Addition to standardized burial location

LegacyUser

Dianna Csikos said: Some people are cremated and the ashes are scattered, can that be a choice to use for burial place? Buried at sea would be another no location known
Thank you so much.
Dianna Csikos

LegacyUser

David Newton said: That isn't a burial when ashes are scattered. Burial implies ending up underneath something. In the case of a normal burial it is rock or soil. In the case of a burial at sea it's water.

LegacyUser

Juli said: While I sympathize with the instinct, I don't think we need to be quite *that* pedantic. (Ashes scattered at sea end up under water, after all.)

LegacyUser

Juli said: I don't know what to do with "at sea", but for scattering on land, you could use the generic location (town that administers the beach, for example) as the burial location, and put in the reason statement that it was a scattering of ashes rather than a burial. This of course is technically a misuse of the reason statement, and it could be blown away at any time if someone decides to tweak a detail, but it puts the facts in an expected place on the profile.

Another option is to leave Burial blank and use a Custom Event for the scattering of the ashes; this has both a Title and a Description field, as well as the reason statement, so you can get as specific as you want about where it happened. The disadvantage to this method is that it buries the "final disposition" fact under Other, with no indication in the expected location under Vitals that yes, you *do* know exactly what happened.

LegacyUser

Jeff Wiseman said: I agree with Juli.

Burial is the process of returning the body to the earth. Whether it's in a casket, urn, or is spread as ashes on the earth or water, the body has been returned to the earth from whence it came. A cremation is only a preparation of the body similar to mummification prior to burial. Ashes in an urn on someone's fireplace mantel have not yet been buried.

But those are just my personal opinions because I am pedantic :-)

LegacyUser

Jeff Wiseman said: The Term "at sea" is far too generic. You need to give the name of the place. I've had several ancestors that were born on the Atlantic Ocean while their parents traveled to the new world.

The standard places database has oceans in it.

LegacyUser

David Newton said: Well at least that would be an interesting passage in the family bible ....

LegacyUser

Brett said: Dianna

'Yes', of course, you are correct, some (in fact, many) people are, "Cremated"; and, their 'Ashes' are "Scattered" (or, kept in a container/urn by Family).

There is a always, the "Event" of "Cremation", under the "Other Information" Section.



But ...

What I tend to do, is in the "Burial" fields, in the "Vitals" Section, to make things "Clear", for the 'Date' I enter the word of "Cremated" followed by a 'Comma' and then the actual 'Date'; and, for the 'Place', depending on the circumstances, if "Scattered" (at 'Sea') or "Taken" (by Family), enter, either, the word of "Scattered, at Sea" (and, if the location is known ... Off "Wherever" Beach/Headland/whatever"; or, the Sea/Ocean); or, "Ashes TAKEN by Family".

In fact, I know of an Officer from the "Titanic", who Survived; as, he was 'In-Change' of one of the 'Life Boats', who died and was "Cremated" in England; but, whose "Ashes" were "Scattered" at Sea around the last known (recorded) location of the Vessel (before it was actually found). For "Burial", a User/Patron has entered the 'Date' that his "Ashes" were actually "Scattered"; but, unfortunately, has just entered "At Sea" for the 'Place'. Personally, I would have liked to see the 'Place' as "At Sea, last known (recorded) location of the Vessel (before it was actually found)" with the name of the 'Sea'/'Ocean'; plus, the 'Longitude' and 'Latitude', in the "Reason Statement" - but that is just me.

"At Sea" is ALREADY a "Standardised" 'Place Name' in "FamilySearch"- unfortunately, there is NO actual about "Location".

For unusual 'Place Names' for "Burial" (ie. the "Scattering" of "Ashes") where there is NO "Standard", rather than leaving them as "Blank" or with a "Red" 'Exclamation Mark' (ie. Data Error), I would suggest using the nearest 'Known' location and the "Standard" (whatever that might be).

And, DO NOT forget, for many (especially, those who were, "Killed in Action"; or, killed/died, due to War) there is NO "Burial" place/location; as, their bodies were not/never found (eg. those who died at Sea).

Such people, in some (in fact, many) instances, ONLY have a "Memorial" (a "Name" in a Cemetery/Cenotaph/wherever).

For such people, to make things "Clear", for the 'Date' I enter the word of "Memorial" followed by a 'Comma' and then the 'Date' they were included in the 'Memorial' (sometimes ONLY a 'Year'); and, for the 'Place', the actual details and location of the "Memorial", which can be "Standardised". And, sometimes, I include the words of "Body not found (or, recovered)", if I know of the circumstances.

Just my thoughts.

Brett

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