Alternative Cremation Scatterings: Dust in the Wind

One evening in 1994, as balloon and party-supply retailer Clyde West and his wife Joan were dining with friends, the conversation turned to end-of-life issues. When asked what kind of final disposition he’d prefer, Clyde jokingly replied, “I don’t care. Just have me cremated, put me in a balloon and send me off.” The joke turned into a “light bulb” moment, and within two years, the Eternal Ascent Society was born.

After research and testing, the Wests acquired a patent on a process in which cremated remains of a human or pet are placed in a 5-foot wide, helium-filled balloon. The balloon is then transported to the release site, where family members say their good-byes and let go. The balloon expands as it rises slowly to an altitude of 30,000 feet, then crystallizes and bursts, releasing the ashes to the heavens.

Although the ultimate balloon ride isn’t cheap – costs run from $1,000 to $2,000 for humans and around $600 for pets, in addition to cremation costs – it is an environmentally friendly way to go. The balloon itself is biodegradable, and the process was deemed hazard-free before the patent was issued.

Awareness of Eternal Ascent’s services grew through media coverage and word-of-mouth, and in 2003 Clyde and Joan began to license franchises to funeral professionals for a fee of $20,000. Today there are five Eternal Ascent franchises in Florida, New Hampshire and Virginia.