What happens to ashes if you don't want them?

One of the reasons people leave the cremated remains of their loved ones at a funeral home is that they simply cannot decide what to do with the ashes. They are unaware of the many options available to them these days. Ashes may be scattered, buried underground, in a cemetery or even at sea.

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What happens to ashes if no one wants them?

The ashes are often buried in a large collective grave, or in a columbarium (above ground mausoleum for urns). Ashes may also be stored in morgues, funeral homes, medical or private storage facilities. The state usually keeps a record of the person's identity, if known, and where the urn was buried.

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What happens to unclaimed ashes in Australia?

An unclaimed person's final resting place is dependant on instructions from “the applicant” — usually a funeral director — but most will end up “with their ashes scattered in the gardens or buried in an unmarked area”.

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Is it wrong to split up human ashes?

You certainly can! There are several regulations governing ash spreading, but none governing ash division. Following a loved one's cremation, some families prefer to split the ashes.

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Are you supposed to keep ashes?

You can choose not to scatter them and keep them at yours or a loved one's home. For an alternative option, some families choose to keep remains at a permanent memorial, providing friends and family a physical place to pay their respects.

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Why Shouldn't We Take Cremated Remains Home or Scatter the Ashes?

22 related questions found

Is it bad feng shui to keep ashes in the house?

While we might think that having the loved-one's ashes in a plain box or beautiful urn, displayed in our home, might be honoring, according to Feng Shui, it is not appropriate, because the energy of the deceased, which is held by their ashes, is Yin. It needs to be returned to the earth, or to water (Yin with Yin).

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What does God say about keeping ashes?

However, it's important to remember that the Bible does not explicitly prohibit or endorse cremation or the keeping of ashes. Ultimately, the decision of what to do with the ashes of a loved one is a personal one, and should be made based on what feels right for the family.

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Is it OK to touch human ashes?

Contrary to what you may think, human ashes are actually not toxic and are considered a sanitary, natural substance. Therefore, there is no harm in touching them. Of course, if you accidentally inhale ashes, you may experience some respiratory irritation, but this occurrence is not common if you handle ashes properly.

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How long do cremated ashes last?

How long do cremated ashes last? In theory, cremated ashes can last forever. Some funeral homes have ashes from the 19th Century that are still in their urns, and archeologists have been known to discover ashes that are thousands of years old.

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Is it bad to touch human ashes?

Cremation occurs at such a hot temperature all micro-organisms are destroyed, and the remaining ashes are inert. After cremation there are no public health risks associated with handling ashes.

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Do you really get your loved ones ashes back?

After the cremation process is complete, you receive three to seven pounds of remains that look white and feel soft like ashes. What's returned to you is the person's skeleton.

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Do ashes expire?

A common question that we find in the cremation diamond industry is do ashes have an expiration date? The short answer is they don't; at least not in our lifetime. It would take around one million years for ashes to dissolve since they are made solely of inorganic material.

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Is it illegal to scatter ashes in Australia?

You generally don't need permission to scatter cremated ashes at most Australian beaches or coastlines. However, you will need to comply with local environmental protection authority guidelines.

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What happens if ashes don't fit in urn?

If the bag doesn't fit, there are three options:

A funnel may be used to fill the urn directly with ashes. If you wish to keep the ashes in the bag, a new bag will first need to be inserted into the urn with the opening of the bag on the outside.

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Do you have to pay to pick up ashes?

Ashes are usually passed on to the funeral director after the cremation for collection. If you have not employed the services of a funeral director, you'll usually have up to 6 weeks to collect the ashes before being charged.

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Is there energy in cremated ashes?

Cremains contain what is known as rest energy, sometimes referred to as free or dormant energy. This type of energy is still subject to the restraints of natural law, and can have no physical or spiritual impact on those around it.

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Can you get DNA from human ashes?

Can You Get DNA From Cremated Remains? Yes. DNA testing is often done on the bodies of the dead, even after they've been cremated. The immense heat of the cremation ovens breaks down the body's organic matter, leaving bone fragments and teeth behind as they don't disintegrate during the cremation process.

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What happens when ashes get wet?

While wood ashes are considered nontoxic, they contain alkaline material in the form of potassium carbonate and potassium hydroxide, often referred to as pearl potash and potash, respectively. These compounds are very soluble in water and react with water to release hydroxide ions which can produce a pH as high as 12.

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What happens to ashes not collected?

Depending upon various factors, many funeral homes, cemeteries, and other institutions will seek a more permanent manner of housing unclaimed cremated remains. In such cases, these businesses will bury the urns and temporary cremation containers in their possession in a single mass grave in a cemetery or memorial park.

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Do ashes in an urn smell?

If you are concerned that the ashes will smell after the cremation, the answer is no. There is no odor emitted from ashes that have been properly cremated. Even over time, you shouldn't expect any particular smells to develop. If anything, certain cremation containers will simply emit a slight incense-like smell.

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Do human ashes dissolve in water?

Do human ashes dissolve in water? The "cremains" are calcium phosphates and other trace minerals left after the cremation process. Since these do not break down further, cremated ashes will not dissolve in water but rather be swept away and dispersed by the natural movement of the ocean, lake, or river.

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How long does it take to cremate a body?

The average time for an adult cremation is 90 minutes at a temperature of between 800 and 1000 degree Celsius. On average from insertion to final cooling the cremation process may take up to four hours.

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Why keep ashes of loved ones?

Keeping urns at home or wearing urn jewelry provides comfort to many people through the knowledge that they're keeping their deceased loved ones close at all times. Keeping the ashes of your loved one in your home is one of the most sensitive things you could do, as it's a great way to honor them and their life.

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Why do people keep the ashes of the dead?

It is their way of keeping close to their loved one even after death. The idea in which people feel that keeping their loved one's ashes changes the environment of the living space in their home for the better. It is attached to a sense of holding on to someone and feeling they are still close to you.

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