I have a friend of myself, and my wife. The friend is a girl that my wife knew since school together.

Well, this friend has a cousin who died suddenly yesterday. I don't know much about what happened, but there's more pressing matters at hand.

The girl's family is broke, and doesn't have the money to bury their own child (or mother). It's pretty sad stuff, but I'm wondering if anyone here knows about any organizations that can help with such a matter.

All I could think of was the church, but I'm not even sure if she's a member of a church. I did mention the church to her, but she hasn't gotten back in touch with me at this point. So I'm going to put this question to our SETIans. Can anyone here think of anything? Obviously, this is a US thing, so Great Britain might have one agency, Canada might have another, and Germany might be another agency. But all might have a common denominator.

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Here in Stockton, someone usually contacts the local newspaper and then people start to help out. Otherwise the body would either sit in the morgue or be creamated and stored, I am not sure which.
I would call the City Clerk and ask.

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Pluto will always be a planet to me.

Seti Ambassador
Not to late to order an Anni Shirt

What state does she live in?

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I really do not know the answer, but I do not think there is a requirement that the family claim the body. I presume it could be handled as they would an unknown indigent. either the cheapest burial or cremation as would be public policy. More than likely they would bill the estate for any expenses. If there is no estate nor posessions, the cost would have to be picked up by taxpayers one way or another.

An ugly way to do things. But churches are really not a public option.

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Janice

What state does she live in?

I'm not sure Blurf! (I feel silly about that), but I believe she's living in Ohio.

I sent her a link to this thread, so she might just see these questions and be able to answer 'em via email, and then I'll be able to update it. Kinda' a long way around, but what're you going to do?

Thanks for the quick reply.

Here in Stockton, someone usually contacts the local newspaper and then people start to help out. Otherwise the body would either sit in the morgue or be creamated and stored, I am not sure which.
I would call the City Clerk and ask.

Thanks Uli! That's a thought, and a good one. I also mentioned going to a funeral home, and asking them, but she's afraid they might just take advantage of the situation and pump 'em for money they don't have. So I'm going to go ahead and go to a funeral home up the street and explain that I'm asking for a friend. Once they find out they aren't getting any money from me, they should be able to give me some good intel.

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at least rest assured they do not have to prop the body up in a wood shed.

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Janice

Found this in the Ohio State codes.

ORC 5121.53 State to bear burial expense of indigent patient.

The state shall bear the expense of the burial or cremation of an indigent patient who dies in a hospital if the body is not claimed for interment or cremation at the expense of friends or relatives, or is not delivered for anatomical purposes or for the study of embalming in accordance with section 1713.34 of the Revised Code. The managing officer of the hospital shall provide at the grave of the patient or, if the patient’s cremated remains are buried, at the grave of the patient’s cremated remains, a metal, stone, or concrete marker on which shall be inscribed the name and age of the patient and the date of death.

Did a Google search "Ohio indigent burial" and found a number of resources.

Dune, Im pretty sure that bodys donated for science are given a burial. I believe they are creamated then buried. But not sure, A call to your local hospital. or a local collage of medicene should help you out.

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Old James

I just got communication from her through Facebook, and apparently things seem to be coming together. They've set up some kind of donations from friends and family, so things are looking up.

She went to look at the link that I sent her to here, but found out that SETI was down for maintenance. I'm just so used to it, I don't even pay any attention anymore.

But I just told her that we were back up and running, and as long as the rubber bands hold together she might just see 'em.

She might even say something of thanks for your help. I do know she's hurting right now, and when she gets around to it, she'll probably say something.

Thank you all for your posts. There's a lot of good thoughts in here. And it's good that we can come together like this.

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Direct cremation [no embalming, casket, etc.] is the least expensive way. Then take the ashes and you don't need to buy a fancy urn. If you want to spend more most cemeteries have a scattering garden which will be their least expensive choice.

If when she contacts the mortuary she says "direct cremation" to them, they will understand there is no money to be had. Also if she lets the mortuary know she needs charity they might be nice and charge her cost or know or resources which can be tapped.

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Direct cremation [no embalming, casket, etc.] is the least expensive way. Then take the ashes and you don't need to buy a fancy urn. If you want to spend more most cemeteries have a scattering garden which will be their least expensive choice.

If when she contacts the mortuary she says "direct cremation" to them, they will understand there is no money to be had. Also if she lets the mortuary know she needs charity they might be nice and charge her cost or know or resources which can be tapped.

You don't need to scatter there either. YOu can scatter the ashes at a place that the person enjoyed while alive. We scattered most of my grandmothers ashes at the park at 67th and main in Kansas City. Some was reserved to scatter at other locations.

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BOINC WIKI

there is a metal tag that goes in the bag of ashes. Sift through, and do not scatter that. It does identify who's remains, and there are limits where you can/can not scatter.

It can be very difficult. Just remember the body is an empty. The spirit has moved on. Remember the life.

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Janice

there is a metal tag that goes in the bag of ashes. Sift through, and do not scatter that. It does identify who's remains, and there are limits where you can/can not scatter.

It can be very difficult. Just remember the body is an empty. The spirit has moved on. Remember the life.

Agreed...my friend's Mom wanted to scatter his ashes on the grounds of an apartment complex they used to live it and they had to get town permission to do so.

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my moms request conflicted with certain ordinances.

no further comment.

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Janice

OTOH it is often easier to ask for forgiveness after the fact than to get permission before.

OTOH it is often easier to ask for forgiveness after the fact than to get permission before.

A related phrase is don't do the crime if you can't do the time. In many places it is illegal to scatter without prior permission. That isn't to say that many people don't get permission, but you don't want to get caught and lets face it a bag of white powder is going to be suspicious. Scatter at sea is an option - 12 mile limit? - but that might be a problem in Ohio. Don't know about Ohio but in California the permit has to list the final resting place.

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Closure, have they had yet?

I may come to a similar conclusion myself, as when all is said and done, there might be few assets to cover my......well, you know.

Has the deceased been cared for?

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"Freedom is just Chaos, with better lighting." Alan Dean Foster