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Post by bc2ca on Apr 23, 2016 19:06:23 GMT
A friend of DH's passed away recently and had a full body burial at sea. We didn't know this was an option. I know many who have unofficially scattered ashes at sea, but this has us rethinking our options when the time comes. Honestly, I still think cremation/scattering ashes is my choice, but DH is really thinking about this.
Did you know this is a burial option?
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Post by anniefb on Apr 23, 2016 19:15:12 GMT
Hmm, well I just googled and it's an option here in New Zealand too, although special permission is needed from Maritime New Zealand and the Ministry of Health, there are only certain approved locations and a special casket is required.
I'm planning to be cremated and will ask to have my ashes interred in the same cemetery where my parents are buried.
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BarbaraUK
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Jun 27, 2014 12:47:11 GMT
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Post by BarbaraUK on Apr 23, 2016 19:19:44 GMT
This option is also available here in the UK and has been forever it seems.
It is a burial option chosen by a lot of retired seafarers in particular here in the UK, though most choose the official scattering of ashes at sea ceremony. The Royal Naval and Merchant Navy Associations will supply official Ensigns for the burials at sea as well.
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Post by bc2ca on Apr 23, 2016 19:26:26 GMT
Hmm, well I just googled and it's an option here in New Zealand too, although special permission is needed from Maritime New Zealand and the Ministry of Health, there are only certain approved locations and a special casket is required. I'm planning to be cremated and will ask to have my ashes interred in the same cemetery where my parents are buried. It does have to be done through a licensed funeral director with permits and approved caskets or sailcloth wrap. There is required distances from shore and ocean depth, too.
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Grom Pea
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Jun 27, 2014 0:21:07 GMT
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Post by Grom Pea on Apr 23, 2016 19:27:20 GMT
This I think requires cremation but you can become part of a reef to give a home to sea life www.neptunesociety.com/faqLook for the memorial reef.
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perumbula
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Jun 26, 2014 18:51:17 GMT
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Post by perumbula on Apr 23, 2016 20:46:50 GMT
I know it's an option for US Navy veterans because my brother is one and he's told the family that it's what he wishes to be done. I believe my brother wants to be cremated and then buried at sea, but I knew the full body burial was an option.
ETA: the family makes arrangements through the Navy and they have a full military ceremony for the veteran on board one of their ships before the burial. They family does not attend the burial as far as I know. A funeral/memorial service would be planned in addition to the burial at sea.
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Post by cindyupnorth on Apr 23, 2016 20:50:17 GMT
IDK, this sort of creeps me out. Do they go thru the whole process at the funeral home? then just bury at sea? is it in a coffin? the body would have to be weighted somehow?
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Deleted
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Sept 29, 2024 22:33:23 GMT
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Post by Deleted on Apr 23, 2016 21:01:18 GMT
IDK, this sort of creeps me out. Do they go thru the whole process at the funeral home? then just bury at sea? is it in a coffin? the body would have to be weighted somehow? I had the same initial reaction. Found more information about private burials here and it seems like a very nice ceremony: www.maritimeburials.com/q--a.html
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craftykitten
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Post by craftykitten on Apr 23, 2016 22:17:34 GMT
There are only three licensed sites in the UK and one of them is off the coast where I live. There was a series of bodies washed ashore which then had to be identified (it seemed like a lot but I've just looked it up and it was 6 over a period of 4 years. But considering there are only around 10 burials at sea per year in the UK, that's a lot!)
I think the thought of that alone would be enough to put me off. Graveyard burials are what seems to be 'tradition' in my family.
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Post by birukitty on Apr 23, 2016 22:21:28 GMT
Yes I know it's an option because I checked it out for when my time comes. I love the sea, it has felt like a part of me since the first time I saw it and was near it. This saying by John F. Kennedy really touches my heart and describes my feelings exactly. "I really don't know why it is that all of us are so committed to the sea, except I think it is because in addition to the fact that the sea changes, and the light changes, and the ships change it is because we all came from the sea. It is an interesting biological fact that all of us have, in our veins the exacts same percentage of salt in our blood that exists in the ocean, and therefore, we have salt in our blood, in our sweat, in our tears. We are tied to the ocean. And when we go back to the sea, whether it is to sail or to watch it we are going back from whence we came." This is taken from a speech John F. Kennedy gave at an America's Cup Dinner in 1962. I'm a sailor and I've always thought I'd like to be buried at sea rather than the cold, dark ground. Cremation isn't an option for me. I despise the thought of flames consuming my body. So I did check into it and I found out it is legal. Luckily I live in a state that has a coastline. In order to do it the body has to be taken to a certain depth of water-600 feet. The length of time it takes to get there varies depending on what port the boat leaves from. Just did some quick googling and found a business that puts everything together here www.newenglandburialsatsea.com They scatter ashes at sea, but also do burial of bodies at sea. Instead of using caskets they use a bio degradable bag and weigh it down with cannon balls. You can see and read everything on their site if you are interested. I'm Catholic and know that being buried this way isn't sanctioned by the Catholic church, but on the other hand I don't want to be cremated, and I don't really want to go into the cold, dark ground either. DH and DS both want to be cremated. I know I need to decide so that if anything happens to me my family will know what to do. I think I need to talk it over with my priest. He was okay with my ashes going into the undersea things that are then made into coral reefs so I would think he would be okay with this. Debbie in MD.
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Post by cindyupnorth on Apr 23, 2016 23:10:34 GMT
I'd be worried the bag would degrade before the body? and then the fishes would eat me, or I'd wash up partially decomposed on shore. Yuck. The whole bag wt'd down with cannon balls sounds more iffie then the wt'd coffins.
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Post by anxiousmom on Apr 23, 2016 23:15:15 GMT
This I think requires cremation but you can become part of a reef to give a home to sea life www.neptunesociety.com/faqLook for the memorial reef. I get flyers from them from time to time. I think it is because they are here in Florida? Or maybe I am on some save the oceans list, I don't know really. I actually think it is kind of cool. Personally, I want to be cremated and have my ashes scattered in the Ten Thousand Islands (Everglades.) I want my people to rent a party boat, play lots of Jimmy Buffett, drink margaritas until they are silly, and let me become part of the ecosystem of 'the 'glades.
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Grom Pea
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Post by Grom Pea on Apr 23, 2016 23:44:00 GMT
This I think requires cremation but you can become part of a reef to give a home to sea life www.neptunesociety.com/faqLook for the memorial reef. I get flyers from them from time to time. I think it is because they are here in Florida? Or maybe I am on some save the oceans list, I don't know really. I actually think it is kind of cool. Personally, I want to be cremated and have my ashes scattered in the Ten Thousand Islands (Everglades.) I want my people to rent a party boat, play lots of Jimmy Buffett, drink margaritas until they are silly, and let me become part of the ecosystem of 'the 'glades. We're from California but Dh knew of them so maybe due to the ocean thing?
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