Latest news with #ashes
Yahoo
23-07-2025
- General
- Yahoo
Our final resting places speak volumes about us. My dad chose a hike
I'm not quite sure when my father first said he wanted us to spread his ashes from the summit of Capitol Peak. But it probably happened soon after my mother survived breast cancer ― and promptly left him. This might sound cruel, but from my vantage point, my parents' marriage had never brought either of them much happiness. And in the years after their divorce, following some predictable speed bumps that came with the dissolution of a union of almost 40 years, both Mom and Dad seemed more alive than I'd ever known them. It was during this time that my brother, my sister and I climbed Capitol Peak with my father, Michael Cohen. Dad was 70 at the time, and he wanted us to see firsthand the site of his proudest accomplishment: the first ascent of the north face of a 14,000-foot mountain outside of Aspen. The climb proved grueling and perilous. At our campsite on the evening we returned from the top, Dad looked out at the mountain, its massive profile silhouetted against the moonlit sky. 'You guys don't have to scatter my ashes from the summit,' he said. He pointed to the base of the peak, which rose from Capitol Lake. 'You can just do it from down there.' That was 25 years ago. Dad lived another 24, passing away last summer. After Jonathan, Alison and I sold his house and settled his estate, there remained one chapter to write. Earlier this month, the three of us, along with my wife, made the 14-mile hike to honor Dad's final wish. Like the man himself, the experience was not without its challenges: 2,000-plus feet of elevation gain, at an altitude that started at almost two miles and rose from there, and in bodies now a quarter century older and more worn out than the last time we'd hiked these trails. Still, it brought Dad back in ways we wouldn't have imagined. As Ali bore my father's ashes ― 'In the standard funeral, the adult children carry the parent's coffin,' she said. 'This hike was Dad's equivalent in the bottom of a backpack' ― we traded memories of the person he was. Perhaps it was because we'd waited a bit since his death. And also because we were in the realm where he was most alive ― vital, strong, happy ― our stories and recollections veered away from his last years, when he receded into himself. Instead, we hiked across alpine meadows and up fields of talus alongside thoughts and stories about 'peak' Dad, the one who wanted so badly for us to share in his love for the mountains, for the wild, remote, almost otherworldly places that only an intrepid few ever taste. When we reached Capitol Lake, we ate our lunches beneath the lip of a boulder, the only shade available. Then we stood in a half-moon, looking out at the route Dad had first scaled six decades earlier, and said our goodbyes. I do not believe a person's remains are any more a part of who they were than a favorite T-shirt or a lucky pair of socks. Less so, really. Still, the resting places we choose for the remnants of our bodies speak volumes about us. Opinion: Falls are a real risk for seniors. Help your loved one prevent such mishaps Dad had picked a site where in life he'd found joy, where he'd triumphed. Was there also a bit of self-celebration? Sure. But, I realized, there was more. With this, his last expedition, my father had brought our family together. In a deep, meaningful way. He'd given us a lovely, meditative day in a place whose beauty was almost overwhelming. It would be something we'll always treasure. Even in death, Dad had enriched our lives. When a light wind kicked up, my brother, my sister and I poured what was left of my father out over a rocky outcropping that overlooked Capitol Lake. From there, I imagined, he could have gazed out over the ice-blue water to the sheer face he'd scaled so many years ago. I thought of Pop, sitting there, taking stock of all he'd done. Wearing the floppy, white hat he donned when he hiked. Munching on a peach. Smiling. Adam Cohen is the senior vice president and general counsel of the Oklahoma Medical Research Foundation. This article originally appeared on Oklahoman: My dad died. Here's how our family honored him and our grief | Opinion Solve the daily Crossword
BBC News
15-07-2025
- General
- BBC News
Jetty plan to allow ashes scattering in Manchester River Mersey
Religious leaders have applied to build a jetty so Hindu and Sikh mourners can scatter the ashes of loved ones in the River hope to build a three-storey concrete structure underneath the M60 motorway bridge in Northenden, Manchester, to allow access to the is traditional in both religions for bodies to be cremated and their ashes scattered into flowing water.A planning application has been lodged by the Gita Bhawan Hindu Temple with Manchester City Council, with local residents asked for their views before 24 July. Temple officials estimate that up to 500 families in Greater Manchester currently "have to travel to sea shores or other places to scatter ashes in undesignated places". The planning application states that "currently, there is no such facility available in whole of Greater Manchester".It added that the river area "has the sanctity and dignity to perform this last rite safely and peacefully" and that the law "permits scattering of ashes in inland rivers".The river has recently experienced high levels after flooding but the planning applicants have said the jetty has been designed "to allow the flow of water through and around it". Listen to the best of BBC Radio Manchester on Sounds and follow BBC Manchester on Facebook, X, and Instagram. You can also send story ideas via Whatsapp to 0808 100 2230.
Yahoo
29-06-2025
- Science
- Yahoo
Families Get Unpleasant Surprise After Trying to Shoot Their Loved Ones' Ashes Into Space
Hundreds of families shelled out to pay an out-of-this-world tribute to their lost loved ones — but tragically, their mortal remains ended up floating in the Pacific thanks to an error with the capsule they were riding in. As the Chicago Sun-Times reports, a capsule containing the ashes and DNA of some 166 departed souls was slated to orbit Earth for three hours this week before being splashing down safely into the Pacific Ocean and being returned to the families of the deceased loved ones. After orbiting Earth twice, the capsule operated by the so-called "space burial" company Celestis re-entered Earth's atmosphere normally, but failed to launch the parachutes that would have given it a softer landing in the ocean. As a result, the capsule impacted the water and, as Celestis CEO Charles Chafer noted in a statement to the Sun-Times, "[dispersed] its contents at sea." "As a result of this unforeseen event, we believe that we will not be able to recover or return the flight capsules aboard," Chafer continued. "We share in the disappointment of our families, and we offer our sincerest gratitude for their trust." One such family member, the son of the late Curtis Lau, had been very exhilarated by the prospect of sending his dad's ashes into space with Celestis, which has conducted similar memorial spaceflights for nearly 30 years. "It's obviously a unique thing we are able to do," 28-year-old Griffin Lau told the Sun-Times ahead of the launch earlier this week. "This was a wish for my father, so I also appreciate the ability to share his story and memorialize him." The elder Lau had been, as his son explained, a lifelong space enthusiast who would travel from his home in Wisconsin down to Cape Canaveral, Florida to watch rocket launches at the Kennedy Space Center. After he passed away last summer, his family decided to shell out nearly $3,500 to give his ashes a posthumous joyride in low-Earth orbit. In the aftermath of the "anomaly" that caused his dad's ashes to meet a watery grave, however, the son was less stoked. "It's a bummer," Lau said, "but admittedly, they take only a small part of the remains." More on space mishaps: Nobel Prize Winner Warns About Astronomers Using AI to Make Discoveries
Yahoo
15-06-2025
- General
- Yahoo
Widow Demands Her Kids Get a Share of Late Husband's Ashes Despite His Dying Wish Stating Otherwise
Her father wanted her to have half his ashes, while the other half would go to his wife Despite legal protection of his wishes, her stepmother keeps harassing her to divide her portion She's accused of punishing her half-siblings, but says she's just honoring her dad — and protecting her peaceA woman turns to the Reddit community for support after a deeply personal family dispute over her late father's ashes leaves her feeling conflicted and alone. In her post, she shares that her dad's passing has reopened old wounds, especially regarding her relationship with his second wife and their children. 'My dad died recently and he appointed his brother, my uncle, to ensure his final wishes were respected,' she writes. She explains that her father was married twice: first to her mother, who passed away when she was 3, and then to his second wife, whom he married when she was 15. The relationship with her stepmother was never easy, and the arrival of her half-siblings did little to bridge the gap. 'Dad and I had a solid relationship but she and I did not and I really never had one with the other kids either,' the woman reveals. Her father's final wishes were clear and carefully planned. 'His wishes were for half his ashes to go to his wife so she could start a grave for them and the other half was for me so he could also be with mom,' she explains, adding, 'My mom was cremated too and I have her ashes as well.' This arrangement, however, did not sit well with her father's widow, who tried to claim all the ashes for herself. 'But my dad had planned everything and had legally ensured his wishes were followed with the help of my uncle,' she notes, grateful for the foresight that protected her father's intentions. After the funeral, she made the difficult decision to cut off contact with her stepmother in an attempt to seek peace and closure for herself. Regardless, her stepmom has contacted her "at least 11 times," saying that she "needs to share my half of the ashes with my half-siblings because they have none and we each have half." She tried to block her stepmother, but the messages kept coming from new numbers, making it impossible to escape the pressure. 'I am trying to get my number changed but I use this phone for work too so I need a process of approval to do it,' she explains. Her aunt, her father's sister, also got involved in the conflict, suggesting that they "combine dad's ashes and split them four ways so everyone gets the same amount." When the poster said no, her aunt said that she "shouldn't take my hatred of wife number two out on the kids." Never miss a story — sign up for to stay up-to-date on the best of what PEOPLE has to offer, from celebrity news to compelling human interest stories. The aunt also voiced her disapproval over the poster's decision to cut ties with her stepmom and half-siblings. However, the poster has done her best to make it clear that her boundaries are about self-preservation, not spite. Now she's wondering if her refusal to share her half of her father's ashes makes her the villain in this painful family saga. However, most commenters suggested that her stepmom simply shares her portion of the ashes with their children, noting that it's not the poster's "responsibility." "You share my thoughts," the poster replied. "It makes more sense that way seeing as they're her kids and she wants them to have their own share." In response to another user, the woman further explains that her late dad "wanted to honor both [his] wives," which was why "he chose to have his ashes with both." Read the original article on People
Daily Mail
06-06-2025
- Entertainment
- Daily Mail
People in tears after message in a bottle washes on beach sharing 'utterly heartbreaking' message
People have been sharing sweet messages after seeing a bottle washing up on a beach. According to BBC Manchester, the bottle of ashes was sent out to sea by Cara Melia, 24, from Oldham. Cara revealed that her mother, 51-year-old Wendy Chadwick, had never been able to realise her dream of travelling the world during her lifetime, because of her responsibilities as a single parent of five. So in a poignant move following Wendy's death from an undiagnosed heart condition, Cara put her mother's ashes in a bottle. She accompanied the cremains with a sweet note, which read: 'This is my mum. Throw her back in - she's travelling the world. Thanks Cara, Oldham.' Cara then put the bottle in the sea at Skegness, saying she anted to see where Wendy 'ends up'. Just 12 hours later, someone found the bottle on the same beach. They shared the story on Facebook, where their post went viral. The bottle has since been returned to the sea, with Cara telling BBC Radio Manchester she hopes it will travel further this time. 'Life happened and my mum never got a chance to travel,' Cara said. 'Nobody was meant to find her for a bit - she was meant to be in a completely different country. 'I'd love her to end up on a beach in Barbados or Spain, which would definitely take a while.' Describing her mother, Cara said she was 'very quirky' and that she loved the beach and sun. She added that she had been surprised about how viral the Facebook post as gone, saying she had not expected the story to touch so many people. In a post shared about the story on the BBC's Instagram page, people shared some sweet messages. One Instagram user described the bottle of ashes and accompanying messages as 'heartbreakingly beautiful' One wrote: 'That's so heartbreakingly beautiful.' Another added: 'Absolutely beautiful. And absolutely heartbreaking. 'I hope people respect this. 'Enjoy your travels Wendy Chadwick - have the fun and adventures you clearly deserve.' In a similar vein, a third added: 'Love this!! I really hope she gets to visit some far and distant shores!!' 'Maybe I'll have my ashes travel like this! I love the water,' wrote another. A further Instagram user simply wrote: 'So beautiful.' Sharing their own similar experience, one respondent added: 'That's lovely. My sister and I took some of Mum's ashes to some of the most beautiful places in the world bc she didn't get to travel either.' Further posters shared well wishes. One said: 'May she encounter kind souls to continue her journey.'
