What Lower Mainland Families Should Know About Transporting Remains

We have very few choices where death is concerned, least of all where it happens. That is why, following a death, it is often necessary to transport the remains of the deceased to another location. In today’s blog we will be covering what Lower Mainland families need to know about transporting the cremated remains of their deceased loved one.

Self-Transport

One option when transporting remains is to collect and transport those remains yourself but there are several things you should know about transporting human remains. The method of self-transporting the remains with the least amount of paperwork is to transport them overland in a personal vehicle as there are no additional requirements to transport the remains in this manner. If you are travelling by air and plan to take the remains with you there are several requirements to keep in mind. You will need to transport the remains in a container that can pass through airport screening, the containers most likely to be allowed should be made of plastic, cardboard, cloth or wood. You will also need to have a death certificate or a cremation certificate issued by the proper authority so you can prove what is in the container. It is important to note that cremated remains are dense and can be difficult to scan with airport security systems so transporting the remains yourself via air is not best means of transport as it carries a risk that the remains will not be allowed on board if they cannot pass through security.

Through the Mail

If you are planning to ship the cremated remains through the mail, there are several requirements that you should know about. First the cremated remains must be packed in a sealed container and then packed in an additional sift-proof outer container to prevent the remains from leaking. The remains must also be accompanied by a certificate of cremation that has been issued by an appropriate authority and affixed to the top of the parcel in a plastic envelope.

Through End-of-Life Service Provider

Many funeral homes and crematoriums provide services to transport your loved ones’ remains where they need to go with the funeral home handling most of the paperwork necessary for transportation. For example, A Simple Cremation offers free shipping of the remains anywhere within the lower mainland of British Columbia, from Squamish to Hope. These remains are shipped via a courier unless personal delivery of cremated remains is selected as an add on service. We also offer shipping within Canada or the US using a courier for an additional fee. Other funeral homes and crematoriums in the Lower Mainland of BC may offer similar services so it is important to check what shipping services are available through your end-of-life service provider.

We hope we have been able to provide families in the Lower Mainland with some useful information on transporting remains. If you have any questions about cremation services, please feel free to contact us.

We believe every family deserves respect, reverence, and compassion. If you have any questions about this article or would like to talk to us about cremation services, please call or text (604) 809-2006.