While some families in the Annapolis Valley of Nova Scotia are facing uncertainty after discovering they may have not interred the actual ashes of their deceased relatives, a DNA testing expert explains that the technology offers only a slim chance of confirming the remains’ identities. Numerous families who had engaged the services of the now-defunct Serenity Funeral Home were recently notified by the new proprietors that containers of ashes belonging to their loved ones were located in storage.
Michelle Carey utilized Serenity’s services following her father Hendrik (Hank) Sabean’s passing in 2018. Sabean had provided specific instructions for his funeral, which included arrangements with the funeral home. Now, compelled to repeat the burial process without certainty about the actual remains they interred, Carey expresses skepticism about ever definitively identifying the remains.
Dean Hildebrand, overseeing the forensic DNA laboratory at the British Columbia Institute of Technology, highlights the significant challenge of obtaining sufficient DNA from ashes for identification purposes. While trace amounts of DNA have been reported, using it effectively is a different matter. Hildebrand acknowledges DNA’s resilience, citing instances where full DNA profiles were extracted from human remains affected by fires, unlike the complete breakdown of organic matter in a crematorium setting.
Hildebrand shares his experience with identifying remains from ashes mix-ups involving other funeral homes and acknowledges the complexity of the current situation, with numerous remains involved. Despite the low odds, he emphasizes the potential value of testing, especially if a bone fragment could yield viable DNA. Carey was informed that the buried ashes might contain a metal disc with an identification number, offering a possible lead for identifying the remains.
While Carey hopes for the accuracy of the information provided, the presence of the ID number may be the sole means of identifying the individual initially interred in 2018. Authorities in the province and Nova Scotia’s regulatory body for funeral directors are conducting investigations into the matter.