How to Lay Someone to Rest in a Cremation Garden

While cremation has been around for thousands of years, modern cremation memorials are relatively new. Often, people don’t know how to lay someone to rest in a cremation garden. At Rest Ashured, we created a special space just for this type of event. 

In our garden, we scatter the ashes that people send to us with reverence and dignity. 

It’s a labor of love for us. We journey to our mountaintop property on beautiful days with your loved one’s ashes. From there, you can see the glory of nature with the rolling Blue Ridge mountains and rushing James River.

We gently release ashes over our garden. Then, we mark the location with a stone containing the individual’s name and life dates.

Table of Contents

Rest Ashured’s Cremation Garden
Selecting a Scattering Site
Sending Your Ashes
How do you scatter the ashes? How do I pick the date?
What do you say when you scatter ashes?
Do I get pictures of the ash scattering process?
What are the fees involved?
Visiting Your Loved One’s Memorial
Can we be present at the scattering?
Can I visit the memorial?
Prayers to Read at a Cremation Memorial
Poems to Read for an Ash Scattering Memorial
Bible Verses to Read When Visiting a Memorial

Most people have a lot of questions about the process and we’re happy to answer them.

Laying Someone to Rest in a Cremation Garden

When you have cremation ashes after a memorial service, you can wait any length of time before deciding to scatter them. Some people even keep them for years while they grieve. Once you’re ready, a scatter garden creates a wonderful place to release the ashes and say goodbye.

Rest Ashured’s Cremation Garden

Our garden creates a unique resting place that is both majestic and tranquil. It’s a private property in the Blue Ridge Mountains with views of the James River. On our property, we have a scatter garden where we scatter cremation ashes. The area is protected and contains markers with the name of each person scattered there. 

We were inspired to create this scatter garden by our own family’s experience with loss and grief. Over time, many people have laid the ashes of family and friends to rest in this garden memorial.

Selecting a Scattering Site  

If your loved one passed away without specifying a scattering site, a cremation garden provides a peaceful and meaningful scatter location. We properly registered our property for cremation ash scattering and have long-term plans in place to ensure the sanctity of the location. These are important points to note when you’re selecting a scattering site. It’s illegal to scatter human ash in most public places. Additionally, many private spaces won’t remain intact over time if they aren’t set aside as a memorial site.

Sending Your Ashes  

For those who choose to send their ashes to us, we help you through the process. First, we ask you to pick a scattering service. On our mountaintop, you can either choose to scatter the ashes over the garden or plant them with a memorial tree. 

Then, we’ll send you a package with all the necessary packing materials. It has the appropriate boxes, labels, tape, and simple shipping instructions. 

Then, you ship the package to us. You can drop it off at the local post office. (We also offer personal pickup for certain areas.)

How do you scatter the ashes? How do I pick the date?

Once we receive your package, we plan a time to scatter the ashes. Most of the time, we choose a day with mild weather. If you have selected a tree, there are seasonal considerations to ensure the tree takes root. 

Sometimes, people request scattering on a certain date. We can discuss that detail over the phone after you place your order.

What do you say when you scatter ashes?

In general, we send up a silent, respectful prayer as we release the ashes. Sometimes, people request a small statement, verse, or poem. If you have a special request, you can discuss this with us as we’re reviewing your order.

Can we be present at the scattering?

In general, our ash scatterings are unattended. This helps us keep the property pristine and undisturbed. However, we can discuss other options if you have a special request.

Do I get pictures of the ash scattering process?

Everyone who sends us ashes gets a certificate of release marking the date and exact location of the scattering. We also can send a picture of the marker or the memorial tree upon request.

What are the fees involved?

Our pricing varies depending on the service. A memorial stone in our scatter garden costs $275. A memory tree costs $425. We also offer options for scattering couples’ ashes and other special requests. You can see all of these by reviewing our services.

Visiting Your Loved One’s Memorial  

Although the ash scattering ceremony is unattended, we do open up our property twice a year to visitors. We call this our Day of Celebration.

Can I visit the memorial?

We hold one Day of Celebration during the spring and the fall. You’ll be notified by email prior to the event so you can plan to visit your loved one’s marker. 

On these days, we encourage friends and family members to visit, remember and reflect.

Prayers to Read at a Cremation Memorial

We’ve collected the following prayers to inspire your words when you visit your loved one’s scattering site.

A Funeral Prayer by Gregory Coles (Source)

I cry for those of us left behind, for the lonely ones with hollows in our hearts. I ask You to comfort us, give peace, restore hope, and lavish us with love, family, and belonging. In the depths of loss, meet us with Yourself.

I cry for the legacy this loved one leaves, for the ways the world has been made different by their presence, for the memories that become both more beautiful and more painful on this side of death. And I pray that the work You have accomplished in this remarkable life will grow deeper, wider, and stronger in the days to come, uninhibited by a weak opponent like death. 

A Prayer of Comfort from Liturgy and Agenda (1921), p. 134 (Source) 

O Lord God, Lord of life and death,
you turn man to dust and say,
“Return, O children of men,”
we give you thanks for all the mercies
which during his life you bestowed
on this our beloved brother, now fallen asleep.
Especially do we praise you
for having brought him to the knowledge
of your dear Son Jesus Christ.
Comfort the survivors
with your everlasting comfort,
and cheer them with the sweet hope
of a blessed reunion in heaven.
Grant to the lifeless body
rest in the bosom of the earth,
and hereafter, together with us all,
a joyful resurrection to life everlasting.
Teach us all to number our days
that we may apply our hearts to wisdom,
and finally be saved;
through Jesus Christ, your beloved Son,
our Lord and Savior. Amen.

A Prayer for Friends by Thomas à Kempis (Source)

Almighty and eternal God,
have mercy on your servants, our friends.
Keep them continually under your protection,
and direct them according to your gracious favor
in the way of eternal salvation.
May they desire whatever pleases you,
and with all their strength strive to do it.
As they trust in your mercy, O Lord,
graciously assist them with your heavenly help,
that they may always diligently serve you,
and be separated from you by no temptations;
through Jesus Christ our Lord. 

Poems to Read for an Ash Scattering Memorial

The following poems provide comfort and hope during the grieving process.

There Is No Night Without a Dawning by Helen Steiner Rice (Source)

There is no night without a dawning
No winter without a spring
And beyond the dark horizon
Our hearts will once more sing…
For those who leave us for a while
Have only gone away
Out of a restless, care worn world
Into a brighter day.

She Is Gone by David Harkins (Source)

You can shed tears that she is gone,
or you can smile because she has lived.
You can close your eyes and pray that she’ll come back,
or you can open your eyes and see all she’s left.
Your heart can be empty because you can’t see her,
or you can be full of the love you shared.
You can turn your back on tomorrow and live yesterday,
or you can be happy for tomorrow because of yesterday.
You can remember her only that she is gone,
or you can cherish her memory and let it live on.
You can cry and close your mind,
be empty and turn your back.
Or you can do what she’d want:
smile, open your eyes, love and go on.”

Turn Again to Life by Mary Lee Hall (Source)

If I should die and leave you here a while,
be not like others sore undone, who keep
long vigils by the silent dust, and weep.
For my sake – turn again to life and smile,
nerving thy heart and trembling hand to do
something to comfort weaker hearts than thine.
Complete these dear unfinished tasks of mine
and I, perchance may therein comfort you.

Bible Verses to Read When Visiting a Memorial

We appreciate the hope found in the following Bible verses.

Ecclesiastes 12:7 (NIV)

“And the dust returns to the earth as it was, and the spirit returns to God who gave it.” 

Psalm 56:8 (NLT)

“My heart is broken, my mind exhausted. I cry out to you and hardly know what to ask. All I can do is tell you how I feel and ask you to keep track of all my sorrows, collect all my tears in your bottle, and record each one in your book as I pour them out to you.” 

Exodus 22:27 (ESV)

“And if he cries to me, I will hear, for I am compassionate.” 

Psalm 31:9 (NIV)

“Be merciful to me, Lord, for I am in distress; my eyes grow weak with sorrow, my soul and body with grief.” 

Ask About Our Scatter Garden in Virginia

We provide reverent ash scattering options atop our beautiful mountain property in Virginia. Nestled in the Blue Ridge Mountains, the property surrounding our garden remains very much in its natural state. We’ve cleared the landscape only enough to enhance the breathtaking views and maintain the scattering area. 

If you have questions about laying ashes to rest in our garden, we can help. Please get in touch with us. Call 434-534-4007 or email us at info@restashured.com.