As we often say, "ashes to ashes," but what does it really mean? In this article, we will explore some unusual and thought-provoking stories about human ash. From scattering ashes in the sea to making fabric out of them, these stories will leave you wondering.

My father asked if human ash could be turned into fabric. He would love to be made into a woman's dress, perhaps for the Oscars as he will likely never go in his lifetime. I still do not know the answer! (Amadeus Anwar, London)

It seems that Keith Richards' idea isn't quite as original as it sounds. According to the Roman writer Valerius Maximus, a woman called Artemisia drank the ashes of her husband in order to become his living tomb. At least it is space-saving! (Mazza, Oxford)

In another story, a widow decided to put her recently deceased husband's ashes into a homemade egg timer. She was reportedly delighted to finally see her husband working! (Simon Ricketts, Isle of Man)

Eugene Shoemaker, the astronomer, has his ashes on the moon, making him the 13th person to reach it. (Stephen Hollinshead, St. Ives, England)

A friend of mine died tragically in his early 30's, and in accordance with his wishes, his ashes were made into 12 firework rockets and launched from the garden of his local pub. It was a fantastic remembrance of him. (Jay Seldon, Surrey, UK)

One person said that if she died before her dog, she would want some of her ashes scattered in his food, so she could "live on" through him. I kind of liked the idea of that… (Kerry, New York, NY, USA)

However, Umm, do people not realize that ashes are not fertiliser? They are actually toxic and will kill pretty much any plant life you scatter them on. Still going to put them on your favourite golf hole or picturesque mountainside…? (JG, London, UK)

In Ontario, under provincial legislation, you may dispose of cremated remains only in an authorized cemetery or your own private property. Anywhere else is illegal, although people do it. To sniff the ashes up your nose would bring a charge by the police under the Criminal Code of Canada, (federal), "Of suffering indignities to human remains." (David Skene-Melvin, Toronto, Ontario, Canada)

My husband was once held up on a golf course, while a group of middle-aged men walked onto the green and scattered their dead mate's ashes. 'It was his favourite hole,' they said. 'Don't mind us, play on.' (Kath, Bournemouth, UK)

I have asked that my ashes be scattered in woodland so that my physical remains can help the growth of something beautiful. I hope that, when the time comes, there will be appropriate advice available to my executors. (Tony, Watford UK)

Funeral homes ship ashes to relatives, but they arrive by registered mail at the local post office. People in the queue tend to back away from you when you exclaim "Oh I know what it is now, it's Aunt Thelma!" (Candace, New Jersey, US)

What are the EU restrictions about ashes and the North Sea coast? We scattered my father into the sea just off Bridlington in May of last year and no one told us of any restrictions. In August we scattered his mother into the sea at Shotley, where we had scattered her husband five years before. Again, no one told us of any restrictions. I have also asked that should anything happen to me, I am to go into the sea after cremation, although the problem there is the fact that I converted to Judaism and the wife might just bury me. Hope not, I want to get wet with the rest of the family. (Andie Riley, Leeds, England)

Cremation is clean, saves space and avoids the sad look of neglected burial plots. The body is only a carrying facility for what makes us 'us'. If the loved one wants to be scattered in a special place so be it. After all, it is their wish. Volume is another matter. If the 'coffin' was reduced by using wraps or simple cardboard, the volume of ash would be reduced. If people find that offensive, remember the dead aren't aware of the funeral and showing them love and respect in life is more important than wasting money on something to be destroyed. The actual Christian form of burial service does include the word, dust to dust, ashes to ashes. Not embalmed or buried. (Sandra, Ontario, Canada), these stories show that there are many ways to handle human ash, from scattering it in the sea to making fabric out of it. While some may seem unusual or even morbid, they all share one thing in common: the desire to honor the memory of loved ones and find a way to cope with death.

References

Valerius Maximus (1st century AD). Memorable Deeds and Sayings. Translated by A.M. Harmon.

Note: This article is based on real-life stories and anecdotes shared by individuals from around the world. While some may seem unusual or even morbid, they all share one thing in common: the desire to honor the memory of loved ones and find a way to cope with death.