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TABLE OF CONTENT How to Register the Death in the UK and USA Travel/ Repatriation Insurance for Death Abroad How to Make Funeral Arrangements There’s never an appropriate time to be faced with the loss of a loved one or a relative, and it is even more challenging when they die abroad. Not only are you faced with the grief of losing a loved one, but also have to plan a funeral alongside the uncertainties of being in a foreign country and the extra expenses that might come with the funeral arrangements. Depending on the location and the circumstances surrounding the death of your loved one, these are the immediate steps to plan a funeral for a relative that died abroad: If You’re Abroad Together The first step to take upon the death of a relative, when you are abroad together is to contact the nearest Embassy, Consulate, or High Commission. Any location outside your home country is a different turf; however, reporting the death to your country’s representatives immediately eases the funeral process. For instance, if you are a UK/USA citizen, you will be required to visit the British/ US Embassy or the Bureau of Consular Affairs to register the death of your loved one in order to proceed with other funeral processes. If you are on an organized tour abroad, inform the organizers or management of your hotel. They will advise on how to get started on funeral arrangements for the deceased. If They’re Abroad Alone Naturally, if you are at home in the UK or USA, the UK Consulate/ US Bureau of Consular Affairs is obligated to inform you about the death of a relative abroad, provided you are listed as the next of kin. In some cases, you might be contacted by the police department of the state or country in which your relative died. Here, you are obligated to contact the Foreign and Commonwealth Office for immediate steps in the funeral arrangement and how to register the death. You must also decide if there is a need to travel to the country in question for further funeral arrangements. How to Register the Death in the UK and USA Regardless of your location, you must register a relative’s death in both the country where they died and their home country as part of the funeral process. This is so because the disposition of your relative’s remains is subject to both the local (i.e., foreign country) laws and the home country laws. Required Documents in the UK and USA When registering the death of a relative that passed on abroad, you must provide: Identification details such as the Full name of the deceased and the Date of Birth The Passport number When and where the Passport was issued Details of the next-of-kin (if you’re not the next-of-kin or with the person at the time of death) Travel/ Repatriation Insurance for Death Abroad When traveling, repatriation insurance is often one important factor left out of plans. It’s hard for most people to think of what might go wrong on a trip, more so to plan a funeral altogether. However, like any form of insurance policy, a travel/ repatriation policy is vital. What Does the Policy Cover? Repatriation insurance refers to a travel coverage policy that ensures that the remains of a traveler are conveyed to the appropriate place for further funeral processes. Having a travel/ repatriation policy in place subsidizes funeral arrangements by covering embalming expenses, an appropriate container of transportation, and shipping costs through direct routes. It is essential to note that most travel insurance companies offer repatriation coverage, and when needed, the representative in charge of the travel must contact the insurance company before kick-starting the funeral arrangements. The policy may also bear the expenses of someone to return with the remains and a 24-hour emergency team to keep the family informed and help through necessary collection processes. This depends on the service provider. The insurance policy varies from location to location and is subject to price variations in transportation and local regulations. Most travel policies also cover emergency medical insurance, emergency medical transport, and gear insurance. What Doesn’t the Policy Cover? The policy is under no obligation to cover actual funeral costs or cremation expenses. It also relegates the funeral costs on containment items such as coffins or urns for cremated remains to the parties involved. The policy also does not extend to your home country. What the policy does is move the body or remains of the deceased from a foreign country to the home country so that the bereaved can plan a funeral or a final sendoff for their loved one. Any further funeral arrangements, funeral processes, and funeral costs are managed by the relatives of the deceased. Other exclusions of repatriation may include: Death through pre-existing/ known medical conditions Death through suicide or anything illegal Death from alcohol or drugs How to Make Funeral Arrangements With the death registration and the necessary documents acquired, further funeral processes such as funeral costs and transportation of the remains home should be considered. Make sure to double-check whether the deceased had a funeral insurance policy in place, before making any funeral arrangements. Bringing the Body Home To bring the body of the deceased home, you must go through the following steps: You must obtain the English translation of the death certificate if dealing with English-speaking citizens such as UK/USA citizens. The death certificate is mostly issued after the death is registered as mentioned above. Alongside the death certificate, the documents required include: The passport of the deceased or ID card. Certificate of embalming Coffin Box Maker certificate Contact details of the person collecting the body at the airport if necessary Seek permission to transport the body. Sudden deaths are usually investigated and a postmortem examination is usually required before the death certificate is issued. Hence, it is important to notify the coroner in the country and at home as well as other appropriate quarters before transporting the body. Submit a copy of the death certificate to the registered office in the location where funeral arrangements will be put to work i.e., where the funeral or burial will take place. Bringing the Ashes Home Per the deceased’s last wishes, the bereaved wishes, or circumstances of death, cremation can be carried out abroad and the ashes transported back home, the following steps should be taken to transport the cremated remains of a relative back home: Get the relevant documents. For cremated ashes, the documents needed include: The death certificate and translation into the native language The Passport of the deceased as proof of identification Certificate of embalming and Freedom from Infection Certificate Customs Declaration Form Get permission i.e., permission from the coroner and notification to the home country’s coroner. Make arrangements for transportation to the home country and from the airport or landing port depending on the transportation unit Funeral Cost Amidst all funeral arrangements, the funeral cost is an integral part that should be thoroughly considered. Repatriation is one part of the funeral cost that can be very expensive. It is, therefore, crucial to discuss details before making any arrangements for transportation home. The cost of transporting the remains of a deceased in a coffin or an urn varies from country to country. The funeral costs may include embassy fees and related paperwork, the cost of a shipping container as well as the fees of the receiving funeral home. If transporting the remains of the deceased in a coffin, the cost will be based on the weight of the shipment and the distance. This fee ranges from $1000 to $3000 in the USA, depending on the funeral home. In the UK, repatriating a body costs between about £1,800 and £17,000. When transporting cremated remains to nations like the US, transport is done via Postal services and the cost of this funeral arrangement ranges from $300 to $1000. Losing a loved one in a foreign land is undoubtedly one of the most distressing calls of nature. However, having access to the right information eases some of the funeral processes and helps the bereaved to plan a funeral that’s befitting of the deceased.

TABLE OF CONTENT Korean Views on Life and Death Sending Off a Deceased Loved One in 2021/2022 How Cremation Diamonds Are Made How Much Does it Cost to Turn Ashes into a Diamond? There is no easy way to approach death. Whether it is facing the loss of a loved one or confronting the end of your own life, it is easy to get overwhelmed and lost in the grief that comes with the inevitable part of life that is death. This explains why most people treat conversations around death as taboo and prefer to cross that bridge when they get there. Korean Views on Life and Death Sending off a deceased loved one with a final goodbye is undoubtedly not an easy task. However, according to grief specialists, it is a very important step in the grieving process. Critical moments in life, even the most painful ones such as death, need to be acknowledged and processed if the bereaved are ever to cope and start to move forward. In short, goodbyes give us a sense of closure as we move into the next phase of life as we know it. Sending Off a Deceased Loved One in 2021/2022 Thanks to innovation in the global death industry, more and more people are embracing new and unconventional practices that pay tribute to their deceased loved ones and in so doing preserve their memory for generations to come. Here are some of the creative ways in which people are paying tribute to deceased loved ones; Writing a Goodbye Make a diary entry, write them a letter, email, text message, or poem. Speak directly to the deceased when writing and tell them everything you would have loved to say but didn't get the chance. Alternatively, you can document all the precious memories you have of your deceased loved one and read them whenever you feel lost. Out of sight shouldn’t be out of mind. Talking about the Deceased There will always be people in your life who didn't get to cross paths with your loved one; be it new friends, a significant other, or children. Talk to them about the deceased, share photos of them, and some of your precious memories. "When there is no one left in the living world who remembers you, you disappear from this world. We call it the final death." - Coco (the movie) Creating a Ritual A ritual is a series of actions or types of behavior regularly and invariably followed by someone. According to grief specialists, creating a ritual after loss helps restore that feeling of control and, in turn, makes it easier for the deceased to cope with grief. Some examples of rituals that can be used to pay tribute to a deceased loved one include: Lighting a candle at certain, special times of the day or week to remind you of your loved one (for example, at dinnertime to represent sharing meals with them) Periodic visits to their favorite spot Making a periodic donation to a charity or a cause that your loved one supported Visiting your loved one’s burial site Rituals can be customized to you as an individual or they can include group activities to be done with friends and/or family of the deceased. The decision is yours to make. Creating a Memorial Item or a Keepsake of the Deceased A memorial item is something that commemorates the memory of a deceased loved one. These can be personalized to typically include a photo of the deceased, their name alongside the date of birth and the date of demise, plus an epitaph. Some of the most popular memorial items to date include: Memorial Garden A memorial garden provides a long-lasting tribute to a deceased loved one and offers a place for the bereaved to reflect and find healing. The garden can be as small as a single tree or as large as an oversized flowerbed with different flowers, ornamental grasses, shrubs, and trees. When selecting plants for a memorial garden, consider using the favorite flowers of the deceased, or think about the fragrances or colors that evoke fond memories. Another possibility is to include plants that have the same name as the deceased, such as lilies, roses, or daisies. You can also select plants that have specific meanings, such as forget-me-nots (memories), rosemary (remembrance), poppies (rest or eternal sleep), yellow tulips (friendship), or pink carnations (I'll never forget you). Memorial Bench A memorial bench is a piece of furniture that commemorates a deceased person. They are typically made of wood, but can also be made of metal, stone, or synthetic materials. Typically memorial benches are placed in public places and in domestic gardens. Bearing a plaque with your loved one’s name and a personalized message, they convey a message of love that will remain for future generations to see. Memorial / Cremation Diamonds Memorial diamonds, also known as cremation diamonds or diamonds from ashes are diamonds grown in the laboratory from the cremated remains of deceased human beings and pets. The popularity of memorial diamonds is based on the big question of what to do with cremation ashes after the loss of a loved one. Whereas you can always scatter the ashes, store them in an urn, or even bury them, you might prefer to see them transformed into something entirely new. In addition, diamonds have been used for centuries to symbolize unwavering and undying devotion, love, fidelity, partnership, commitment, and friendship. What better way to commemorate your deceased loved one than turning them into a diamond? Are Cremation Diamonds a Hoax? Cremation diamonds are genuine diamonds grown by using the carbon contained within hair or cremation ashes. Turning cremation ashes into diamonds is possible because Carbon [C] accounts for 18% of the human body and diamonds are basically crystallized carbon. Nitrogen [N] accounts for 3% of the human body, which gives a cremation diamond an amber color, varying from light yellow to deep orange. Purely Colourless diamonds are created by removing nitrogen [N] from the carbon [C] prior to making a cremation diamond. How Cremation Diamonds Are Made About 200g of ashes or 10g of hair are required in order to create a memorial diamond from ashes. These ashes are placed in a specialized crucible which is heated to over 5000F to make every element except carbon oxidize. Then, the temperature is raised further so that carbon can become graphite. The graphite with a metal catalyst and a diamond seed crystal is placed into the core which goes into a specialized diamond press capable of creating extreme tension which then starts working thus bringing the pressure to about 800,000 pounds/square inches. During the last stretch when the press is working, the temperature in the room stays about 2500F so that the ashes turned memorial diamonds become solid. Unlike natural diamonds, rough memorial or cremation diamonds are usually mixed with graphite and other materials, particularly on the surface. The rough cremation diamond is carefully cut and polished by diamond experts as per the client's specifications. How Much Does it Cost to Turn Ashes into a Diamond? The cost of turning ashes into cremation diamonds starts at $1,400. The cost of LONITÉ cremation diamonds varies according to the diamond features you select. The cost of turning ashes into diamonds is all-encompassing. To become a diamond, the ashes of your loved one will be sent to Switzerland and returned within an average of 6 months after the ashes to diamond process is completed. The price of cremation diamonds covers all costs in the process, including transportation costs and delivery fees. Cremation diamonds bring a whole new meaning to the phrase "diamonds are forever." If you want to preserve the spark that the deceased brought to your life, or just want to show off their distinctive personality, there are a number of companies with the technology that transforms cremation ashes into the priceless treasures that memorial diamonds are!