Genealogy Chat

Someone had been buried Cremated or Possibly left there body to science, is there anyway of knowing? Thankyou Marie

possibly mentioned in their will

Perhaps from a local newspaper report.

But, your wishes are not binding. You might ask for a nice funeral, but your nearest and dearest might whip you off to the crem.

I have the death certificate and even an obituary from a newspaper but it doesnt say anything about funeral arrangements like some do, I also have a copy of the will but nothing is mentioned on there either just money and property to people. Any other ideas? Thankyou Marie

Just a thought, (grasping at straws here) but would an undertaker still have records from 1956 maybe? mind you I wouldnt know where to begin there would probably be so many! My 3x great aunt died in a Christian Science Nursing Home in Hamstead called Hawthorne House, and I know she left quite a substantial ammount of money to these people as well as one in Boston USA as they were self funded, but this place doesnt exist anymore so I cant even phone there and ask. Marie

Anymore Ideas Anyone! I have spent years researching this particular lady and I would love to know where she is buried so I could go and visit her grave, well thats if she has one. Thankyou for any help or advice Marie: )

You could look up the local crematorium and ask if they have records. A local teaching hospital might have records of bodies left to them. good luck with your search, Krissie

Thankyou Krissie, I will give it a try I havent anything to loose by asking have I? Thankyou Marie

Sorry to disapoint but I found the following at http://www.ethnicityonline.net/christian_scientists.htm 'No medical intervention is permitted when a Christian Scientist is dying, and no rituals or rites need to be performed. A female body should be handled by female staff. Although cremation is often preferred to burial, the choice is up to each individual.' As she died in the Christian Science home I guess it would be unlikely she was buried. However all may not be lost. I would assume that there would probably be only one firm of undertakers used by the home at any one time. I'm certain that they would be able to give you an idea of where her ashes went. (More than likely the local municipal cemetery who usually have a reserved area to scatter ashes)

One things for certain though, having read that web page there is absolutely NO way she would have left her body to medical science. It appears that Christian Scientist do not believe in medicine, vaccination or any of the things we take for granted. If your child is dying, you just sit back and leave it to the Lord to decide his/her fate.

Thankyou Janet for your reply, I was actually hoping that she was buried so I could go to her grave, I will try phoning some funeral directors around the area and see what they can tell me if anything. Very Interesting info by the way. Marie: )