# Scattering ashes **URL:** \ **Category:** Factual Questions\ **Created:** [February 26, 2013, 6:10pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/scattering-ashes/651447 "2013-02-26T18:10:34Z")\ **Posts on this page:** 19\ **Page:** 2
**Author:** ![ralph124c](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/r/8797f3/32.png) [@ralph124c](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/ralph124c)\ **Post date:** [February 28, 2013, 11:14pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/scattering-ashes/651447/21 "2013-02-28T23:14:25Z")
I’d like my ashes to be mixed into concrete, and become part of a building-any permit needed for this? ---
**Author:** ![ducati](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/d/cc9497/32.png) [@ducati](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/ducati)\ **Post date:** [February 28, 2013, 11:41pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/scattering-ashes/651447/22 "2013-02-28T23:41:22Z")
Even though we have several spaces in a beautiful, historic [cemetery](http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Bonaventure_Cemetery), my wife wants her ashes scattered on the beach where she grew up. I figure a sunset walk away from people, a few words, and 20 seconds of shaking and spreading should do it. Or maybe while para-gliding down the beach… ---
**Author:** ![Magiver](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/m/4491bb/32.png) [@Magiver](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Magiver)\ **Post date:** [March 1, 2013, 6:36am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/scattering-ashes/651447/23 "2013-03-01T06:36:39Z")
> [@Rhythmdvl](#): > > …because that’s how zombie plagues begin. > The Brighton in question is in NY–they came here from the Soviet Union so you can imagine that they have/had close connections to the community. From the EPA links it seems that three miles out there are no other special provisions. But three miles out? Can you even see the shore from that far away? Not that they want to cast them in the air at the next big summer picnic, but I believe they were hoping for something a little closer in and connected. > > I’ll call a couple funeral parlours in the area and see what happens. Seeing as how my Russian is limited to a handful of curse words, I’m not sure how far I’ll get. > > Given that she’s been resting in an urn for several years now, I wonder how involved a funeral parlour will get. Even without the swearing. Since there are no specific rules for air drops I’m wondering if that gets around the 3 mile limit over the ocean? The dispersion rate would be substantial from the air. ---
**Author:** ![duncs](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/d/a8b319/32.png) [@duncs](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/duncs)\ **Post date:** [March 1, 2013, 3:34pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/scattering-ashes/651447/24 "2013-03-01T15:34:15Z")
If it’s Brighton Beach in the UK, there’s no law preventing you from doing it [http://www.scattering-ashes.co.uk/help-advice/law/](http://www.scattering-ashes.co.uk/help-advice/law/) ---
**Author:** ![Bullitt](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/bullitt/32/5725_2.png) [@Bullitt](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Bullitt)\ **Post date:** [March 1, 2013, 3:43pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/scattering-ashes/651447/25 "2013-03-01T15:43:26Z")
Years ago we scattered my uncle’s ashes off the Pacific Coast of northern California. Like **ducati** ’s thought, that is what we did - we found an isolated spot, said a few words, and discretely scattered them. Done. ---
**Author:** ![Bullitt](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/bullitt/32/5725_2.png) [@Bullitt](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Bullitt)\ **Post date:** [March 1, 2013, 3:52pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/scattering-ashes/651447/26 "2013-03-01T15:52:32Z")
> [@kopek](#): > > Knew another genius (really - worked at an Apple store) who released the dearly departed secretly -------- from the front seat of a moving rollercoaster. Can you say the word “Busted”? I knew you could. I laughed **so hard** at this! 😛 There’s just no limit to stupid, is there? ---
**Author:** ![Morgenstern](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/m/f9ae1b/32.png) [@Morgenstern](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Morgenstern)\ **Post date:** [March 1, 2013, 4:00pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/scattering-ashes/651447/27 "2013-03-01T16:00:39Z")
> [@Yllaria](#): > > It’s closer to a gallon, I think. At least the container I have looks bigger than half a gallon. The average adult is about 200 cubic inches, so your gallon figure is real close. (231 CI in a gallon) ---
**Author:** ![ethelbert](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/e/958977/32.png) [@ethelbert](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/ethelbert)\ **Post date:** [March 1, 2013, 4:21pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/scattering-ashes/651447/28 "2013-03-01T16:21:42Z")
I just took a handful of ashes to scatter at various places. It is not going to upset the dearly departed if all their ashes don’t get dumped at their favorite spot. I found the activity helpful in my mourning, and I got to do it several times. ---
**Author:** ![Rhythmdvl](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/r/85f322/32.png) [@Rhythmdvl](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Rhythmdvl)\ **Post date:** [March 1, 2013, 4:45pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/scattering-ashes/651447/29 "2013-03-01T16:45:10Z")
> [@ralph124c](#): > > I’d like my ashes to be mixed into concrete, and become part of a building-any permit needed for this? > [@ethelbert](#): > > I just took a handful of ashes to scatter at various places. On the one hand (heh), handfuls of cremated loved ones seems, I don’t know, off. Not that I expect to catch death, cooties or zombieism, but still. On the other hand, I heard a great use for my created remains, somewhat similar to Ralph’s. The idea is to have your friends take handfuls of remains and throw them in your enemies faces. I think it’s a great idea, but lacking enemies I’m thinking politicians or television programming executives (_that’s for cancelling Firefly!_). I bet Brighton (NY) would also be an easy clandestine release–a beach pail and shovel aren’t going to arouse suspicions. Would prefer knowing things are above board though, so need to make those calls. ---
**Author:** ![Bullitt](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/bullitt/32/5725_2.png) [@Bullitt](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Bullitt)\ **Post date:** [March 2, 2013, 2:39pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/scattering-ashes/651447/30 "2013-03-02T14:39:33Z")
> [@echo7tango](#): > > Years ago we scattered my uncle’s ashes off the Pacific Coast of northern California. Like **ducati** ’s thought, that is what we did - we found an isolated spot, said a few words, and discretely scattered them. Done. We did this at Kirby Cove, near San Francisco, if anyone’s familiar with the area. Close to The City, isolated and semi-private, a beautiful spot with great views of the Golden Gate Bridge and The City - it was perfect. ---
**Author:** ![enipla](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/e/54ee81/32.png) [@enipla](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/enipla)\ **Post date:** [March 2, 2013, 4:58pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/scattering-ashes/651447/31 "2013-03-02T16:58:11Z")
Buried Dad last October. Full military 21 gun salute. We had them include some cigars in his box that he loved so much. And they interred the ashes of his beloved dog next to him. Rent a boat and just do it. Tell the Captain your plans. Unless you’re going to shoot flaming arrows and try to sink a boat with his ashes, The GOV won’t care. It’s just ashes environmentally. But meaningful for everyone else. No one is going to give you grief. ---
**Author:** ![enipla](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/e/54ee81/32.png) [@enipla](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/enipla)\ **Post date:** [March 2, 2013, 5:00pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/scattering-ashes/651447/32 "2013-03-02T17:00:11Z")
> [@Wheelz](#): > > If anyone’s interested, I wrote about [scattering my Dad’s ashes from a cruise ship](http://boards.straightdope.com/sdmb/showthread.php?t=587469) a couple years ago. Not that it helps answer the OP’s question, but it’s somewhat on-topic. I remember that thread. It was very sweet. ---
**Author:** ![obbn](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/o/d6d6ee/32.png) [@obbn](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/obbn)\ **Post date:** [March 3, 2013, 6:45am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/scattering-ashes/651447/33 "2013-03-03T06:45:15Z")
> [@Magiver](#): > > If you do it by plane make sure the remains are properly ground up so nothing of any size drops on anybody. Also, have it done by someone who knows how. Otherwise the remains are coming back in the interior of the plane and thus destined for the bottom of a vacuum cleaner. THIS! A few years back (about ten now, man how time flies) we were hired to scatter a man’s ashes from a bi-plane. Seemed like a good idea at the time, so off we go. We get up to about 2000’ and open the urn and with as much dignity as we could muster scattered that ashes over the side. We landed and one of our friends walks over to the plane, runs his hand down the side and exclaims “What did you guys do? The plane is filthy!”. It appears that our “passenger” was reluctant to scatter to the wind and instead attached himself all over the side of the airplane. You should have seen our friend’s face when we told him that the palm of his hand was now completely covered in human ash. His appetite wasn’t real good for a day or so after that! We felt kinda bad, but really didn’t think our cunning plan all the way through. I am just thankful that none of the family was present when we landed the plane. We quickly taxied to the hanger and gave the plane a quick wash.:smack: ---
**Author:** ![Molesworth\_2](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/m/9dc877/32.png) [@Molesworth\_2](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Molesworth_2)\ **Post date:** [March 3, 2013, 8:54am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/scattering-ashes/651447/34 "2013-03-03T08:54:22Z")
The very idea that one should need a permit for scattering ashes disgusts me. Heck, if you’re accosted by the authorities then just tell them that it’s the fluff from your clothes dryer, or the contents of the bag from your vacuum cleaner. It would be the whitest lie ever told. ---
**Author:** ![Learjeff](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/l/94ad74/32.png) [@Learjeff](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Learjeff)\ **Post date:** [March 4, 2013, 9:31pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/scattering-ashes/651447/35 "2013-03-04T21:31:09Z")
> [@Molesworth\_2](#): > > The very idea that one should need a permit for scattering ashes disgusts me. Me too! I want my ashes scattered on Cindy Crawford. ---
**Author:** ![Leo\_Bloom](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/leo_bloom/32/10377_2.png) [@Leo\_Bloom](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Leo_Bloom)\ **Post date:** [March 4, 2013, 10:09pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/scattering-ashes/651447/36 "2013-03-04T22:09:47Z")
> [@ralph124c](#): > > I’d like my ashes to be mixed into concrete, and become part of a building-any permit needed for this? Better you should ask Jimmy for a grandfather clause. ---
**Author:** ![Fear\_Itself](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/fear_itself/32/19637_2.png) [@Fear\_Itself](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Fear_Itself)\ **Post date:** [March 4, 2013, 10:34pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/scattering-ashes/651447/37 "2013-03-04T22:34:35Z")
> [@ethelbert](#): > > I just took a handful of ashes to scatter at various places. It is not going to upset the dearly departed if all their ashes don’t get dumped at their favorite spot. I found the activity helpful in my mourning, and I got to do it several times. I portioned my wife’s ashes into small envelopes, which were placed in a big bowl at her celebration of life party. They were are gone by the end of the night, and I have received notes from family and friends who spread her ashes from the Golden Gate Bridge to the beaches of Cancun. ---
**Author:** ![bobot](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/bobot/32/21622_2.png) [@bobot](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/bobot)\ **Post date:** [March 4, 2013, 11:03pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/scattering-ashes/651447/38 "2013-03-04T23:03:08Z")
For you, rhythmdvl, I’m sure you’ve been hearing this through this whole process… [![](https://i.ytimg.com/vi/WninWFtO0Gg/hqdefault.jpg "Grateful Dead - Throwing Stones 1987") ](https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=WninWFtO0Gg) ---
**Author:** ![Lucretia](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/l/13edae/32.png) [@Lucretia](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Lucretia)\ **Post date:** [March 5, 2013, 1:04am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/scattering-ashes/651447/39 "2013-03-05T01:04:03Z")
Oh, for cry eye. When we scattered my grandfather’s ashes in Massachusettes, we went to the jetty, scattered, then walked back. Just go scatter them already, no one is going pay any attention or say anything to you. [Previous page](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/scattering-ashes/651447.md?page=1)