Following the funeral the cremated remains may be either laid to rest in the Gardens of Remembrance or removed for resting elsewhere.
As the nearest relative or executor of the deceased you will have been asked by the funeral director to sign an official form applying for the cremation to take place. On the reverse of this form is a section containing the ‘Authority for the Disposal of Cremated Remains’. This must also be signed by the applicant.
Gardens of remembrance
All cremated remains that are left for disposal at the Crematorium will be kept for a period of 28 days from the date of the funeral. This allows time for relatives to alter the decision made prior to the service.
The cremated remains will be scattered in a designated area of the gardens by the Crematorium staff on your behalf. A record will be kept of the location but there will be nothing to mark the exact place. You do not need to be present and there is no additional fee to pay.
Witnessing the resting of the cremated remains
If you would like to be present when the remains are laid to rest, please indicate this on the ‘Form of Authority for Disposal’. You may also contact the office during the twenty eight day period following the funeral, to make the necessary arrangements. The short ceremony takes approximately five minutes and may be made at a mutually convenient time between 9am and 4pm, Monday to Thursday. There is a small fee for this service. One of the Penmount Chapel Attendants would be available to say a brief prayer or read a favourite piece of poetry or prose if you wish. Alternatively, you may prefer to arrange for your own Minister to be in attendance. A minimum of 24 hours notice would be much appreciated.
Favourite area for the remains to be rested
If you have a favourite area where you would like the remains to be rested this may be added to your instructions on the ‘Authority for Disposal’. If you are not familiar with the gardens you are welcome to visit at your convenience and may then advise the administration office of your decision. Our Head Gardener is usually available during office hours to accompany you and offer advice.
Remains to be rested in the same place as a relative or friend
Cremated remains can be rested in the same place as a relative or friend. You will need to supply the full name and an approximate date of death of the relative or friend concerned. The register of cremations will then be checked to find out the resting place. There will be no charge for this unless:
- you would like to have an appointment to witness the resting or
- there is a memorial which you would like to buy as a dedication
If there is a memorial which was not owned by either the immediate deceased or yourself, it may be necessary to get permission from the owner before proceeding.
Removing the cremated remains
If you have decided that you would like to remove the remains for resting elsewhere the Funeral Director will have discussed your wishes with you. You will be advised on the provision of a suitable container. Normally the Funeral Director would remove them on your behalf for you to collect at your convenience. However, you may, of course, remove them yourself or send a nominated representative to do so.
If, at a later date, you wish to send someone other than your named representative you must supply them with a letter of authority. The Council’s regulations do not permit Cremated Remains to be issued to any unauthorised party. It is important to bear in mind that it may be an offence to rest cremated remains in water courses or on public land (without consent). Permission must be sought if you intend to rest cremated remains on a grave in a cemetery or in a crematorium Garden of Remembrance. You are not permitted to rest the remains yourself without the required authorisation.
Changing your mind
If you change your mind even if you have signed for a particular method of disposal you can contact the office to say that your plans have changed. This can be done at any time within the 28 day period and a new form of authority will be required. This must be signed by the person who signed the original.
If cremated remains have been removed they can be returned however, a new form of authority will be required as above.
Memorials
Whether or not to dedicate a memorial is entirely a matter of personal choice. If you prefer not to do so please feel free to ignore all the relevant information. No further literature will be sent to you.
If you would like to dedicate a memorial there are a number of options available in the formal gardens. They have been laid out to include extensive rose beds with woodland walks and shrub borders. Many of these are edged with kerbstones which may be dedicated to a loved one. If you would like to consider something more individual for example a:
- specimen tree
- garden seat or
- birdbath
the head gardener and the administration staff are available to support and advise you when making your choice.
You may also dedicate a memorial after the cremated remains have been rested or removed, even if you originally decided not to do so. There is no time limit for this. The administration staff will be pleased to advise you.
The only memorial that does not have a limited tenure is an entry in the Book of Remembrance. The majority of the other memorials carry a tenure period of 20 years, with an option to renew at the end of that time. There are a few memorials with shorter tenure periods but if you are in any doubt please do not hesitate to check with the administration office.
Sanctum Granite Columbaria
The Sanctum Columbaria is similar to the Columbarium in that the remains are rested in a niche, but it is situated outside, near the Floral Tribute bay for Kernow Chapel. It is constructed of pale granite with dark granite tablets on which a dedication can be inscribed in gold lettering. Each niche can contain two single wooden caskets.
Granite vase blocks
Each of the granite memorials has an integral vase for floral tributes and a tablet on which a dedication in memory of a loved one can be inscribed. They are situated in the Arboretum, the area of the Gardens of Remembrance closest to the entrance. Cremated Remains may be scattered immediately in front of the vase block and the tablet can be replaced to include additional dedications at a future date.
The Columbarium
The Columbarium is a designated space where cremated remains are placed in small compartments called niches.
There are two types of niches. In an open niche the casket is in full view and the inscription is engraved on the face. The casket may be made of Cornish granite, marble or slate and a selection of different designs are available. With a sealed niche a wooden casket is concealed behind a stone tablet on which the dedication is carved. The price of a niche varies depending on the position.
Unable to make a decision
If at the time of application you are unable to decide what you wish to happen to the remains we will hold them securely for one calendar month. If you have not provided any instructions in that time we will contact you for further direction.
If no instruction is received the remains will be rested within our memorial gardens. Once rested it is not possible to retrieve the remains for removal.