Scattering a loved one's ashes

[Vieja]

My family would like to honor the request of a loved one by scattering her ashes on a body of moving water in or near St. Mary's County. Does anyone know if it is possible to charter a boat for this or if this is legal in the state of Maryland? Are there any boat captains who could assist my family with this request?

Thanks

 

[BadGirl]

Wherever you go, or however you end up honoring the wishes, just do it. Don't ask for permission, because someone (MD government) is bound to tell you no, or tax you for it, or make you submit this paperwork or that, and then make it so difficult to do it, that you end up not doing it anyway.

 

[NorthBeachPerso]

Wherever you go, or however you end up honoring the wishes, just do it. Don't ask for permission, because someone (MD government) is bound to tell you no, or tax you for it, or make you submit this paperwork or that, and then make it so difficult to do it, that you end up not doing it anyway.

Technically it's illegal. Just go and do it.

 

[Vieja]

Kind of hard to explain to a boat captain why we want to charter a boat without fishing.

 

[MarieB]

Kind of hard to explain to a boat captain why we want to charter a boat without fishing.

I don't see why it would be difficult

You are visiting and want to cruise the waters and take in the views - simple

 

[BadGirl]

Go out on the boat and go fishing. And spread the ashes.

Easy, peasy.

Do what you need to do to honor the last wishes, then have some fun time as well.

 

[mamatutu]

My family would like to honor the request of a loved one by scattering her ashes on a body of moving water in or near St. Mary's County. Does anyone know if it is possible to charter a boat for this or if this is legal in the state of Maryland? Are there any boat captains who could assist my family with this request?

Thanks

We did this when my mother died and had saved my father's ashes until that time. They wanted their ashes scattered together on Lake Mead in Nevada. My brothers and I and families flew out there, rented a houseboat for a week, and during that time scattered the ashes with a ceremony, and as BG stated, it is also a time to celebrate life and be together. Didn't ask permission; just did it. That was 7 years ago.

 

[czygvtwkr]

I say drive to the top of the Thomas Johnson bridge, park your car sideways so that you can access either side and let them fly off the side that the wind is blowing, simple and beautiful.

 

[vraiblonde]

Wherever you go, or however you end up honoring the wishes, just do it. Don't ask for permission, because someone (MD government) is bound to tell you no, or tax you for it, or make you submit this paperwork or that, and then make it so difficult to do it, that you end up not doing it anyway.

This right here ^^^

 

[acommondisaster]

Wherever you go, or however you end up honoring the wishes, just do it. Don't ask for permission, because someone (MD government) is bound to tell you no, or tax you for it, or make you submit this paperwork or that, and then make it so difficult to do it, that you end up not doing it anyway.

This. Too many rules in this world that don't make a heck of a lot of sense, and this is one of them. Just do it, unless they've requested something impossible, like sprinkling ashes off the Washington monument, or something. My mom's in her favorite spot, and I feel better knowing that. Where it is or whether it was legal or not is between me and my sister. (But the story at the airport, with the box of ashes and the conversation with the TSA employee would definitely have made my mom laugh).

 

[BOP]

This. Too many rules in this world that don't make a heck of a lot of sense, and this is one of them. Just do it, unless they've requested something impossible, like sprinkling ashes off the Washington monument, or something. My mom's in her favorite spot, and I feel better knowing that. Where it is or whether it was legal or not is between me and my sister. (But the story at the airport, with the box of ashes and the conversation with the TSA employee would definitely have made my mom laugh).

 

[Larry Gude]

Wherever you go, or however you end up honoring the wishes, just do it. Don't ask for permission, because someone (MD government) is bound to tell you no, or tax you for it, or make you submit this paperwork or that, and then make it so difficult to do it, that you end up not doing it anyway.

Yup.

 

[Larry Gude]

Kind of hard to explain to a boat captain why we want to charter a boat without fishing.

If you have a private conversation with the captain, you're gonna find one more than happy to help your family get this done.

A private, never to be repeated, don't come back and tell us who helped you, PRIVATE conversation.

 

[Retrodeb54]

Go out on the boat and go fishing. And spread the ashes.

Easy, peasy.

Do what you need to do to honor the last wishes, then have some fun time as well.

This was in my way of thinking. Get the boat , pack some food and go fishing. Celebrate the persons life with a gathering, some nice conversation and share her obvious love of the water.

 

[Vieja]

Looks like we have a consensus. Thank you for the replies.

 

[chefflavor]

My family would like to honor the request of a loved one by scattering her ashes on a body of moving water in or near St. Mary's County. Does anyone know if it is possible to charter a boat for this or if this is legal in the state of Maryland? Are there any boat captains who could assist my family with this request?

Thanks

At St Clements Island Museum you can get on a boat and go to St Clements Island and put her in the water off the big pier or the little pier and visit the light house for around 5 bucks. That how I did my mom last year.

 

[bilbur]

My family would like to honor the request of a loved one by scattering her ashes on a body of moving water in or near St. Mary's County. Does anyone know if it is possible to charter a boat for this or if this is legal in the state of Maryland? Are there any boat captains who could assist my family with this request?

Thanks

It is illegal in MD but this might be one of those what people don't know won't hurt them situations. If you don't want to chance getting anyone involved you could always rent a boat in Solomons and choose your own spot. Just look around and make sure no one is looking because if DNR sees anything other than chum being dumped from a boat they might get nosey and come over to investigate.

 

[MMDad]

My family would like to honor the request of a loved one by scattering her ashes on a body of moving water in or near St. Mary's County. Does anyone know if it is possible to charter a boat for this or if this is legal in the state of Maryland? Are there any boat captains who could assist my family with this request?

Thanks

Here's the state's view of this:

http://dhmh.maryland.gov/bom/pdf/cremated_remains.pdf

Federal law prohibits scattering the ashes closer than 3 miles from land, and the scattering must be reported to EPA. I'd be careful about chartering a boat to do this, especially if you put it in email or on paper. A charter or tour operator may also have a problem with it since they are responsible if someone dumps something off of their boat.

If it were me, I'd proabably use one of the public piers or a beach and be discrete.

 

[DoWhat]

It is illegal in MD but this might be one of those what people don't know won't hurt them situations. If you don't want to chance getting anyone involved you could always rent a boat in Solomons and choose your own spot. Just look around and make sure no one is looking because if DNR sees anything other than chum being dumped from a boat they might get nosey and come over to investigate.

Did I break the law yesterday pissing off the back of the boat?

 

[ArkRescue]

Wherever you go, or however you end up honoring the wishes, just do it. Don't ask for permission, because someone (MD government) is bound to tell you no, or tax you for it, or make you submit this paperwork or that, and then make it so difficult to do it, that you end up not doing it anyway.