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cremation

History of Cremation: Victorian Society’s Reaction

September 10, 2018 Kim Stacey

history of cremation victorian society
Cremation in England – and here in the U.S.too, arose from dire necessity. But the practice wasn’t widely appreciated in either country for many years. In truth, Victorian society rankled at the very thought of cremation, largely because of the widespread fear that an individual may not actually be dead; which made the very idea of cremation abhorrent.  What if someone was cremated while still alive? It was too gruesome to contemplate.
But again, as we see throughout history, people adjust. Today, over 77& of people living in the U.K. are cremated, white the Cremation Association of North America (CANA), predicts U.S. cremation rates will continue to climb, rising to 54% in 2020 (source).
Digging Deeper
Victorians in England, most especially commoners living in overcrowded, dirty, disease-ridden urban areas, had it tough. You know that’s true If you’ve ever read any books by Charles Dickens, or seen a film or two set in that time and place. Basically, there were too many people in London (the population had “more than doubled” in the first half of the 19th century) and yet, no additional acres of land were set aside for cemeteries.
Existing cemeteries were obscenely overcrowded; to the point bodies were being exhumed, stored in charnel houses, and new ones buried in their place. When the charnel houses were full, the remains were scattered or thrown into pits – all with the intention of freeing up space for the newly deceased. It was a big problem.
The Solution: Cremation
The first crematorium in England was built in 1878 in Woking, England. The first human cremation–that of “a well-known figure in literary and scientific circles,” Mrs. Jeannette C. Pickersgill–took place there in 1885. (If you’re wondering what was going on during the 7 years between construction and Mrs. Pickersgill’s cremation, here’s what I learned. After the body of a horse was cremated (as an operational test), the folks in the surrounding communities were angry enough to write the authorities demanding its closure.
More than public outrage, the most pressing issue was the fact cremation wasn’t yet legal. It wasn’t until early 1884 the crematorium could begin to operate. Business was slow; only two more cremation took place after Mrs. Pickersgill’s; the following year, 1886; two years later, in 1888, a total of 28 cremations took place (source).
Here in the United States
The history of cremation in the U.S. may have begun earlier (According to CANA, there were two recorded instances of cremation before 1800); but didn’t start in earnest until 1876, with the construction of the first crematory by a Dr. Julius LeMoyne, who was practicing medicine in the town of Washington, Pennsylvania. He built it because he realized there was a connection between burial and a contaminated water supply which was making people ill. (Again, the impetus was dire necessity.)
And again we there’s reluctance to adopt cremation. Certainly, the press didn’t help matters much, reporting the first cremation was “ghostly” and continuing the cremation debate for two decades (source).
As in England, cremation societies were formed argued in favor of the practice. In the U.K, the primary force for change was The Cremation Society of Great Britain; in the United States, there were dozens of geographically-based associations working to promote cremation.
The Common Welfare Aside…
…how did individuals really react to the advent of cremation? You’ll find some wonderful insights in The Victorian Book of the Dead by Chris Woodyard. It’s a collection of newspaper accounts, such as the 1888 sighting of the spirit of “Mr. Kilgore” haunting the location of his cremation, the Philadelphia Cemetery. According to the article in the Omaha (NE) Daily Herald article, the crematory watchman refused to keep a solitary watch over the crematory from that moment forward. That’s a rather solid, albeit picturesque condemnation of cremation, I think.
Just a few years later, sentiments had changed. In 1896, it was announced an inventor had come up with a way to preserve a loved one’s ashes – by turning them into a paste and then sculpting a statue or other memorial.  in 1899, The Ft. Wayne (IN) Gazette reported a ghost returned to demand that his body be exhumed and cremated, according to his wishes (which his sister ignored). The haunting forced her to comply.
Two years later, in 1901, the Cincinnati Enquirer reported a widow, over a period of years, consumed her husband’s ashes. “She put a pinch of him in her coffee at breakfast and sprinkled him lightly over the boiled shad,” wrote the journalist. “At luncheon he went into the tea, and contributed distinction to the lamb stew.”
You could say that in a matter of less than 20 years –  from the mid-1880’s to the early 1900s, attitudes toward cremation had done a one-eighty and the positive perception of cremation continued to grow in the years since. Certainly, celebrity cremations like that of Isadora Duncan in 1927 (along with her decision to cremate both her children, who died in an accident in 1918). We tend to be followers, and as the public watched the lives (and deaths) of celebrities closely, early-adopters of cremation who counted themselves among the ‘rich and famous’ contributed heavily to the ultimate acceptance of cremation. You can read more about her in our post Celebrity Cremations: Isadora Duncan.

Filed Under: cremation Tagged With: history of cremation, Victorian society

No Funeral, No Flowers: What I Learned Planning a Memorial Service

August 24, 2018 urngarden.com

We recently had a death in the family. Our family matriarch. Grandmother. She lived a long, rich life and had made a list of specific wishes before she died.

  • Cremation was preferred over burial.
  • No funeral.
  • No flowers.
  • Have a party at the boat house at the lake.
  • She had two songs that she wanted sung at the service.

The Healing Power of Flowers at the Funeral

We carried out her wishes, but had to bend the rules on funeral flowers. Flowers are so healing and we knew that a wreath would help soften the appearance of the metal urn we displayed at the memorial service.  The florist we used is practically across the street from the crematory, so we arranged to have them deliver not only the flowers, but the urn, the printed memorial package, and death certificates to the venue.

Grandmother was known as Grandma Birdy, as she loved all things feathered. Our collection of bird themed urns are inspired by her. We chose a white and gold hummingbird urn for her. Crafted from cloisonne, this sturdy metal urn has a delicate design, but is suitable for burial, which we did a couple of days after the celebration ceremony.

The wreath was created with white roses and lilies with a few lady bugs added for good luck. The burial followed a couple of days after the service, and with the advice from the florist, we lightly misted the arrangement and kept it cool, which kept the flowers fresh in the August heat, and we were able to transport to the cemetery and place it on the grave.

hummingbird urn wreath

Choosing cremation did allow for a little more flexibility. We held the service a couple of weeks after she passed to allow friends and family from out of town to make travel arrangements. The ceremony was held on a Saturday and burial occurred on the following Monday. The venue had table seating for 80, full kitchen, large flat screen monitor, and overlooked the lake. We arranged for audio for our vocalist and catered mini sandwiches, chips, cookies, and drinks from Hy-Vee.

We tried to keep the theme in check with her colorful personality. We used bright and cheerful table covers and decorated with bird statuary and trinkets that grandmother had collected and then we invited the guests to take one as a keepsake or remembrance.

Not knowing what to expect in the way of guests, we were touched when we realized we probably had 100 in attendance.

Let the Funeral Director Help You

The funeral home was gracious during the arrangement process and never pressured us. They actually saved us several hundred dollars when we discovered that the cemetery required a concrete vault for the burial of the urn. We were able to order it from the funeral home at considerable savings and they offered to deliver it to the cemetery.

We bought a memorial package from them that included a guest register book, 100 personalized funeral programs that fit our theme, 25 laminated obituaries, and thank you cards. The cost for this package was over $200 and after the service we realized that we had many programs left over.

The funeral director also arranged for the vocalist from a list of recommended contacts that they worked with on a regular basis. Even with a two week notice, scheduling conflicts created challenges in securing someone to sing. We did finally have success and she did a beautiful job.

The funeral director also educated us as to what the appropriate fees were to pay both the vocalist and the minister and we appointed a family member to take care of payment at the service.

The two weeks leading up to the event were a little stressful and we were starting to wish grandmother had ordered a traditional funeral, but in the end it was a beautiful day with a couple of touching eulogies, letters read from far away family and friends, and memories shared with loved ones who took the time to come celebrate the life of one of our greatest generation.

Filed Under: Confessions, cremation, funeral service Tagged With: funeral flower arrangements for urn, funeral planning, hummingbird urn for ashes, planning a celebration of life ceremony

Celebrity Cremations: Woody Guthrie

July 17, 2018 Kim Stacey

Last month we published Celebrity Cremations: Isadora Duncan, in celebration of the famous dancer’s birthday in late May – and in acknowledgement of her forward-thinking in relation to the practice of cremation. This month, in recognition of July being America’s birthday month, I’d like to look at another of the many celebrities who were cremated – American singer/songwriter and social activist, Woody Guthrie.

Maybe ‘celebrity’ is the wrong word for Woody; ‘celebrated’ is better. His life was the subject of a 1976 film with David Carradine; Bound for Glory; and his prodigious creativity was the focus of the 1999 documentary with Wilco and Billy Bragg, Man in the Sand. Both are well-worth watching and give you a good ‘feel’ for this American icon.

Guthrie is the creator of what are today considered patriotic classics like “This Land is Your Land”, “Roll on Columbia”, and “Pastures of Plenty”. I love him most for his fun, silly, and toe-tapping children’s songs, like “Rattle my Rattle” and “Riding in My Car”. You might be happy to know his son Arlo – along with his family – recorded some of them in “Woody’s 20 Grow Big Songs”.

When he died in 1967, Woody’s family chose to have his body cremated and his ashes scattered in the sea. Interestingly, there’s a cenotaph (a headstone used to commemorate someone whose body is elsewhere) in Highland Cemetery, in Okfuskee County, Oklahoma where he was born.

In tribute to this amazing American, I’d like to close with some of the lesser-known words to
“This Land is Your Land”

As I went walking, I saw a sign there,
And on the sign there, it said “Private Property.”
But on the other side, it didn’t say nothing!
That side was made for you and me.
In the squares of the city, in the shadow of a steeple,
By the relief office, I’d seen my people.
As they stood there hungry, I stood there asking,
Is this land made for you and me?

Guthrie used his song-writing skills as a social and political tool for change during a time of great poverty and unrest in our country. I, for one, am proud to share a common national heritage with this remarkable man.

Source:

This Land is Your Land

Filed Under: ash scattering, cremation Tagged With: celebrities who were cremated, celebrity cremation, famous people cremated

Celebrity Cremations: Isadora Duncan

June 5, 2018 Kim Stacey

The date has come and gone, but May 27th, 2018 is the birthday of Isadora Duncan. Born in San Francisco in 1877, she became a world famous choreographer, dancer, and instructor, “whose emphasis on freer forms of movement was a precursor to modern dance techniques.” (Source)

Isadora Duncan

But, Isadora wasn’t just a trailblazer in the world of dance. In making the end-of-life choices she made, Isadora furthered the growth and acceptance of cremation as an alternative to traditional burial. It began it 1913, when her two children accidentally drowned, she decided to have their bodies cremated.

Isadora_Duncan_and_her_children

Their ashes were interred in the Cimetière du Père Lachaise, in Paris (where they were living at the time). Choosing cremation at the time was remarkably ‘modern’ and totally in character with Isadora’s personality and approach to life.

When Isadora died in an automobile accident fourteen years later (on September 14, 1927), the decision was for her body to also be cremated. The ashes were interred next to her children, Deirdre Beatrice Craig, who was six at the time of her death, and Patrick Augustus Singer, who was only three years of age on that fateful April day in Paris.

In the months to come, I’ll look at other celebrities who were cremated. Believe me when I say there were additional wonderfully talented and intelligent women –acrtresses Bea Arthur, Virginia Dwyer, Adriana Caselotti, and Lana Turner, to name just a few – who flew in the face of convention by choosing cremation over traditional burial.

Image source: Wikipedia

Filed Under: cremation, obituaries Tagged With: celebrities who were cremated, Isadora Duncan death

Purple Urns for Ashes, New Styles at Urn Garden

June 14, 2016 urngarden.com

Urn Garden has cremation urns for sale in a myriad of colors and purple is one of the most powerful.

purple and gold human adult cremation urn for ashes

In addition to purple’s strong color presence, it corresponds with a number of symbols and meanings. Shades of amethyst urns can represent a February birth date, and the color itself is associated with royalty, wisdom, and spirituality. As such, they make for great urns to honor a lost loved one. Below we’ll highlight a few of our most popular urns for ashes, as well as discuss their unique meanings and symbolization.

A Few of Our Popular Purple Urns for Ashes

Elegant Purple Cremation Urn

This cremation urn is finished in a nice shade of royal purple, and highlighted with sparkling
silver details. It’s also a flexible urn solution, as it has the ability to be customized with
engraving. Great for February birthdays, as is the case with all of our purple urns, you can’t go
wrong with this attractive piece.

Elegant Purple Heart Keepsake Urn

Handcrafted from free standing metal into the shape of a heart, this urn symbolizes what you
think it would – love. Not only that, but the rich glossy purple color makes it perfect for representing a strong personality or creative individual.

small purple heart keepsake urn

If you want to tone down the shine, this matte purple heart is just as pretty, just as rich and engraves beautifully.
small purple heart urn for ashes

Purple and Pewter Urn for Ashes

Pretty purple cremation urn for ashes, adult

One standout quality of this urn standout is the contrast of dark shades of purple, with black accents. This beautiful memorial also looks elegant with engraved names, dates, verses and more, and is appropriate for home display, cemetery placement, or burial.

Butterfly Urn for Ashes

butterfly cremation urn

If you love the color purple you’ll love this urn. Coming in the form of a classic vase design, this
urn features a deep shade of purple burgundy that isn’t too dissimilar to a glass of wine. Pair that with
inlaid mother of pearl butterflies and you have a complete, pretty tribute.

Purple & Lavender Sugar Plum Urn For Ashes

purple sugar plum cremation urn for ashes

Another dark shade of royal purple with hand tooled design to trim it out. Nice and heavy, this vase style can be personalized with an engraved pendant that drapes from the top of urn.

purple glass heart cremation jewelry

Purple Glass Heart Urn Pendant

Sweet small memorial in the form of cremation jewelry, this glass heart is a pretty shade of purple and will store a tiny bit of ashes inside the pendant.

purple February  birthstone cremation jewelry

Choosing urns for ashes can be an overwhelming process, and understandably so. But by choosing an urn from Urn Garden, you can be sure that you’re getting the highest quality product, crafted with the intention of honoring those closest to you. This is just a small sample and you can see the complete collection of the purple urns here. Any of these styles can easily be ordered online at our safe and secure site, but if you are more comfortable placing your order on the phone, feel free to call. We’re here to help.

Urn Garden Purple Cremation Urns

Filed Under: cremation, urns Tagged With: purple cremation urn, purple urn for ashes

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