Life in the Garden

Matters of Life and Death

cremation

You Don’t Know My Travis

Travis,  the chimp who mauled a Stamford, CT woman, was cremated last week at the request of the Herold family, who owned the 200 pound chimp.

Eileen Donofrio, office manager for All Pets Crematory & Remembrances in Stamford, said that, as far as she knows, it was the first cremation of a primate at the Myrtle Avenue pet crematory.

April Truitt, who runs the Primate Rescue Center in Kentucky, said she warned Herold of the dangers of keeping the animal in her home in 2003 after she heard Travis jumped out of the Herolds’ car at a downtown Stamford intersection and eluded capture for two hours.

“Travis was a ticking time bomb, and keeping him in the house and trying to domesticate him was a really, really bad idea,” Truitt said. “He wasn’t going to put up with it forever.”

She pleaded with Herold to consider placing the chimp in a sanctuary, but Herold was not interested, saying, “You don’t know my Travis,” Truitt said.

Source: The Advocate, Stamford, CT.

Salt of the Earth Urns

biodegradable burial urn

An earth friendly option for families is our Salt Urns. Hand-crafted from solid blocks of Himalayan Rock Salt, the salt deposits in the Himalayas are over 250 million years old and believed to be the purest on earth.

Each natural salt urn is unique in both color and finish. When placed in water, our Salt of the Earth urns will dissolve within 4 hours.

As a precious and portable commodity, salt has long been a cornerstone of economies throughout history.

Covenants in both the Old and New Testaments were often sealed with salt: the origin of the word “salvation.” In the Catholic Church, salt is or has been used in a variety of purifying rituals. In fact, until Vatican II, a small taste of salt was placed on a baby’s lip at his or her baptism. Jesus called his disciples “the Salt of the Earth.”

In Buddhist tradition, salt repels evil spirits. That’s why it’s customary to throw salt over your shoulder before entering your house after a funeral: it scares off any evil spirits that may be clinging to your back.

Shinto religion also uses salt to purify an area. Before sumo wrestlers enter the ring for a match – which is actually an elaborate Shinto rite – a handful of salt is thrown into the center to drive off malevolent spirits.

Celtic Knot Urn Necklace

When a person of Irish ancestry passes away, it’s not uncommon for families to hold large, traditional funerals. However, now that cremation is becoming a more popular option, families have some alternatives on what they can do with their loved ones’ remains. Besides burial, many are choosing to keep a portion of the ashes in a piece of celtic knot urn jewelry such as a ring or necklace. This allows them to have their loved one close in spirit while keeping their rich Irish heritage alive.  One style of urn necklace that has been a  popular choice for families is the gold Celtic cross urn necklace.

cremation keepsake jewelryCeltic knots symbolize the timeless and endless nature of a person’s spirit; there is no beginning and no end. Several variations of this symbol are found in the different types of cremation jewelry. Celtic knot cross, pendant and heart urn necklaces  are very pretty and discreet. Celtic knot urn rings are also available for men and women.
Celtic knot urn ring
Cremation jewelry debuted during the Victorian Era, although at the time it was called mourning jewelry. It faded after the Civil War and didn’t resurface until the 1990s when cremation started becoming a more common burial option.

Urn Garden Cremation Urns

Mark It! It’s Good Day to Ride

Motorcycle tank urns are hot right now. Black seems to be the preferred choice, followed by silver.

silver motorcycle tank urn

This is the third riding buddy my client has lost in the last few years. Not from bike wrecks, but cancer or some other ailment. He bought the silver urn for his bud who’s dying from cancer and going down fast.  He plans to let friends take a sharpie and sign off on the tank.

The client even called back to tell thank us for the speedy service and how pleased he was with the beauty of the tank.

Thank you for letting us serve you.

Heart Shaped Garden Stones

vintage valentine postcard

When a loved one dies, placing a heart-shaped garden stone in your yard is a personal yet comforting reminder of that person who now lives in your heart. Made out of marble, resin, hand cast stone or concrete, garden stones are durable and waterproof and can last for many years.

heart shaped garden stones

The heart-shaped memorial stones offer special symbolism as hearts show affection from the living for those who died. Two hearts joined are also extremely special as they symbolize marriage or a committed relationship. These are perfect for families who want to honor both parents who died.

Some heart-shaped garden stones come with hangers so they can be hung on a wall or garden post. Consider personalizing the memorial stones with your loved one’s name, favorite quote or Scripture and dates of birth and death. Some stones are large enough to have an image etched or engraved. This is popular for families who wish to memorialize a pet that died.

When ordering heart-shaped garden stones, remember that they come in various sizes and weights. Make sure to take into consideration when ordering. Heart-shaped garden stones are a great way to dedicate a memorial garden or special tree, bush or flower planting.
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