Teraloom: Ash Scattering & Memorial Services

We help people address these questions making the process of planning a memorial service straightforward and stress-free. We handle all of the permits and approvals, and can create a personalized memorial tailored to you or a loved one’s final wishes. You can choose an affordable, personalized, and unique memorial somewhere that’s special.  Maybe this is a place in nature or out at sea – or maybe it’s not too far from home. Maybe you’d like it to involve a favorite hobby or activity. Teraloom has dignified memorials for any religious, spiritual or personally held beliefs. We specialize in ash scattering, destination ceremonies, living tree memorials and even do memorial services for pets. 

For many people funerals tend to be sad and somber, sometimes even uncomfortable and awkward.  If you made the arrangements for the funeral that’s less common – however many people know funerals tend to be expensive and burdensome. Today’s funeral industry is riddled with unethical business practices that take the form of predatory sales on bereaved consumers. 

Our goal at Teraloom is to reshape the industry by offering uplifting, transparent, and inexpensive alternatives. We have an extensive network across the US and abroad for people to choose almost any location for a remarkable tribute. These ceremonies take place at sea, and also in the mountains, forests, and deserts. These beautiful and unique commemorations in nature create lasting and cherished memories.  They also give loved ones an exceptional space to remember and honor the loss of someone who was special to them. 

Often after walking, hiking, or cruising by boat to the intended location – there is a ceremony which sometimes involves sharing memories or stories, as well as a short eulogy or prayer.  A family member, officiant, or celebrant will usually lead the group through the service. Loved ones can then mark the the exact location in the Ecorial app which records the gps coordinates, time and date. This is a nice option for those interested in a free digital online memorial where an obituary, photos, memories and more can be shared.

Our Story:

“…in this world nothing can be said to be certain, except death and taxes.” – Benjamin Franklin

I always thought that this statement must be true, given it was said by the renowned and wise Ben Franklin. But as I got older- I learned that there were plenty of people who get away with not paying their taxes. So really it is only death that is the single, unavoidable, certainty of life.

When you are young you feel indestructible and the thought of your own mortality seems like a century’s away worry. Many go about life as if it will continue on forever. Not lending much thought to the time spent on often frivolous activities and concerns. Rarely considering what is most important and how we will be remembered if we were to pass away suddenly.

I personally never saw myself working in the death care industry. Like many others I found the concept morbid and frankly, depressing. Right out of high school I joined the military in the interest of eventually going to college and avoiding a crippling amount of student debt. After Air Force basic training, I went on to Biloxi, Mississippi, to learn my military job role in network infrastructure.

It was there I met Sam. We were both in the Drum and Bugle Corps which was the base’s band. I played the trumpet and Sam played the marching tenor drums, often referred to as the quad drum. We both enjoyed discussing how we planned to have fun over the weekend and ways we could get out of marching, drills, or special assignments. Any given weekend we would travel down to New Orleans or Panama City Beach to see the sites and enjoy time away from military duties. We both finished technical school and parted ways, both going off to college.

During his time in college he worked at Dominos and got to know the manager, Brad, an ambitious, good hearted and empathetic individual. Both lived in the same small town in Pennsylvania which was known to have a drug problem. After a few brash decisions they soon found themselves at the mercy of heroin addiction. Brad was older and often was the voice of reason trying to keep them both from going off the deep end. However, after Sam left town to seek better employment, Brad had several overdoses and eventually passed away.
This tragedy was incredibly hard on Sam. He was overcome with grief from the loss, often pondering why it had been Brad and not himself. Sam decided to hike Mt. Williamson in Brad’s memory, hoping the journey would help him process the loss. The mountain is far from a glamorous hike. Mt. Whitney, its neighbor, is the tallest in California and all of the lower 48 states. Despite its height, the hike to Whitney’s summit is shorter and rated far less challenging. Sam chose Williamson because it was the hike that Brad would choose. An underrated mountain, more challenging than any of its neighbors, taking no glory for it.

After summiting its peak, Sam felt profound peace and closure. He knew this was a method of working through grief that could be helpful to others going through similar loss. I hadn’t spoken to Sam in years when we reconnected. I had gone to school for entrepreneurship and loved the concept of working together to help as many people as we could suffering from the loss of a loved one. In hopes of bringing this experience to more people we started a destination memorial service company called Summit Saints later to become Teraloom.

Having a memorial service in nature is a beautiful and remarkable way to honor life. Taking loved ones to their final resting place and helping people work through grief to find solace has been more fulfilling than I could have ever anticipated.