This Is Why You Probably Shouldn’t Mail Your Loved One’s Ashes

urnDo you trust the United States Postal Service? How much? Would you trust them with important documents? Valuable jewelry? How about the cremated remains of your spouse? A New Hampshire woman wanted to get her husband’s ashes to his daughter in Florida so she could spread them at his favorite fishing spot in Key West. Instead, he’s lost somewhere in the postal system.

His wife is grieving this second loss, too, after his sudden death from a heart attack. “I felt like I failed him because this was his wish, and it was my job, somehow it all went wrong,” she told CBS Boston.

We do know where the mailing box is. It arrived at his daughter’s house with the bottom split open and the two urns missing. Did they fall out along the way? Did the box open, someone saw a shiny vase-like object, and took it home? The U.S. Postal Service says that they’re investigating the matter.

In case you were wondering, yes, it is completely legal to mail human cremains. What the bereaved wife didn’t know is that they’re supposed to be sent using a secure service: Priority Mail Express or registered mail. The contents of the box must be labeled on the outside.

Ashes Of NH Woman’s Husband Go Missing In Mail [CBS Boston]

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