Scattering Ashes After Cremation Services

Cremation services happen in Reserve, LA almost every day. But what happens to these ashes after the services are over? There are lots of options for post-cremation, from burial and inurnment to scattering.

Scattering is one of the most traditional and common options for after cremation. If you want to go the scattering route, it’s important that you know and understand the facts and rules surrounding the process. These tips can help you do just that:

1. Be Aware of Wind Direction – Be sure to take note of the wind direction on the day you want to scatter. You do not want to have ashes blown back into your face. It’s not unhealthy or dangerous, just very uncomfortable.
2. Document the Process – You can take photographs or videos of the scattering to help preserve memories, and to have something more concrete to honor the deceased. Sometimes people regret scattering as it takes away any concrete memorial, so the photographs or video footage can be a good stand in for the ashes themselves.
3. Plan for Bones – Most cremations reduce the body down to fine ash mixed with coarse, sand-like ash containing bone fragments. Be aware of this fact when considering scattering.
4. There is More Than One Way of Scattering – Scattering can mean more than just tossing ashes into the wind. There are in fact two main ways of scattering ashes: casting and trenching. Casting is scattering the ashes into the air, and trenching is burying the ashes just below the ground surface. You can also rake ashes into soil, cast ashes from an airplane, or even send ashes into space.
5. Who Will Do the Scattering? – It seems obvious, but it’s important to make a clear plan for who will scatter the ashes, and this might not be as straightforward as it may seem. Sometimes families wish for a religious leader to do the scattering, or other times families hire a company to help.
6. Do You Want to Scatter All the Ashes? – You can scatter as much or as little of the ashes as you want. Sometimes different members of the family each take a turn scattering, or some of the ashes are kept to be scattered at a later date, in a different location, or not at all.
7. Lookup Local Regulations – Rules and regulations about where you can scatter ashes varies from state to state, and even city to city. Be sure to read up on your local laws to avoid getting fined for scattering in a prohibited place. The same goes for more unique scattering locations, such as at sea or in national parks. Sometimes you even need a permit.

Millet Guidry Funeral Home can offer you more information and advice when it comes to scattering and more. After all, there are many ways to scatter ashes and memorialize a loved one after a Reserve, LA cremation service. Please stop by and visit us or give us a call today to learn more about what we can do for you and your loved ones in your time of loss or of preplanning.