Saying goodbye in an unconventional way

There's not much I can add to the following story, so I won't try. Let's just say that all of the folks involved teamed up for a beautifully moving -- and environmentally touching -- way to say goodbye to loved ones off the coast of North Carolina. You never want to see people (or pets) pass away, but these folks have given themselves up to the sea and to the Earth, and it is a magnificent gesture.

When about 50 people stepped from a dock in Sneads Ferry last week for a voyage out in the Atlantic they weren’t boarding a charter for fishing. They set sail to witness a “green burial” of their loved ones. Families and friends huddled in groups. They hugged, held hands and peered into the calm waters that would soon turn to 6- and 8- foot waves. Despite the swelling sea, they were able to say goodbye to eight family members, a dog named “Scruffy” and a sea turtle named “Dare.”

The Kemps Ridley sea turtle provided the inspiration for the name of the reef — the first of its kind in the country. And Thursday, two miles off the coast of Topsail Beach, Dare’s Reef began to grow.

Ten artificial reef balls — varying in weight from 400 to 4,000 pounds — were lowered to the ocean floor by a crane on a nearby ship. In a matter of days, the balls should begin teeming with fish and other marine life. Each reef ball was cast of
eco-friendly concrete mixed with the cremated remains of loved ones. It’s a way for family members and friends to honor those who loved the sea while giving something back to it. ...

Patty Webb and her children cried when the bell chimed for their husband and father William Stover. They knew the reef burial was perfect for him — and he could never have been separated from their dog, “Scruffy,” of course.

“I think he would have been proud of his son and daughters to find a special place for him and Scruffy,” Webb said. “He loved the ocean and it’s a remarkable idea.”

Dennis Riley said the same of his daughter, Julie.

“I think she would have loved this,” he said.

Julie Riley, of Wichita, Kan., died Jan. 12 after battling cancer for 18 months. She had requested a reef burial because she fell in love with sea turtles. She also wanted to improve their environment. Julie read the story of Dare on the Internet and decided she wanted to be a part of her reef. ...

Ashley Moore said the memorial was something her family would never forget. They plan to become certified to dive down to the reef and visit their loved one — families are given the exact coordinates of the location.

For more information on Eternal Reefs, visit their Web site at www.eternalreefs.com.