The Affairs Organizer Blog

Jeffrey Zaslow’s article “Love, Honor, Cherish and Scatter” in the Wall Street Journal is interesting.

Excerpts:

“More Americans these days are scattering loved ones’ ashes widely, with great purpose and often without permission—an act known in the funeral industry as a “wildcat scattering.” It’s a reflection of both the marked rise in cremation and the growing desire by people to find their own ways to ritualize grief.”

“Scientists agree that there is no health or environmental hazard from the spread of human ashes. “It’s mineral-based and typically, with wind and rain, will melt into the soil within days,” says John Ross, executive director of the Cremation Association.

Despite this, theme parks, sports facilities and other public facilities often discourage the scattering of ashes or decline requests, though some stadiums, typically overseas, designate certain areas where it is permitted. “A stadium is for the celebration of baseball; you don’t want to think of it as a graveyard,” says Mr. Jokinen. “If someone runs a golf course, it seems unsavory to have people golfing over the remains of dead bodies. There’s a ghostly connotation.”"

Here is a link to the full article: http://online.wsj.com/article/SB10001424052748703422904575039280799336638.html?mod=WSJ_hps_MIDDLESecondNews