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Roman Catholic Cremations

Posted: 14 Sep 2010 12:59
by dlh1
Hi all.

A quick query. I'm trying to find the final resting places of 2 of my ancestors. They were both baptised as children but I can't seem to find their burial plots after looking on the indexes at the records office. So I'm think have they been cremated? I searched the cremation records and can't find them there either and I was also unsure whether Roman Catholics believe in being cremated (sorry if I'm wrong).

Their names are Henry Nolan (died 1964) and Mary Ellen Nolan (died 1985).

If anyone can help me here it would be much appreciated. Even if you can just give some advice on burials/cremations of Roman Catholics.

Dan

Posted: 14 Sep 2010 14:04
by MaryA
I don't think there's a set rule and I'm basing this on my own experience. Ten years ago we had a service in a Catholic Church for my father and then went on to the Crematorium at St Helens.

I don't believe there is a difference between the cremations for RC and C of E.

Posted: 14 Sep 2010 17:25
by HOLLY
Hi, Cremations are allowed these days though ashes should not be scattered but I think thats changed. I've just had a quick Google (!) and there's lots to read about the cremation of Catholics. Holly

Posted: 15 Sep 2010 07:40
by MaryA
HOLLY wrote:ashes should not be scattered
I never realised that - at St Helens there is a circular rosebed with each quarter named for the seasons and the centre being for babies. Is this classed as scattering? nevertheless we thought dad should "fertilise the roses" as he always said, so that's where he is.

Posted: 15 Sep 2010 09:48
by Katie
If you have their dates of deaths look in the Liverpool Echo to see if there is a obituary notice which may state mode of buriel

Posted: 15 Sep 2010 10:12
by dlh1
I've tried looking in the echo but only ever found something for one of my ancestors who died in 1985. Everyone before then doesn't appear for some reason. My family were poor and lived in the tenterden st / dryden st area so maybe they couldn't afford to put things in the paper. Not sure.