Famous Cremated People

Where Are Their Ashes Now?

Celebrities have a flair for drama and in the case of Hunter S. Thompson, this continued after death. He made headlines around the world when his ashes were shot out of a cannon! The Cremation Association of North America states that 695,637 people were cremated in the United States in 2003. Although most will be scattered or safeguarded by more traditional means, it is still an economical and environmentally sound way to go. Many famous celebrities and people of notoriety have been cremated over the years. Let's take a look at a few of the more interesting individuals that chose cremation.

Dezi Arnaz - Actor, Musician and Lucy's husband of the "I Love Lucy" fame.

Marlon Brando - The actor famous for playing "The Godfather" was cremated at a secret ceremony in Los Angeles.

Lloyd Bridges - The hilarious star of "Airplane" had his ashes given to his family.

Greta Garbo - Garbo, from Hollywood's "Golden Age" had her ashes returned to her native Sweden for burial near family.

Alfred Hitchcock - He was cremated without a public funeral and his ashes were scattered.

Rock Hudson - Hudson's ashes were scattered at sea.

Jill Ireland - Charles Bronson's late wife had her ashes made into a walking stick for him.

Janis Joplin - Joplin's ashes were scattered over the Pacific Ocean.

Jerry Garcia - The Grateful Dead frontman had his ashes scattered at sea.

John F. Kennedy Jr. - After his plane crash, the famous president's son's ashes were scattered over the sea.

Vivian Leigh- The "Gone With the Wind" actress was cremated in the UK and had her ashes scattered on a mill pond at her home in Sussex.

Henry Mancini - The famous composer of The Pink Panther Music was cremated at Forest Lawn Glendale.

Groucho Marx - He once said, "I would never be caught dead in Burbank." However, that's just what happened when his urn was stolen and his ashes taken to Burbank for a time. They were eventually returned to his home at San Fernando, California's Eden Memorial Park.

Robert Mitchum - Mitchum's ashes were scattered at sea by family and friends.

Steve McQueen - Actor and star of "The Magnificent Seven" had his ashes scattered over the Pacific Ocean.

Christopher Reeve - Superman's ashes were scattered to the wind by his family.

Gene Roddenberry - The Star Trek creator's ashes were blasted off into space.

Last Updated: 03/20/2006

Sources:

Purified by Fire: A History of Cremation in America
Cremation Association of North America Statistics - http://www.cremationassociation.org/html/statistics.html
Hollywood USA - http://www.hollywoodusa.co.uk/celebrity-graves.htm
Morbid Curiosity - http://www.morbid-curiosity.com/id170.htm
Lloyd Bridges Biography - http://www.nndb.com/people/374/000026296/

Profile: Riverside National Cemetery

Riverside National Cemetery

Location: Riverside, California

Age: Opened in 1978.

Size: 740.3 Acres.
Vacancies: Yes

History: Riverside National Cemetery was established in 1976 via transfer of 740 acres from March Air Force Base. In 2000, it was the most active cemetery in the National Cemetery Administration's system based on the number of interments. The cemetery was officially opened for burials November 11, 1978.

Famous Citizens: Two Medal of Honor recipients.

Items of Interest: The Medal of Honor Memorial, which features the names of all medal recipients, The Fallen Soldiers Memorial, a memorial to honor Prisoners of War, a carillon donated by the American Veterans, and a memorial amphitheater.

Contact: 22495 Van Buren Boulevard
Riverside, CA 92518
Phone: (951) 653-8417
Fax: (951) 653-5233

Website: http://www.cem.va.gov/nchp/riverside.htm

Profile: Crown Hill Cemetery

Crown Hill Cemetery

Location: Indianapolis, IN

Age: Established in 1864

Size: Large - The third largest non-government cemetery in the United States at 555 acres. Has over 185,000 occupants.

Vacancies: Yes

History: Established as the official cemetery of Indianapolis when the city was being planned.

Famous Citizens: Benjamin Harrison, Former U.S. President
Colonel Eli Lilly
James Whitcomb Riley, Poet
John Dillinger. Infamous Bank Robber
Booth Tarkington, Author
Frederick Duesenberg, Automobile Manufacturer
13 Civil War Generals
Several Governors and Mayors

Items of Interest: Crown Hill has a Gothic Chapel from the late 1800's, National Cemetery dedicated to U.S. Soldiers, and a Confederate lot on cemetery grounds.

Contact: 700 West 38th Street
Indianapolis, IN 46208
Phone: (317)925-8231
Fax: (317)925-8240
info@crownhill.org

Website: www.crownhill.org

Profile: Rose Hill Cemetery

Rose Hill Cemetery

Location: Whittier, California

Age: Established in 1914.

Size: 1,400 acres - making it the largest cemetery in the United States

Vacancies: Yes

History: Rose Hill began as a small cemetery with only 1 acre. Over the years it has increased in size to over 1400. Much of the land that was acquired for the cemetery was rugged hillside and 25 million cubic yards of earth was moved to create the cemetery that we have today. Rose Hill is the final resting place for many of southern California's residents and with 2500 acres of land holdings, it will continue to prosper for many generations to come.

Famous Citizens: William Hopper, Actor
Frank Nixon, Father of former U.S. President Richard Nixon
Eric "Eazy-E" Wright, Rapper
Robert Chandler, Professional Football Player
William Roy "Link" Lyman, Professional Football Player
Wally Hood, Professional Baseball Player
Augustus Jenkins, R&B Pianist
Billy Laughlin (William Robert), Actor (played Froggy on The Little Rascals)

Items of Interest: Rose Hills houses several Mausoleums (including one that is the largest building of its kind in California), gardens, and fountains.

Contact: 3888 S. Workman Mill Road
Whittier, California 90601
Phone: (562) 699-0921

Website: www.rosehills.com

Death & Dying FAQ: Do I Need a Will?

Q. Do I Need a Will?

A. It is a common misconception that you do not need a will unless you have substantial assets. This just is not true. A will ensures that what assets you do have are distributed to the people you designate. Without a will, loved ones will have to turn to the courts to figure out who will get what.

Dying without a will can cause problems for your survivors. What happens if two people both want Grandpa's watch to remember him by? If it is not clearly stated to whom it goes, fights and personal problems can result. Emotions can run high after a death. Take a few minutes now to help your survivors sort and distribute your assets.

Another point to keep in mind is that if you have children you must have a will. You will specify who gets custody of your children on the event of your death.

You do not want the courts to decide this on your behalf. Take a few minutes to make your wishes know now to protect your survivors.

What is Hospice?

A Guide to Palliative Care Providers

The first hospice in America was established in Connecticut in 1974. Within twenty years, the number of hospices was up to around 1,700. Hospices have now become an accepted aspect of the health care system of the United States and many other countries. The growth of hospice can be in part credited to Elisabeth Kubler-Ross. She helped to promote the concept of dying with dignity in America.

Hospice is not so much a place, but a concept of care. Hospices are groups that assist the dying either in an inpatient setting or as an outpatient. The majority of care, eighty percent, is provided in a home setting or nursing home environment. The goal of most hospices is to help the dying and their family through a number of programs. Hospice programs can include:

• Patient pain management
• Providing emotional support to patient and family
• Physician and nursing services
• Home Health Aides
• Bereavement counseling and services
• Medical appliances and supplies
• Alternative and complementary medical information

Hospices offer a wide variety of services and are very flexible in how a patient receives care.

For example, hospice care be received in the following three environments:

• Hospital Hospice - a hospice center within a health care facility. Referrals to this program come from the facility and staff hospital doctors and nurses.
• Private Hospice - this hospice usually provides care through the hospice's own inpatient facility or within the patient's home setting. Referrals can come from advertising or referral.
• Home Health Hospice – allows the patient to be cared for and ultimately, to die at home, while receiving support from hospice home health staff. Most referrals come from physicians or hospitals, which can run some programs.

A hospice really is a great option for those seeking a supportive staff, an integrated approach to medical treatment options, pain management, counseling, and family support resources. Contact a hospice in your area and see what services they offer. You can find a hospice in your area on the Hospice Foundation of America web site.

Death & Dying Reading List

Resources for the Dying and Their Loved Ones

Learning that you are dying is a terrifying and confusing experience. Many times the terminal patient has so many questions that they don't know where to start getting help. Perhaps they are simply too overwhelmed to know what to ask or don't have the resources to get the emotional support they need.

A good place to start getting help is by reading. There are a lot of great books that can educate and inspire. It can be a comfort to know that someone has gone through the same thing that you're facing. Learn how others have dealt with their own mortality issues with this list of handpicked books from your About Guide.

I recommend the following books on dying:

Advice on Dying: And Living a Better Life - By His Holiness, The Dalai Lama

Death: The Final Stage of Growth - By Elisabeth Kubler-Ross

Dying Well: Peace and Possibilities at the End of Life - By Ira Byock

How We Die: Reflections on Life's Final Chapter - By Sherwin B. Nuland

Handbook for Mortals: Guidance for People Facing Serious Illness - By Joanne Lynn

Questions & Answers on Death and Dying - By Elisabeth Kubler-Ross

Chicken Soup for the Grieving Soul: Stories About Life, Death and Overcoming the Loss of a Loved One - By Mark Victor Hansen & Jack Canfield

A Year to Live: How to Live This Year as If It Were Your Last - By Stephen Levine