered Mail Return Receipt Requested form at the post office that will notify you with proof of delivery once the package has been delivered.

The first step in successfully shipping cremation remains is to make sure that the package is well sealed and resilient enough to withstand shipping. The USPS regulations require that the package is “spill-proof.” Because of this, it is suggested that the original bag or box containing the remains be placed inside another box (http://mcdonaldcontainers.com/plastictemporaryurns.php,

http://mcdonaldcontainers.com/corrugatedtemporaryurns.php) in order to avoid any leaking or spilling.

After this, it is important to clearly label the content of the package on the address side of the box, so postmen know that they are handling a container for cremated remains.

Then, the sealed package should be brought to the post office where the shipping fee will be paid for and the box will be sent.

For a full list of rules and regulations, visit the USPS’s official website: http://pe.usps.com/text/pub52/pub52c4_019.htm#ep290284.

The United States Postal Service tries to make the shipment of cremated remains as easy as possible. The most important things to remember are that the package must be spill-proof and the contents clearly labeled.

What happens if a family member or friend passes away while abroad? How can their remains be safely returned home? What if you are a small funeral home, and you have a client who has passed away while out of the country? If you or your client wish to have a traditional burial, transporting a body internationally might be best left to professionals.

The shipment of a body internationally can be extremely complicated. Each country and even each airline has different regulations and requirements. For example, the Indian airline Jet Airways India requires that the body be embalmed, but other airlines do not require the body to have been embalmed as long as the container is hermetically sealed.

An international funeral shipping company will be familiar with all these rules and regulations, will collect the body of the deceased, ensure that the correct preparations for transportation are made, handle all the legalities and paperwork, book the correct plane flight, and arrange delivery to a funeral home.

If the shipping company will handle most of the process, what does the family member or friend responsible for the body need to do? The first step would be to find a suitable company to take care of the transportation. The website for the American Association of Mortuary Shippers contains a helpful list of such companies.

The family member must then contact the funeral home who will be receiving the body and make all necessary arrangements with them.

After these steps have been completed, depending on the situation, the mortuary shipper will usually embalm the remains; place the body in an appropriate container (http://www.mcdonaldcontainers.com/); collect and complete the necessary documents required for the transportation such as the death certificate, embalming report, proof from the embassy of the deceased’s nationality, permit for transportation of the body, and a letter from a physician stating that the deceased did not die from a communicable disease; deliver to the airport and arrange for pick up.

However, if an individual does not wish to go through an international shipping company, they must at least go through a funeral home who offers these services. Most airlines will only allow cargo from designated shippers, and the approval process can be quite extensive. If a small funeral home wishes to be responsible for transportation, it is best to contact the airline’s representative to verify that you are adhering to all regulations. Usually the body must be contained in a hermetically sealed container which is then placed inside an airtray (http://www.mcdonaldcontainers.com/airtray.php). The shipment must also be accompanied by the correct documentation that is required by both the origin and destination countries. Then, arrangements for the pick up of the body must be made at the destination point. State laws for the transportation of human remains must be adhered to when undertaking this task.

Though, as a small business who does not specialize in the transportation of human remains, undertaking this task on your own is not suggested, certain airlines such as American Airlines have specialists on staff who can answer questions and help with the arrangements directly related to the airline. As far as the required legal documents are concerned, the US State department will be able to work with you or the family on the necessary proceedings.