Unlike an earth burial, there is no grave to visit after a sea burial. Nevertheless, there are many ways to remember and keep memories alive.
The Sea Chart as Remembrance
After the sea burial, relatives receive a sea chart with the exact GPS coordinates of the burial site. This document serves as a lasting memento and symbolic place of remembrance.
The sea chart can be framed and often finds a special place in the home. Some relatives use the coordinates to display the location on digital maps.
Memorial Voyages
Many providers offer memorial voyages – return trips to the burial site at a later time. These are often undertaken on special occasions:
- Death anniversary (anniversary of burial)
- Birthday of the deceased
- Other significant dates
On a memorial voyage, relatives can revisit the site, place flowers in the water, and remember in silence. Duration is usually about one hour.
Remembrance at Home
Many relatives create a place of remembrance at home:
- Memory corner: A small area with the framed sea chart, a photo of the deceased, and a candle.
- Keepsakes: Shells, stones from the beach, or maritime objects that remind of the deceased.
- Tree planting: A tree in the garden as a living memorial.
- Memory book: An album with photos, stories, and memories.
Digital Remembrance
Digital options complement traditional remembrance:
- Online memorial pages: Platforms where photos, texts, and memories can be shared.
- Digital photo albums: Jointly maintained collections of memories.
- Social media: Some families use private groups to share memories.
Digital forms of remembrance also enable geographically scattered families to remember together.
Remembrance with Children
For children, it's important to find their own ways of remembering:
- Tell stories: Regularly tell stories about the deceased.
- Drawing and crafting: Draw pictures or make keepsakes.
- Write letters: Write letters to the deceased (and possibly later put them in the water on a memorial voyage – on eco-friendly paper).
- Beach visits: Joint visits to the coast as a ritual.
- Light a candle: A simple ritual that gives children structure.
Children should be involved in shaping remembrance and allowed to develop their own rituals.
Designing Memorial Days
Without a physical grave, memorial days can be designed differently:
- Coast visit: A trip to the coast, near the burial site.
- Book a memorial voyage: For special anniversaries.
- Family gathering: A shared meal or meeting where memories are shared.
- Light a candle: At home or at a symbolic place.
- Listen to favorite music: Music the deceased loved.
The Place of Remembrance
With a sea burial, the "place of remembrance" is not physically accessible. For some people, this is precisely liberating – the sea as a vast, infinite resting place. For others, it requires adjustment in dealing with grief.
The sea chart, coastal locations nearby, or a self-created place of remembrance at home can serve as a substitute for the traditional grave.
Further Information
- Preparation for Relatives – Emotional preparation for sea burial
- Sea Burial Process – The day of the ceremony
- Types of Sea Burial – Silent, accompanied, and anonymous burial