Brian Leu on mon 16 sep 96
This message is being forwarded for Pat Thompson, reply directly to
PTHOMPSO@uhmtravel.tim.hawaii.edu
I informed her of the thread on this subject more than a year ago...
Aloha,
Brian
---------- Forwarded message ----------
Date: Mon, 16 Sep 1996 13:29:41 -1000
From: Patricia Thompson
To: Brian Leu
Subject: Re: funeral jars (fwd)
THANKS, Brian!!! It's up to you, but could you post the following:
***********
My mother died in late July and I went to the funeral home with my father
to arrange the cremation, etc. We asked for the least expensive
container. It was free, but it was made out of the same black plastic
that video tapes come in when you rent them - same look, feel, thickness
-the container was about the same height (8 inches high) maybe five
inches wide and five inches in depth. So, it resembled a five inch by
five inch square; 8 inches high. I suspected the funeral director would
have thought we'd be appalled and instantly buy "UP". We shocked him: We
decided to go with the freebie because we were not going to keep it in
the home; the container was going to be interned in the ground.
When my father went to the funeral home the night before to pick the
ashes up, however, he broke down. He bought a "nicer" pink marble
rectangular shaped box, to which he still refuses to tell us how much it
was, but it no doubt ranged in the $4-600 [hopefully!] figures.
I couldn't fault him, I mean, particuarly since the container
was placed in the center of the church alter and had we gone with the
freebie, the little black "tupperware" container would have embarrased the
living you know what out of us!!!
I was surprised at how few ashes there were, frankly; and and my mom
weighed about 180 lbs at death. Hate to tell you this, but I've heard that
you really don't know who's ashes you've got. It's a bad funeral practice,
but I've heard some pretty sad/gross stories of families not getting the
right ashes. I gotta ask, however, who's gonna know the difference anyway?
Anyway, I have about 6 - 8 oz of my mom's ashes and I'm planning on
putting the ashes in the clay and making a vase. Kinda making my mom the
urn, if you will, instead of putting the ashes into the urn. I think
I'll even put some ashes into the glaze.
The human ash color is not anything like boneash; it is a steel gray. (I
suspect this is because you are not just burning bone, but muscle, fat and
apparently the wood container the body is put in??)
Anyone have any tips on this? I hope I haven't offended anyone.
Maridel Crawford-Brown on tue 17 sep 96
(My post at bottom.
Maridel)
>----------------------------Original message----------------------------
>This message is being forwarded for Pat Thompson, reply directly to
>PTHOMPSO@uhmtravel.tim.hawaii.edu
>
>I informed her of the thread on this subject more than a year ago...
>
>Aloha,
>Brian
>
>
>---------- Forwarded message ----------
>Date: Mon, 16 Sep 1996 13:29:41 -1000
>From: Patricia Thompson
>To: Brian Leu
>Subject: Re: funeral jars (fwd)
>
>THANKS, Brian!!! It's up to you, but could you post the following:
>
>***********
>
>My mother died in late July and I went to the funeral home with my father
>to arrange the cremation, etc. --------------------------
>Anyway, I have about 6 - 8 oz of my mom's ashes and I'm planning on
>putting the ashes in the clay and making a vase. Kinda making my mom the
>urn, if you will, instead of putting the ashes into the urn. I think
>I'll even put some ashes into the glaze.
>
>The human ash color is not anything like boneash; it is a steel gray. (I
>suspect this is because you are not just burning bone, but muscle, fat and
>apparently the wood container the body is put in??)
>
>Anyone have any tips on this? I hope I haven't offended anyone.
Just a note to anyone interested in subject of human ash glazes...did you
catch the post by Daianne Mammone (dmammone@carroll.com) about the article
in a recent issue of Studio Potter where a potter used his friend's ashes
in glaze for his urn. I read the article, too, and I believe he indicated
the human ash did not seem to completely melt but retained a certain milky
whiteness. The ash would be variable as it would contain not only human
remains' ash/chemicals but also the residue from clothes and the container
whatever it was made of. Still, it is an interesting way to immortalize a
potter or potters' acquaintance.
Maridel
Suvira McDonald on fri 20 sep 96
>----------------------------Original message----------------------------
>
>(My post at bottom.
>Maridel)
>>----------------------------Original message----------------------------
>>This message is being forwarded for Pat Thompson, reply directly to
>>PTHOMPSO@uhmtravel.tim.hawaii.edu
>>
>>I informed her of the thread on this subject more than a year ago...
>>
>>Aloha,
>>Brian
>>
>>
>>---------- Forwarded message ----------
>>Date: Mon, 16 Sep 1996 13:29:41 -1000
>>From: Patricia Thompson
>>To: Brian Leu
>>Subject: Re: funeral jars (fwd)
>>
>>THANKS, Brian!!! It's up to you, but could you post the following:
>>
>>***********
>>Hello again,
After my friend's recent death I created a small commemorative sculpture
and partially glazed it with ashes from the crematorium. The ash
substantially included that of the coffin, from a local wood, camphor
laurel. I added 50% neph syenite and fired it in the anagama for 5 days so
i cant say what the glaze would be in the gas kiln. However I would like to
advocate these practices for remembering our loved ones.
Suvira McDonald
Ceramics Department
Southern Cross University
Lismore, N.S.W. Australia
Email: smcdon12@scu.edu.au
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