Water Cremation To Be Offered In Ireland For The First Time
General News
Friday 18th, November 2022
Water cremation, otherwise known as resomation will be available in Ireland and Europe for the first time from January 2023, the new end of life option is being brought to Irish shores by Elizabeth Oakes from Navan, County Meath.
Ms. Oakes will be the first funeral director in Ireland and Europe to offer water cremation as an alternative to fire cremation from January 2023 after three years of effort working with Irish water to make sure the process is operated correctly.
Ms. Oakes said, "People can't get into it unless you come from it".
"The funeral industry has been stagnant and hasn't changed with the times."
It's been stated by Ms. Oakes that there is already 20 people signed up for water cremation, many of these individuals she says are from the motor neurone community or individuals living with cancer.
The process for water cremation, meanwhile, is jarring in its gentleness. The body is wrapped in a woollen shroud and placed into a large steel vessel that resembles a gleaming MRI machine. The chamber is then filled with 95% water and 5% alkaline solution, which is heated gently without boiling.
The process takes place over the course of three hours, the water flows over the body and breaks it down into its chemical components: amino acids, peptides, sugars and salt. What remains is the effluent, a liquid that is then treated in another tank until sterile and free of DNA than the bones, as with fire cremation, are placed into a reducer and turned into what we call "ash".
Sustainability is a major selling point for water cremation, as those preparing for their death weigh up the environmental impacts of their burial.
Ms. Oakes said, "we went through three years of testing with Irish Water just to ensure that once the water leaves our machine that it's completely sterile and that there's no DNA".
"I just feel if we can create a positive impact on the loved ones that are left behind by the service we provide, by the care journey we give to their loved ones, that will create a positive grieving process for them in the long run."
The new end of life service will be offered through Pure Reflections, link is below.
Ms. Oakes will be the first funeral director in Ireland and Europe to offer water cremation as an alternative to fire cremation from January 2023 after three years of effort working with Irish water to make sure the process is operated correctly.
Ms. Oakes said, "People can't get into it unless you come from it".
"The funeral industry has been stagnant and hasn't changed with the times."
It's been stated by Ms. Oakes that there is already 20 people signed up for water cremation, many of these individuals she says are from the motor neurone community or individuals living with cancer.
The process for water cremation, meanwhile, is jarring in its gentleness. The body is wrapped in a woollen shroud and placed into a large steel vessel that resembles a gleaming MRI machine. The chamber is then filled with 95% water and 5% alkaline solution, which is heated gently without boiling.
The process takes place over the course of three hours, the water flows over the body and breaks it down into its chemical components: amino acids, peptides, sugars and salt. What remains is the effluent, a liquid that is then treated in another tank until sterile and free of DNA than the bones, as with fire cremation, are placed into a reducer and turned into what we call "ash".
Sustainability is a major selling point for water cremation, as those preparing for their death weigh up the environmental impacts of their burial.
Ms. Oakes said, "we went through three years of testing with Irish Water just to ensure that once the water leaves our machine that it's completely sterile and that there's no DNA".
"I just feel if we can create a positive impact on the loved ones that are left behind by the service we provide, by the care journey we give to their loved ones, that will create a positive grieving process for them in the long run."
The new end of life service will be offered through Pure Reflections, link is below.
