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cremation put at the peer lachaise crematorium (help)

hi I am new here and my wife recently pass away and we talk a lot about when she pass and I wanted to bring her cremation to this cemetery. does anyone know the cost and the process and what paper I need if this possible? any info would help. thank you

Posted by
1366 posts

I am sorry for your loss. I'm afraid I can't really help you except that I did find the cemetery's email address. That might help get you started. I also believe there are US regulations and most likely French regulations on the transport of human remains. I hope you are able to fulfill your wife's wishes and honor your respect.

info@pere-lachaise.com

Posted by
8372 posts

Lynn, I am very sorry for your loss. If this particular cemetery is not possible, perhaps think about what it was about the cemetery that made it so appealing. Perhaps there is an alternative either in France the United States that has some of the same characteristics.

Posted by
112 posts

Hi Lynn and I'm sorry for your loss. The info provided by joe32f in regards to the dispersal of human remains/ashes at Père Lachaise while technically correct has some nuance to it. The info contained in the link is valid but if you want more succinct info and you can handle French (with maybe the assistance of google translate) here are the rules on the Paris city website for the dispersion of human ashes/remains at Père Lachaise:

https://www.paris.fr/pages/cimetiere-du-pere-lachaise-les-equipements-cineraires-17456

The important info is as follows:

La dispersion au Jardin de dispersion du cimetière du Père-Lachaise est réservée aux cendres des défunts remplissant au moins une des conditions suivantes :

être domicilié à Paris,

être décédé à Paris,

être concessionnaire ou ayant droit (c'est-à-dire l'héritier reconnu) d’une concession funéraire dans un cimetière parisien,

par exception, ne remplir aucune des conditions précitées, mais avoir fait l’objet d’une crémation au crématorium du Père-Lachaise. Dans ce dernier cas, l’urne cinéraire doit être conservée au crématorium, après la crémation et jusqu’à la dispersion. Si l’urne a été remise à la famille, la dispersion au cimetière du Père-Lachaise ne peut plus être autorisée.

I have had (unfortunately) the first hand experience of spreading ashes of friends at Père Lachaise and it fell into one of the above categories. That being said, I don't know and won't advise about what the conditions are for bringing human remains/ashes into France if that is what you are planning on doing. I will tell you that unofficially I have spread human remains/ashes not only in Père Lachaise but at various other spots throughout Paris and many other people do the same. Yes, it's against the law but seriously how is anyone going to stop you? If you look over the railing on the Pont Alexandre III and see piles of what looks like dirt scattered along the length of the water pipes then now you know what you are looking at. I didn't realize that until I did it. My best wishes for you.

Posted by
4392 posts

Transporting cremains isn't hard but you have to follow the rules, I did this recently cross-country but I would imagine it's much harder internationally. I was surprised to find that the TSA (and Delta in my case) do NOT want you to check them but to have them in your carryon. That's the opposite of what I expected.

This is an odd request for a travel website, You should ask the French embassy in Washington DC, the American embassy in Paris, and obviously PLC itself. There might be Parisian funeral homes that can handle all the details for you.

Mystique, I know spreading cremains doesn't seem like a big deal, and yes people do it all the time, but in some places they are considered a toxic/hazardous waste so it's technically illegal. It must be done discreetly probably at dusk. Apparently it's quite common for people to sneak ashes into Disneyland and Disneyworld and dump them in the bushes.

Posted by
8372 posts

@phred. When one loses one's spouse, one is lucky to even function day to day. If a person asks a question on travel forum, no problem. They are doing the best that he/she can.

Posted by
112 posts

"Mystique, I know spreading cremains doesn't seem like a big deal, and yes people do it all the time, but in some places they are considered a toxic/hazardous waste so it's technically illegal. It must be done discreetly probably at dusk. "

I stated quite clearly in my post that it is illegal.

"Yes, it's against the law but seriously how is anyone going to stop you?"

And I've done it quite openly in the middle of the afternoon on the Pont-des-Arts, the Pont Alexandre III, at Père Lachaise, at the Parc Floral in the Bois-de-Vincennes and at other random spots that were special to the deceased.

If someone wants to report my post for promoting illegal activities I've got nothing to say and plead guilty. But we're dealing with more than laws and technicalities here.

Posted by
42 posts

thank you for all reply . I was going to do the scatter ash but my priest say it not allow cause she been baptize. and not allow in Catholic. I been to the site and already email them with no respond. I just need to know if I can buy above box to put her cremation in and when I pass my kids can put me in there with her. just know the cost . someone say to contact the embassy I will do that and go from there thank everyone for respond.

Posted by
5737 posts

Lynn,
Your Parish Priest is correct that scattering is not permitted by Catholic law. However very many Catholics do not agree with that stance, and scatter anyway. If it feels right to you and it was clearly your late wife's wishes then my view is to go ahead anyway, you do not need a priest to be present.
Whether at Pere Lachaise or at some other location which is meaningful to you.
I think what is most important here is what is right for you, your wife and your family, not what the Church dictates.
I don't want to give my thoughts on surreptitious scattering at Pere Lachaise as described by another poster- I am not sure what my feelings are on that. They are complex, what was right to Mystique was right for her.
Take your time to get it right, there is no rush.
We felt rushed with my father's ashes, under pressure. While I do not regret, as such, where his ashes are interred, that location did not feel right when Mum died. I had the agonising decision whether to inter Mum's ashes with Dad or to scatter them elsewhere, as seemed more right (for all kinds of reasons). I would ideally have liked both to be scattered together, but that was clearly not possible.
As it is Mum is scattered in multiple locations important to her- done gradually over 18 months. That was totally against Church of England rules, but in fact no-one has tried to judge me, even my PP. Doing that has been an important part of my grieving. Sorry if this is too personal a response.
If the webmaster thinks this response shouldn't remain, so be it.