Special Places Scattering Memorial Service

Unlike a funeral service in which the body of the deceased is present, a memorial service with the scattering of ashes is a personalized tribute to the deceased.

This option allows for great flexibility in time and event planning and can occur weeks, months, or even years after the death and can even be planned to occur on an important date such as the birthday of the deceased or the anniversary of death.

The most important part of planning a this type of memorial service is finding an appropriate place that was special to the deceased.

Sometimes the deceased may have specifically requested a location but more often than not it is up to the family to determine an appropriate location.

The location of the scattering should be fully representative of the deceased.

Arrangement for the cremains to be scattered can also be accomplished by contacting a company that specialized in scatterings. These companies will generally aerially scatter the remains from an airplane, scatter remains at sea, and even dispersal by a firework display.

A note of caution:

Scattering of cremains and especially digging to inter cremains are strictly prohibited at certain locations; these places include archaeological sites and national parks, among others. It is always best to check on the specific local rules and laws for the planned scattering location.

The scattering of the remains can be coupled with a celebration of life ceremony or any type of get together.

• A possible combination for the wine lover would be a scattering of remains along a coastline with a wine and cheese reception at a local vineyard.
• If the deceased was an avid backpacker, a memorial multi-day backpack trip with friends and family could be planned with the scattering occurring at a special or favored location along the trip.
• The remains of a SCUBA enthusiast could even be scattered under water in a memorial dive.
• If geology was a professional career or interest then a scattering could occur at a specific geologic outcrop or feature.
• If the deceased was a fan of fishing or water sports then a favored river or lake could be an appropriate location.
• A surviving spouse may even want to keep the deceased near and scatter the remains under a favorite tree in the yard of the family home.

An infinite number of possibilities exist for scattering.

However, one thing to keep in mind is that not all friends and family may be able to participate in some of the more extreme locations, especially if they are elderly.

Depending on the situation and the personality of the deceased, some of these challenges may be overcome by simply recording the scattering ceremony and then hosting a memorial reception in which the recording is shown.

Regardless of the location and method of scattering, the memorial service should accurately reflect the personality of the deceased and show respect to the surviving friends and family.

Checklist:

• Date/Time:
• Scattering Location:
• Scattering Method:
• Check local laws:
• Scattering of Ashes Service
• Speeches and Tributes:
• Post Scattering Reception:

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