Green Memorials and Cemeteries

If you are looking for a place in nature where you can have your ashes interred or spread underneath a tree while still being able to leave a memorial, check out the green memorials and cemeteries. You can purchase an individual spot or a family spot underneath a tree and even include your pets if you desire. These back to nature plots are like a small forest where you can purchase a family tree.

The Family Tree
Purchasing a spot underneath one of the trees will give you a nice memorial location for the ashes of your whole family. You can chose to spread your ashes on the ground there or have them buried in the urn. If you purchase your own family spot, your pet's ashes can be interred there as well. Single people don't have to worry because they also have communal trees where you can purchase the space for just one to be shared by others.

Memorials
You can select from many different kinds of memorial marker once you purchase a spot from a green memorial park or cemetery. Something you can't leave behind if you decide to have your ashes spread in a National Park or Forest. Here, if tastefully done, they are a welcome addition to the site. Try and select something that lasts but fits well with the natural look of a green memorial park.

Places like the Ramsey Creek preserve in South Carolina use GPS to find unmarked graves for the relatives. They also allow picnicking and hiking on the preserve. At the Lakeview Memorial Cemetery in Utah, deer and other animals freely roam among the oak and maple trees in a natural environment. Greensprings in New York provides meadows and woodlands filled with native trees and shrubs. Here you chose your own plants to help re-populate the land. As you can see, you have many different green places to chose from if you prefer a purchased site over a public site.

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Spreading your ashes : The new green burial method

Green burial is the new frugal way to memorialize your passing into the after life. It doesn't take up space in a cemetery and it doesn't require embalming fluids that will leak out into the ground water. A representative from Fort Snelling says that 60% of the veterans in the Midwest US are now opting for cremation. Today there is even a greener method than cremation that uses water instead of fire. A Swedish company is using liquid nitrogen to freeze and break up a body into individual pieces. So, you have different more than one way to select for the process but all provide you with a greener method of burial.

Changes in planning
Either way you chose, the traditional steps to mourn the passing will be changing as the method changes. This means not having a traditional funeral and grave yard service before burying the body. Instead it brings flexibility to honor the passing in many different ways with no time constraint to get it done quickly. Some families are waiting until their yearly visit to perform the memorial service and then spread the ashes. It gives them time to remember the joy of the life lived and family time to plan the trip.

Wake/Memorial Service
Plan a memorial service to replay the best memories of your life. Since you don't have the constraints of a traditional funeral, plan it for the place and time that fits your memories of the loved one that has passed. An artist will show their art and a hunter might want to have their service outdoors near their favorite hunting spot. Another might display their crafts while someone else will display the collection they spent a lifetime gathering. Whatever it is that you think defines your life, show it, discuss it, and let your loved ones share the memories. Don't forget to toast a life well lived instead of mourning the loss.

Memorials
Select a memorial that may or may not be placed near where you will scatter the ashes. Some places like the US National Parks will not let you erect a memorial so that will have to be placed elsewhere. There are memorial park and gardens where you can place a memorial. Cemeteries are starting to add memorial parks also. You may even design an online memorial for your loved one if you so desire.

Spreading your ashes
Have a private service at your selected place for scattering your ashes or a big party if you so desire. Those that select air scattering or sea scattering usually have a small intimate group there. Whereas those that pick fireworks to be spread will have a big party.  If they are to be spread in a remote location, you may have to hire someone to hike in with them. Either way, pick out a nice poem, eulogy, or prayer to say when you spread the ashes. It is all up to you to decide just where and how you will spread those ashes. Make it personal.

So here are the steps. Do the cremation, have a memorial/Wake service, decide on a memorial, and spread your ashes. Just do what you think is appropriate for your loved one and let them go out in style.

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Cremation Jewelry

Whether you spread your ashes, interred them in a memorial park, or just have them buried in a cemetery, you may consider cremation jewelry as a keepsake. There are many companies providing quite a diverse collection of items for all tastes and budgets. You can pick an item that reminds you of your lost loved one or one that you like.

You can find anything from simple cylinders to crystal lockets. Each will have a small cache to hold a portion of the ashes. The rest may then be spread where ever your loved ones requested as their final resting place. Some don't actually wear the jewelry but use it in a memorial that hangs in their home where they can see it. Others, like to wear it near special holidays that remind them of their loved ones. Moms wear it when a child dies to keep them close to their heart. Be sure and put in your will what happens to the jewelry when you are gone so it does not end up in a garage sale.

While there are many reason to select cremation jewelry as a keepsake memorial to your love one, I believe the best one is to have something lovely that reminds you of them. Jewelry will keep them close to your heart for years to come. Remember, there are no health hazards to cremation ashes so don't worry about wearing them. Pick out the one you like best and make a wonderful lasting memorial.

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Deciding a green burial for someone else

Arizona

If you end up with someone’s ashes and they haven’t said what to do with them, what comes next? You don’t expect something like this to happen but the truth is that it does happen. Do they live forever on your mantle? If you get tired of them in your house, do you pass them around like a Xmas fruitcake each year? How about just putting uncle Harry in the backyard garden.

Sometimes a friend or relative will decide to be cremated when they die but only express vague references to a good view, somewhere nice, or tell you to decide what is appropriate. So if this happens to you, where do you turn? How do you decide what is right and respectful of their wishes? Are you ready to take on this task or do you put it off until tomorrow?

Well, here at Pyrefyre, we have some suggestions to help you decide where their final resting spot will be. You have a lot of options in what you decide to do. Some are virtually cost free while others will be a sizeable expense. So task number one is to look at your budget. The least expensive scattering is done at public places where it doesn’t cost except the transportation to get there. You can even make a vacation out of it. If you plan on flying to the destination, have a look at our information on problems you might incur due to security restriction.

Task number two is to determine some aspects of your friend or relative’s life that you think would help you decide which place to put them. Were they an avid outdoor person, fisherman, hiker, loved a particular sports team, pilot, loved animals, etc. You get the idea. Try to form a image of them that represents their passion in life. You can then check this against the list of suggested scatterings we have here. If you can’t figure out a place you would like to scatter them. You can look into a more expensive option which is to place their urn in a memorial park or green burial site.

Give it some thought and pick a nice ending for them that allows them to go out in style.

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Reef: A green burial

For scuba divers and other who just generally love the ocean, you can elect to have your ashes interred in a reef. The living memorial reef helps out the marine environment and conserves land that cemeteries would take up. Some reef burial companies are quite expensive so if you are a scuba diver, you can take the urn down yourself. A memorial reef urn mixed the ashes with concrete in the form of a habitat for underwater creatures. This creates a living reef over time once placed in the ocean. You must purchase the urn first and then have it placed in the ocean or do it yourself. Just remember that putting anything in the ocean must meet all local, state, and federal regulations.

Some companies that maintain reefs are Eternal reefs, Great Burial Reef, and Neptune Memorial.

Spirit Whisperer

It is a good idea to pick someone who really likes the water. If you are a scuba diver, plan on going down with the ashes to be placed at the reef. Otherwise, you can contract with a company that will take the remains down for you. You will have to see that the remains get there so they can be mixed with the concrete or placed in the urn that will be located at the reef. Reef companies do not perform the cremation so this needs to be handled separately. A temporary urn can be used at the wake until the permanent one is finished.

Wake

The wake can be held on a boat at sea or perhaps at the beach. As the wake comes to an end, the urn containing the ashes can depart on the boat for their final resting place. Consider going out to see the ashes placed at the site and then return for an evening beach memorial gathering. As the sun goes down on another day, toast the departed soul and wish them a safe journey to their next destination. Any type of marine theme for the wake along with some drinkable spirits like a good rum seem appropriate for the occasion.

Memorial

This is one type of interment where you get a built in memorial that will be there for years. Companies that build the reefs will give the coordinates of your final resting place along with a video of the spot. Your relatives may visit at anytime if he or she is a scuba diver.

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Scattering ashes by airplane

Waves: Courtesy of pdphoto.org

If you plan on scattering ashes by your own airplane, or by using a pilot friend to take you up, there is something you need to consider. Companies that perform this service report that most ashes fly back inside the airplane or coat the outside of it. They have built systems to guarantee dispersal. So just be aware that it isn’t as easy to spread ashes from an airplane as you think. Trips to scatter with no one attending are $500 or less for reasonable distances.

This method of scattering allows you to decide where you want your ashes to be dispersed also. A flight can be scheduled over some of the prettiest terrain on this planet. California companies will take you out over the ocean or back over the mountains. Select the spot you wish to be scattered and then look for a company in that area. They will know the local regulations for scattering your ashes. You can have the scattering attended by a few friends or relatives if you desire.

Spirit Whisperer

Try and select a nice day either near sunrise or sunset. This will make the pictures and the setting more appropriate for the send off. If you will be the only one there to scatter the ashes, take your mp3 player with headphones for some mood setting music. As a Spirit Whisperer, you should write down your thoughts as the ashes are scattered to the winds. Relatives and friends would want to know how the end of a life well lived was punctuated. Pictures, written thoughts, and a GPS mark of the spot on a chart. A suggestion would be to write down a step by step of everything you did to scatter the remains.

Wake

In the past, airplane dispersal of cremated remains was limited to pilots mostly. So you would expect the wake to be an aviation theme. As more people are opting for this kind of scattering, the wake should reflect their life. More wakes should be held outdoors in a park or forest. If your spirit whisperer is going to take a movie while the ashes are scattered, then think about having the wake after the scattering. The wake could then end with movie showing the final resting place of a life well lived.

Memorials:

Here at PyreFyre, our number one memorial suggestion is to plant a tree or other green living memorial. If you are a part of a group that has several members wanting a green burial, consider building a memorial forest or park just for scattering. Online memorials, electronic memorials, or art memorials are always good ideas.See our memorial page for links.

I really don't believe it is appropriate to offer a reward to kids based upon
something their parents have to do. Whether or not their parents sign your form is certainly out of their control. It also puts the kid in a bad position between the parent and the teacher just because they want a reward like the rest of the kids. You should really rethink this plan.

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Last Thoughts : A funeral reading

As we cast our loved ones out to their final resting place, we should always speak of them in the form of some kind of reading. These last words should reflect how we thought of them as they touched our life for so long. Anything you wish to say is appropriate if it speaks well of their life.

Spread My Spirit

Spread my spirit to whisper in the wind
But let my soul be cast upon heaven’s gate,
And comfort my children the rest of their days,
As my body returns home to nourish mother earth.

Weep not O’ child of mine
For my life is surely counted as well lived.
While my lips still contain the sweet taste of love
Heaven now beckons me and I go willingly.

But forget not the thoughts of my life,
And miss me quietly in your heart.
For you too shall follow me one day,
To be cradled softly in my eternal love.

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Cremation diamonds and other cremation jewelry

Moonrising: Courtesy of pdphoto.org

Today, you can have your loved ones remains turned into diamonds, placed in jewelry, or added to different kinds of art. It only takes about 8 oz (200 grams) of ash from the cremation to make a keepsake diamond. A very good way to remember a lost loved one and you can carry part of that person as well as their memory around with you. These cremation diamonds aren’t cheap but you can’t take all that cash you saved with you anyway. Diamonds are just one form of jewelry that you can use along with those cremains. There are a multitude of different companies that sell jewelry for keeping a part of the ashes with you. You can still have the rest of your ashes spread at your favorite place in nature. A small part would be set aside for a locket, cylinder, cross, or pendant.

Another company will combine your ashes with glass and make glass art out of it. Michelle Kaptur makes what she calls a SoulBurst. Which is glass art with ashes included in the glass. If you like paintings better, an artist will take your ashes, mix them with paint, and then he or she will paint a lovely painting as a memorial to your loved one.

Here at pyrefyre, we think you should select a spot in nature for your eternal resting place on earth but for those who want to keep a part of their loved one with them at all times, cremation jewelry is a very good thing to buy. You can still spread the rest in your favorite spot on earth.

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Memorials

Bryce:Courtesy of pdphoto.org

Once a Spirit Whisperer has placed the earthly remains in their final resting spot, a memorial can be erected to mark it for future visitors. If you are going to be buried on public land or lands belonging to someone else that won’t let you erect a memorial, you still can mark the place for visitors. The Spirit Whisperer will use a GPS to note the spots longitude and latitude at the time of the placement. This can be entered on a memorial certificate and framed for display. We have a certificate that you can print out just for this purpose.

Memorial Scrapbooks

People like to make scrapbooks with photos and other items from the life of the deceased. Photos can be taken at the wake as well as at the site selected for spreading the ashes. Be sure and ask your Spirit Whisperer to take digital photos of the site along with noting the latitude and longitude so you can include these in your scrapbook.

Engraved Items

There are many items to be purchased that can contain a small part of the ashes while the rest of the ashes are spread by your Spirit Whisperer. You may even want to have the urn engraved and keep it after the ashes have been spread. Some will just select a nice engraved item to display.

Online Memorial Pages

Legacy.com

Amrericasmemorials.com

Beliefnet

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Wake

Grand Canyon: Courtesy of pdphoto.org

Ah, the party. Party doesn’t seem like the right word but neither should it be a somber occasion. It is not a mourning of a death but a celebration of a life lived well and a soul that has moved on to a better place. Try and pick the theme of the event to be something symbolizing you. Leave some guidelines to help people toast those parts of your life that you want them to remember. You may want to gather some of your art or other items and box them up to be used at the wake. Leave your favorite copy of dogs playing poker for another time and place. Stay here with us and we will be discussing details of the wake on this blog as time passes.

Be respectful:

I know with some events in our society, we have to play one-upmanship with everyone else. All you have to do is look at the current trends in weddings and high school proms to see this. You also can’t take it with you so spending it on your wake isn’t a bad thing at all. While, it is certainly okay to do something really creative, please do it will a little class. You probably don’t want to be remembered like Rodney Dangerfield in Caddy Shack.

Food and Drink:

There can be many variations on food and drink. Some people prefer to bring their own and others hire out caterers. Food can match the theme of your gathering or simply be appetizers. At least have some kind of finger food because it gives people a chance to do something with all that nervous energy they have. Guests tend to be very uncomfortable around the subject of death because it reminds us of our own fears and mortality. An open bar is always a nice thing to request for your wake if you select a location where it is permissible. I suggested to my father-in-law that he have ice cream when my mother-in-law died because every meal I ever ate with her ended with her eating ice cream. Think about what food fit your life and select something that celebrates your memory.

Location:

For the nature lover, an outdoor venue might be your selection. In Bristol, there is a nice lodge at the city park overlooking the mountains and the lake. For the nature lover, an outdoor venue might be your selection. An art lover might pick their favorite gallery. In Bristol, there is a nice lodge at the city park overlooking the mountains and the lake. There are a lot of restaurants in tourist areas overlooking a nice view that would be an appropriate place to remember a loved one. If you really wanted to splurge a little you could rent a mountain cabin. In my opinion, small intimate places are more conducive to sharing life memories than a large public place. An exception would be the skywalk over the Grand Canyon. This would be a great place to celebrate your first step into the afterlife.

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Scattering

Glacier Park: Courtesy of pdphoto.org

Where shall you rest for all eternity? Well, at least where will you rejoin the food chain and do your part for a green earth by having a green funeral and green burial. Don't settle for going 6 feet under with the same old expensive funeral. Let's go out in style. This decision can be quite straightforward and simple for some and agonizingly slow for others. Some of us fall in love with a spot that we visited on vacation while others select a spot they spent many an hour visiting when they were alive. Still others pick one spot and as time passes they discover a completely new spot. The important thing is that you write down the spot that you select.

On this blog we will be discussing many different places including green cemeteries and memorial parks. Along with a discussion of why someone would like that space for their scattering. Below is a list of places you may want to consider.

1. National Parks
   Space
   Sea
   Volcano
   Sports Stadium
   Disney World
   African Game Preserve
   Balloon
   Mardi Gras
   Your favorite spot to be alone
   Fireworks
   Mountain Top
   Garden
   Grave Top
   Airplane/Helicopter
   Golf course
   Rose garden
   Hiking Trail
   On the Moon
   Wildflower Meadow
   Waterfall
   Snow bank
   Horse Track
   NASCAR Track
   South Pacific Island
   Skiing
   Hurricane
   North Pole
   Reef
   Rain Forest

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