Saying Goodbye: Becoming part of a living coral reef (with pics)

[PrincessKsMom]

Ember that was so beautiful. I think it was not only fitting for mom, but for you as well. The peace and joy of letting go of the hurt, the pain, the hard times...like a weight being lifted. You did your mom proud.

 

[lukenick1]

That was beautiful what you did for your Mom. My Mom would have loved that as well, but she asked to be buried with my deceased sister. We had a nice burial and we also saved some ashes to be scattered on Lake Winnepesake. She loved going there boating in the summer. I have also saved a bit of her ashes that I put in a prayer box charm I wear on my necklace. She is always close to my heart now.

 

[Katieinwonderland]

Wow that's incredible! I never knew anything like that existed but what a wonderful idea!

 

[Ember]

I beleive the turtles and dolphins were not a fluke...nature just knows

Thank you for this.

 

[pixiewings71]

Oh Ember, that was beautiful. thank you so much for sharing that with us. I'm totally teary eyed right now. What a wonderful experience.

 

[nuttylawprofessor]

Ember,

I hope I'm half as blessed as you when we commit my mom's ashes to the sea this May. I hope you're finding peace.

 

[luvflorida]

Ember,
I read your original thread about the passing of your mom, and I was very intrigued with the Great Burial Reef. Thank you so much for sharing your experience with others!

The photos are absolutely beautiful. There is definitely a sense of love and peace that shines through the pictures. I'm another one that believes that it was not just by chance that the turtles and dolphins made their presence known.

I'm a huge lover of the ocean and all the aquatic creatures that live in it. I LOVE the idea of being able to be a part of a living reef and I've shared the Great Burial Reef website with my husband and other family members.

Again, thank you so much for posting about the living reef and for sharing such a moving experience. Such a touching, heartfelt and meaningful thing you did for your mom.

 

[LargoLori]

Wow, that is amazing. I have tears in my eyes. Thank you for sharing something so special.

Lori

 

[Silent1CB]

Thank you for sharing. I was aware of the cement reefs being made & placed, I just had no idea they had turned some into burial sites.

This is something I bet my family or parents might be interested in as they are huge lovers of all things ocean.

After looking at the site & how they do it, I was confused by your picture of what appears to be the urn going into the water. But I see you explained that later on. So is the urn placed into the reef / vault, or do they release the ashes onto the reef & bring the urn back up?

The site made it sound like they lower the reef with the ashed already in it, so I was confused on how they open it while underwater already & try to add ashes to it. I guess adding an urn to it underwater would be easier.

My brother is a diver & has his own boat. I see business opportunity here. But not as lovely and blue here in New England. Its much boring looking up here in these waters.

 

[Ember]

Thank you for sharing. I was aware of the cement reefs being made & placed, I just had no idea they had turned some into burial sites.

This is something I bet my family or parents might be interested in as they are huge lovers of all things ocean.

After looking at the site & how they do it, I was confused by your picture of what appears to be the urn going into the water. But I see you explained that later on. So is the urn placed into the reef / vault, or do they release the ashes onto the reef & bring the urn back up?

The site made it sound like they lower the reef with the ashed already in it, so I was confused on how they open it while underwater already & try to add ashes to it. I guess adding an urn to it underwater would be easier.

My brother is a diver & has his own boat. I see business opportunity here. But not as lovely and blue here in New England. Its much boring looking up here in these waters.

In our case the urn itself was placed into the reef by a diver. It wasn't opened, just sealed inside. They gave us this choice because they had a reef that was already growing and thriving but had no remains placed in it. (I think it was a larger style of reef they no longer use.) Normally, I believe the urn is sealed inside the reef first and then you watch the reef actually being placed. They sent me some pictures of the reef my mum would become a part of and I loved that it was already a living, growing thing so we took that route.

 

[Briarmom]

Beautiful.

 

[LoraJ]

Thanks so much for sharing this beautiful story and the photos.

 

[wildernesslodgelover]

WOW! Thank you so much for sharing that.

 

[Pooh_Friend#1]

Beautiful, thank you so much for sharing that with us.