What does maritime funeral mean? What is involved?
A maritime funeral is time for paying respect to a deceased loved one. The remains of that person would be set aloft in the sea.
How would the remains be delivered to this service?
We would pick up the remains sent to our business address, take them to our boat at Cape May, and take them out to the sea.
What would happen at the sea?
We provide a short service of your choice and then allow the remains to be set aloft and taken by the sea. We follow all the codes that apply to this process with dignity and reverence.
How far out do you go?
It is a federal requirement that the scattering occurs at least 3 miles from the nearest shore point.
Will our loved ones remains be the only ones you take?
We usually try to have 3 remains with us for internment but the weather and requests will be factors also.
Who will be taking the boat out?
Chad Theesfeld is the certified United States licensed Master Captain with over 20 years experience on the water and Paul Theesfeld is a licensed funeral director who has been in the funeral arena for 30 plus years. They will be accompanying the remains to their final resting place. They both have a compassion for the living, a love of the sea, and respect for the deceased.
What will be said at sea?
That is up to the family and friends of the deceased. We can provide several different approaches if you wish. We can discuss this at the time of commitment.
Will we be able to have any of the ashes to take home?
That will be up to your discretion. We try to have this decision made before we go out to sea.
Can we go along?
Yes, you can. If there are 5 people or fewer, we can use our boat. For larger parties we can work with you to accomodate your needs.
Will we have refreshments on the boat?
These arrangements can be made.
How much is the cost?
Please refer to our Burial at Sea Services page.
Can you go out in the winter?
We are very much governed by the will of the sea. We may not be able to get out during the winter but we will try to get out as soon as we can in the spring. The sea has it's own agenda. We respect it's nature. The remains will be stored in a dry safe place until internment.
How do I purchase a biodegradable urn?
Biodegradable urns may be purchased directly through Maritime Funeral Services, LLC or your local funeral home.
What does scattering cremated remains or ashes mean?
You may envision going out to a beautiful spot and scattering your loved ones remains. While this can be a beautiful, ceremonial and a very healing way of returning a loved one to nature, it can also be a disaster. The following guidelines, will make the experience a positive one and make the final wish of your loved one, “I just want my ashes to be scattered” to come true.
To begin, often the word “ashes” is used to describe cremated remains. The media portrays it as light ash. The reality is the remains are bone fragments that have been mechanically reduced. They normally don’t gently flow into the air. It is more like heavy sand That being said there is some dust or ash that can blow in the wind, so when scattering cremated remains make sure to check the wind so they don’t blow back in people’s faces or onto a boat.
You will also want to consider the legal requirements to scatter remains. In no state is it legal to scatter remains on private property without permission from the property owner. Many parks also have rules and permit requirements so you will want to check into the requirements.
If you do plan on scattering the remains, many people are choosing to keep some of the remains in a keepsake container or mini urn. Some people feel they still want a part of the person and sharing the cremated remains is a way to still have a part of the person with you. Keep in mind, you will want to make sure the partial remains are in a sealed plastic bag inside the keepsake or mini urn. A funeral director can handle this for you. Many products are also available such as diamonds that are made out of the remains, jewelry that is designed to hold the remains or hand blown glass paper weights.
Water Scattering
Water scattering involves placing the remains into a body of water. A biodegradable bag or urn is recommended. This is most often when cremated remains can blow back into a person’s face or get washed up onto the side of the boat. Both experiences can be traumatic and not the everlasting peaceful memory you envisioned. If you search on the internet or in the phone book you can find people that have boats and are experienced. There are urns on the market designed to gently float away and then quickly biodegrade into the water. Many people throw rose petals or flowers into the water after the urn. If the remains are in a biodegradable bag they may sink so you also may wish to throw a wreath of flowers into the water and watch the wreath drift away.
Article Excerpt written by Mary Hickey
