Angels In The Air

Scotty with his planeWhen Race pilot  Scotty Crandlemire lost a friend and fellow air race pilot in 2007, he was asked to scatter his ashes.  The scattering ceremony was out on the runway and breezy at the time. In doing so the ashes got all over him as they typically do.  As a result of that bad experience, Scotty had a dream how to fix the problem.  He created the first ever fully automated, re-chargeable, scattering urn. Its called the AngelAire release urn and it pretty dam cool!

Completely Portable

Once the cremation ashes are processed fine and filtered, you simply add the ashes and set the urn up at the desired location. Then its as simple as flicking a switch. The powered urn will gracefully propel a beautiful plume of ash in a brilliant ghostly cloud. Its quite spectacular as you can see in the video we have provided above.

Scattering The Ashes
Quite and Steady

The ashes are gracefully scattered with dignity and creates and inspires a tranquil moment in time as survivors look on in awe! As you gaze into the magnificent plume memories are invoked as the ashes slowly fade back to the earth in which they came. The fine airborne ash does not deposit in any one location, so it leaves a perfectly natural footprint.

The death care industry as we know is a staggering 17+ billion p/yr and growing at an exponential rate in cremation.  About one million people a year are now being cremated in the USA. More then half of all cremations end in scattering. Scattering ashes has always been  popular and locations of natural beauty as well as particular importance to the deceased and survivors are often selected. Using this new powered scattering urn adds an unmatched element to the already beautiful scattering ceremony.

The Angel Aire Scattering Urn is US patented with 15 claims, for both human market and pets. Funeral homes can purchase one and the rent it out to families that desire scattering. Even better families now have a good reason to hire the staff of the funeral home to facilitate the entire scattering ceremony.

Cremation Solutions is proud to offer these new amazing scattering urns. We have used them ourselves and can only say how easy and peaceful the experience was for us. The urns can be ordered online here: Cremation Solutions Release Urns or you can rent one Here.

Like him on Face Book HERE

Connect on LinkedIn www.linkedin.com/in/jeffstaab

Subscribe to his blog www.cremationsolutions.com/blog/

Google Plus Author Code. Join The Author Jeff Staab On Google Plus

Stupid Questions To Ask Your Funeral Director Friend

Your Right its All True.....

As a funeral director for over twenty years I have become pretty jaded to  the weird and basically stupid questions that people ask. If you’re in the funeral biz then you know exactly what I’m talking about. After all most professionals are asked questions that take thought and consideration in hopes that you may lend some educated advice or insight into your area of expertise. Instead funeral professionals are constantly called on to dispel myths and urban legends of bodies sitting up and hair and finger nails growing.

Your first few years you are ready and armed with text book facts that will dispel such interesting questions. Like actually the skin just dehydrates around the nails and causes them to appear to get longer….. BORING!  Now your some kind of  Mort the geek. Continue on and explain how hard it is even for the living to sit up and how ridicules the question is because of how many muscles working in harmony  it would take for something as inanimate as the dead to rise up! and now chicks will really start to dig you….NOT! So after a few years of breaking myths and popping bubbles it becomes quite boring so you start shrugging off the questions and changing the subject….Boring! again not winning over any friends here.

Now that I am a well seasoned funeral director and have heard just about all of it, I am starting to understand how these bizarre urban myths and questions that pry deep into my deviant sexual tendencies have become the gotta know questions of the week. “It’s much more fun to lie”.

Just Three Days Growth OMG!

Yeah that’s right! I can now explain in great depth as why it continually blows my mind that so many bodies actually sit up and how freaky it is that their nails grow so freaking fast you would think us embalmers were injecting miracle grow. Once I get a feel for how gullible my stupid friends are I can start creating some of my own myths that will surly intrigue even my most ghoulish of acquaintances. One of my favorites was how back in mortuary school we would connect electrodes to the bottoms of their feet using a car battery and how easy it was to actually get the bodies to laugh and chuckle so loud we had to shut all the door so others in the building couldn’t hear all the commotion. If this one keeps the questions coming I can lay it on so thick that eventually even my really twisted ghoul friends will soon realize I am completely full of shit and they will feel like the inconsiderate dumb asses they  truly are!

Its got to be really loud!

Did you know that if you put a speaker up to the dead’s ear and crank it really load you can get the eyes to open and close!

Here are some of the classics stupid questions as well as some new ones shared from my funeral friends

At least you client don’t talk back to you
Must be pretty cool driving around in those fancy cars all day
Nobody care if your late for work
I hear that smoking embalming fluid is really great
Do you ever get any hot chicks on your slab
Do you ever get grossed out
Have you had to work with any good accident victims

There’s more and many that are just unmentionable. Lets here some of your curiosities below and I will honestly try to answer them.

I see dead people and have embalmed about 3000 of the faithfully departed. Don’t believe me? Smell my fingers!

If you would like to stay up to date with my latest blog post please “LIKE” my FACE BOOK PAGE.

Join The Author Jeff Staab On Google Plus

Nancy Burban Interviews Jeff Staab on the Greening of Cremation

Nancy Burban: It is my pleasure to interview Jeff Staab, a funeral director for over 20 years and a renowned cremation solutions specialist. He is also the owner of www.lifetreefarm.com , a provider of green cremation products and services to funeral homes. For the past 20 years, Jeff has been the leading authority on scattering ashes.

Jeff Staab: Thank you, Nancy for chatting with me about green cremation products and scattering of ashes.

Nancy: We’ve been friends for many years and since we are both very invested in “green burials” and now “green cremation”, it made sense to ask you what you see on the horizon for both cremation and the greening of cremation.

Jeff: Let’s start with cremation. Cremation is the fastest growing disposition in the death care industry, not only in the USA, but worldwide. Over 43% of the population in the USA is now being cremated and over 50% in Canada. In some states like California, the numbers are approaching 70%.

Nancy: Why are some states like California so high?

Jeff: Two big reasons come to mind. First the high cost of burial plots in California. You can spend anywhere from $7,000 -$15,000 in some areas. That’s before the cost of a funeral. Second, many people are living longer and selling their burial plots to be able to afford food and shelter.

Nancy: A third reason is also because many people are eco-friendly. That is also a big factor in the new natural cremation aka alkaline hydrolysis growing in demand.

Jeff: Yes, absolutely. I cremation takes the focus off the body and let’s people focus more on the life. It also gives the family more time to create a more personalized event that reflects more on the unique qualities of the life lived.

Nancy: Jeff, you are undoubtedly the go to person for both cremation and memorialization. Can you share what new trends that you are seeing nationwide?

Jeff: With the combination of Baby Boomers seeking personalization and the eco-friendly green movement, we are seeing more and more survivors turning to nature to connect with life and each other. In fact in a poll was conducted by The Wirthlin Report and  when people were asked to choose a memorial, the #1 choice was a living memorial such as a tree. Trees not only mark a life well lived, they also create a space of comfort and healing. Recent studies have shown that patients in hospital rooms with a view of trees heal faster and school children learn better when exposed to green spaces. Trees help us to experience our natural heritage and connect with our deeply held spiritual and cultural values.

Nancy: That’s very interesting. Are these trees given at visitation or a celebration?

Jeff: Funeral Directors can  offer living trees to client families for their families and to share with those in attendance, as a way of remembering and memorializing the decedent’s life. When a living tree is not practical, alternatives are available like seed packets or a tree planting program. It’s a beautiful, eco-friendly, green product with the personalization that families appreciate and treasure.

Nancy: Jeff, you are also a big advocate of scattering. Are there any new trends in this area?

Jeff: Yes, I have been working with a company out of Israel who offer a unique service in which families can send their loved one’s cremains, or part of the cremains to the Holy Land, where Jesus lived and have them professionally scattered in a protected, sacred garden.  It’s called Holyland Ash Scattering It’s a very spiritual type of celebration. Families receive a DVD of the ceremony & a numbered certificate of scattering.

Nancy: That seems like a beautiful way to deal with families who are conflicted about cremation. Send your loved ones back to the birth of civilization.  Can the loved ones visit the site?

Jeff: Yes, you can visit the site and pilgrimages to the Holy Land are life changing. The families can also watch the DVD on the one year anniversary if they cannot visit the Holy Land.

Nancy: What other trends are you seeing with cremation?

Jeff: Cremation jewelry is increasing. Jewelry that holds the loved one’s ashes or Fingerprint jewelry which is jewelry made from a fingerprint etched in silver and gold are popular. You can even get a cremation diamonds and cremation crystals made from a loved one’s ashes.

There are also some beautiful wooden urns and ceramic urns which are a work of art that are becoming popular. Personalization is the commonality. Baby Boomers want memorialization.

Nancy: So, the prevailing theme is eco- friendly, green and personalization?

Jeff: Especially with cremation. People want ceremonies. They want to leave a part of themselves behind to be remembered.

First a Scattering Urn, Then a Birdhouse!

For example, Birdhouse Memorial Urns are starting to catch on. They’re designed to enhance the memorialization process and stimulate ceremony for families who choose to scatter the ashes of their loved ones. Death care experts have often say that families who choose to scatter, should either mark the location of the ashes with a memorial or when that is not possible have a memorial placed close to home. It is important for the grief process to have a focal point where survivors may come to reflect and hold on to precious memories.

Nancy: Bird Houses? They’re beautiful but how does that work?

Jeff: Well, they are elegant enough to be displayed during any part of the funeral process and functional in the way they are easily able to disburse the earthly remains back into nature.

After the ashes are scattered the urn converts into a fully functional, beautiful birdhouse. They provide a lasting tribute as a true Living Memorial.

Nancy: Great idea, especially for the many “Birders” and nature lovers who are seeking unique ways to scatter their cremains. So, let’s go full circle and discuss scattering. Is it becoming the new trend?

Scattering AshesJeff: Finally!  I have been advocating scattering for many years and now scattering is the fastest growing disposition of cremated remains. It is now the #1 choice compared to other options. Those that choose to scatter are having a higher satisfaction rate than those that choose other options. I estimate that over 50% of those being cremated are now scattering. According to the Wirthlin Report up to 59% of interviewed in a recent poll said they prefer scattering. From exotic locales like Bali or Tahiti to the Grand Canyon to the San Francisco Bridge to the Holy Land, everyone has an idea of where their final resting place would be & that’s where they want to be scattered.

Nancy: Thank you Jeff for sharing your insights to cremation, scattering and some of the new trends out there.

Jeff: It’s been my pleasure. If anyone wants to know more about the new trends or about the ones I spoke about, they can find me on Facebook. I would be happy to discuss this exciting topic. Please check out and “Like” my Facebook page Click Here

Reach Nancy Burban at nburban@sbcglobal.net

http://www.facebook.com/NancyBurban

She’d love to hear your feedback.

Join The Author Jeff Staab On Google Plus

Christians Dying To Get To The Holy Land

As 44 percent of Americans opt for cremation, questions arise regarding the ashes’ final disposition. Many people consider scattering, but they experience uncertainty when seeking a final resting place that holds both meaning and a spiritual connection with their earthly body and loved ones. Holy Land Ash Scattering offers a solution that resounds within the hearts, minds and souls of Christians: scattering ashes in the Holy Land.

Two thousand years ago, our Lord and Savior, a man renowned for incredible compassion, kindness and love, walked the earth and spread his wisdom. Jesus Christ walked, lived and taught in the Mount of Beatitudes lush, rolling foothills. How often did he stand with the Mount behind him and spread his word whilst gazing upon the serene waters of the Sea of Galilee? Imagine the calmness, the peacefulness, of sitting in such a glorious setting and listening to such an incredible man.

Now, imagine the comforting tranquility that comes from knowing your, or a loved one’s, ashes rest along the same ground upon which Jesus once trod.

However, the ashes are not scattered to the wind. Privately owned land lies nestled within the foothills of the Mount of Beatitudes. The land, overlooking the Sea of Galilee much the same as Jesus must have, exists as a park dedicated to scattering ashes of Christians seeking eternal rest within the Holy Land.

The Jesus Trail in the Holy Land

Because this park is owned privately and dedicated to the sanctity of eternal rest, you need never fear that scattered ashes will trespass where they should not. The fear of eternal trespass rather than eternal rest is a thought decidedly uncomfortable, and this is one fear that delays people when they try to decide upon a final location on their own.

Holy Land Ash Scattering removes that fear for you; it also removes worries that the final resting place will be trampled by tourists and trespassers – this park is neither a public place nor a thoroughfare.

If, on the other hand, you or your loved one holds a deep affinity for water, scattering ashes can take place in the warm, beautiful waters of the Sea of Galilee.

Sea of Galilee

Our certified marine captain will pilot a vessel only 500 meters from the coast of Israel, the Holy Land, to perform a scattering ceremony. The ashes will then find rest in one of the most incredibly scenic bodies of water seen in this world.

Regardless of a land or sea scattering, the package includes a professional video of the ceremony. Capturing the ceremony on video, provided to you as both a DVD and a YouTube link, allows you to share the scattering ceremony with friends and family. It also gives you the opportunity to take comfort in the total serenity of the sacred resting place anytime you feel the need. The DVD will remain a cherished treasure, especially among those unable to travel to the Holy Land to scatter the ashes themselves.

Unfortunately, most people find travel costs prohibit them from attending the scattering ceremony of their loved one. By entrusting Holyland Ash Scattering with your loved ones resting place, the total package gains you admission to the serene park at any time you find yourself able to visit the Holy Land. You have a standing invitation to sit, contemplate the unparalleled scenery, and commune with your loved ones spirit in a resting place befitting the many Christians there eternally at rest.

The Necessary Details

Your only requirements are to sign up for Holyland Ash Scattering, fill out an authorization form, pack the ashes for shipping according to provided instructions, and send two or three pictures of your loved one to be included in the tribute DVD. The total package takes care of everything else: applying for permits and licenses, all administrative work, the shipping and the performance and recording of the scattering ceremony. You need not worry about the nitty-gritty detail work.

Our Private Memorial Scattering Garden

If you are contemplating your own eternal rest or seeking perfect placement for the long-held ashes of a loved one, sign up with Holy Land Ash Scattering. Find peace and comfort in the knowledge that scattering ashes will take place in the land held most sacred by the Christian population.

Join The Author Jeff Staab On Google Plus