MANCHESTER, Conn. — A local funeral home is taking steps towards leaving a greener footprint.
It has one of the only Aquamation systems in the region, which is a newer, cleaner way to take home ashes after a loved one passes.
“This is a way to do things in a much cleaner way,” said Thomas Tierney.
The John F. Tierney Funeral Home in Manchester has been around for nearly 70 years. There hasn’t been much change since then, until now.
“It’s just getting to that point of cremated remains in a different way,” said Tierney.
Tierney is a third generation funeral director is the first in the state, and the region, to use what’s called Aquamation, an eco-friendly alternative to flame cremation or burial.
“It’s the rapid decomposition of human remains that would organically happen in the Earth but with warm water and alkaline which is like a strong salt,” said Tierney.
The process can take more than 10 hours, but doesn’t burn any fossil fuels, saves over 90% of energy and leaves behind a cleaner carbon footprint.
Families still take home ashes of their loved ones, but the process doesn’t use any flame or gasses.
It’s the same cost as a traditional cremation.
“The end result is the same, cremation, natural gasses are used, propane, different things in this process. we’re using water and alkaline, renewable resources,” said Tierney.
The process has been up and running for just a few weeks and so far nearly two dozen families have been utilizing the cleaner technology.
Even families from surrounding states are starting to reach out.
Tierney said other areas of the country are starting to legalize the process and in time, the industry will likely become more environmentally friendly, especially as his family prepares to continue on the business.
“With young children in the way of the world now this seems like the next right step,” said Tierney.
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Lindsey Kane is a reporter at FOX61 News. She can be reached at Lkane@fox61.com. Follow her on Facebook, X, and Instagram.
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