Sweet Auburn: The Magazine of the Friends of Mount Auburn Mount Auburn as a Horticultural Innovator | Page 15

Personalized Cremation Services
at Mount Auburn
By Tom Johnson, Family Services Coordinator
For over 110 years, Mount Auburn Cemete ry
has provided cremation as an alternative to casket burials.
The first cremation took place at Mount Auburn on April
18, 1900. During the first year of operation the crematory
completed 50 cremations. President Israel M. Spelman,
reported in the 1900 Annual Report, “That cremation is
growing in favor seems clearly evident. It is undoubtedly
not only the most speedy method of resolving the body
into its elements, one
hour doing the work of
years, but also the safest in
a sanitary point of view.”
Spelman’s thoughts
were partially correct;
cremation did eventually
begin “growing in favor”
in parts of the United
States, but it was not until
recent years in Massachu-
setts that cremation has
been embraced by the
public as an alternative to
casket burials. Today with changing attitudes and most re-
ligions permitting cremation, the percentage of cremations
has risen significantly.
Along with changing attitudes regarding cremation there
has been considerable change with family participation and
presence at the crematory. Mount Auburn offers many op-
tions to families with services for cremation. Some families
might simply choose to escort their loved one in procession
to the crematory. Another option would be a witnessing at
the crematory, which allows the family a fifteen minute period
of time to be present as the cremation process begins. During
this time some families may choose to have a brief prayer
service or a quiet time of reflection. Families and friends
sometimes write messages or place personal items on the
casket and assist the crematory operator or simply observe as
their loved one is placed into what is called a retort (cremation
chamber).
Services at Mount Auburn can be as unique and distinctive
as a family chooses. Cremation gives families the flexibility
to decide when a service can take place. A memorial service
before the cremation takes place allows the casket to be
present at the service, though some families might opt to
have a service while the cremation is in progress. Others
prefer to wait until a date after the cremation has taken
place, giving themselves additional time to plan and per-
sonalize a memorial service that will celebrate a life well
lived, reflect on the impact their loved one made, and the
legacy he or she leaves behind.
I often think of the very moving service of a young man
from Nepal, who was working as a store clerk in Jamaica Plain.
I was amazed how his service brought
together the Nepalese community of
Greater Boston along with business
people and friends who supported his
family in their grief. His cremated remains
were brought back to his beloved home
in Nepal.
Another service brought the first New
Orleans Second Line Brass Band in the
history of Mount Auburn to lead the
congregation from Story Chapel to the
memorial luncheon at Bigelow Chapel
Lawn.
Just as the landscape of the Cemetery
is constantly changing and being reshaped, so is the level
of service offered by Mount Auburn’s Cemetery Services
Team. Soon cremations with a memorial service and burial
will exceed the number of traditional casket burials. Mount
Auburn is well positioned to meet the increasing demand
for cremation services while fulfilling the needs of each
family with the high standards and excellence in service
that was Mount Auburn yesterday, is Mount Auburn today,
and will be Mount Auburn tomorrow.
These urns by the Judith Motzkin Studio (www.spiritkeeper-urns.com)
are just one style of urn available for purchase at Mount Auburn.
Fall 2010 | 13