Quick answer
Families in Lewiston and Auburn can buy cremation urns, pet urns and cremation jewelry from independent makers on The Memorial Market, shipped across Androscoggin County. Maine law allows scattering in any manner not contrary to law, with no rule specific to rivers, so for the Androscoggin, ask permission from whoever owns the bank or park you use.
Last updated: · Androscoggin County: 1,124 of 1,321 deaths (85.1%) were cremations in 2025. Maine CDC, 2025 resident deaths by method of disposition
Androscoggin County had 1,124 cremations out of 1,321 deaths in 2025, an 85.1% rate. One county, two cities and a river between them: a family may want to divide ashes between relatives on each side.
That is where keepsake urns and jewelry come in.
Cremation urns for Lewiston and Auburn
A Twin Cities family might keep one urn in Lewiston and send a smaller vessel across the bridge to Auburn. The catalog has full-size ceramic urns, small blown-glass urns and sculptural pieces; capacity is on each listing.
Pet keepsakes
For a family dog or cat, there are pendants that hold ashes, name-bead keychains, a cuff bracelet and a curled fur keepsake. A half-cup keepsake urn fits a small pet or a portion.
Jewelry for sharing ashes
Rings and pendants let every sibling keep a part. Most are made to order, so allow time before an anniversary or service.
Scattering along the Androscoggin and beyond
No Maine statute addresses rivers, so the practical rule is permission: from the city or owner of the park, landing or riverbank you stand on. Stay well clear of the falls and the dam works. For the coast or Acadia, see the Maine guide; Acadia requires a Special Use Permit.
- River: ask the owner or manager of your access point.
- Private land: the owner’s permission.
- Ocean: three nautical miles out, EPA report within 30 days.
Nearest memorial services to Lewiston–Auburn, ME
We don’t list a local service near Lewiston–Auburn, ME yet. These are the closest we do list; local providers can list their services here.
Questions families ask in Lewiston–Auburn, ME
Do you ship cremation urns to Lewiston and Auburn?
Yes. Everything in the catalog ships to both cities and the rest of Androscoggin County.
Why is this one page for both cities?
Lewiston and Auburn share a county and a river, and the rules and products are the same on both banks, so one guide covers both.
Can we scatter ashes in the Androscoggin River in Lewiston or Auburn?
No specific Maine law addresses scattering in rivers. Follow general guidance: get permission from the owner of the bank or park where you stand, and keep clear of the falls and dam areas.
Sources: Maine Revised Statutes, Title 13 §1032 · Maine CDC, Cemeteries and Crematoria
Can we hold a scattering at Acadia instead?
Yes, with a Special Use Permit from Acadia National Park. The park has no no-permit option or designated scattering areas.
Is it legal to scatter ashes in Maine?
Yes. Maine law (Title 13, §1032) says that after cremation, remains may be placed in a columbarium niche or a mausoleum crypt, scattered in a cemetery area, buried, or “disposed of in any manner not contrary to law.” The Maine CDC confirms that the law doesn’t name specific scattering locations.
Sources: Maine Revised Statutes, Title 13 §1032 · Maine CDC, Cemeteries & Crematoria FAQ
Can we scatter ashes on private land in Maine?
Yes. The Maine CDC recommends getting permission before scattering on private property you don’t own. A written note from the owner is a good idea.
What about public land and state parks in Maine?
As of our last review (November 2026): No specific state law applies. Follow general guidance: ask the agency that manages the land before you scatter. We didn’t find a published Maine state parks policy on scattering ashes. Confirm with the landowner or the agency that manages the place before you go.
Sources: Maine Revised Statutes, Title 13 §1032 · Maine CDC, Cemeteries & Crematoria FAQ
Can we scatter ashes in a national park?
Scattering ashes in a National Park Service unit is prohibited unless the park issues a permit or has published conditions that allow it (36 C.F.R. 2.62). Every park sets its own rules. Some issue a free permit, some charge an application fee, some allow scattering without a permit if you follow their conditions, and at least one, Grand Canyon, no longer allows it at all. In Maine, Acadia National Park requires a Special Use Permit for scattering ashes. The memorialization application fee is $55. The park has set no designated areas or exceptions.
Sources: 36 C.F.R. 2.62, Memorialization (National Park Service) · Acadia National Park, Special Use Permits (NPS) · Acadia National Park, Superintendent’s Compendium (NPS)
What about national forests?
As of our last review (November 2026): There isn’t one nationwide answer for Forest Service land. Each forest sets its own policy. Coconino National Forest in Arizona says individuals may personally spread ashes, as long as they don’t put up monuments or bury a memorial box, and as long as a paid commercial service isn’t doing it. Bighorn National Forest in Wyoming says scattering ashes is not authorized on its land at all. Call the ranger district for the forest you have in mind before you go. Confirm with the landowner or the agency that manages the place before you go.
Sources: Coconino National Forest FAQs (USFS) · Bighorn National Forest FAQs (USFS)
Can we scatter ashes in a lake or river?
The federal burial-at-sea permit covers only the ocean. The EPA says rivers, lakes and bays are regulated, if at all, under state law and/or the Clean Water Act, and that some states prohibit scattering in inland waters. No specific Maine law addresses scattering in lakes or rivers. Follow general guidance: ask the landowner or the agency that manages the shoreline, and choose a quiet spot.
Sources: U.S. EPA, Burial at Sea (MPRSA general permit, FAQ) · Maine Revised Statutes, Title 13 §1032
Can we scatter ashes at sea from Maine?
Ocean scattering falls under federal law. Under the EPA’s general permit for burial at sea (40 C.F.R. 229.1), cremated remains may be placed in ocean waters at least three nautical miles from land. You don’t have to apply ahead of time, but whoever carries out the scattering must report it to the EPA within 30 days, using the EPA’s online reporting tool. Only materials that break down readily in the ocean can go in with the ashes. A biodegradable urn and loose natural flowers are fine. Plastic or metal flowers, synthetic wreaths and urns that won’t break down are not. Along Maine’s island-dotted coast, measure three nautical miles from the nearest land, which can mean going well offshore. The EPA treats bays as inland waters, so ask before scattering inside a bay.
Sources: U.S. EPA, Burial at Sea (MPRSA general permit, FAQ) · 40 C.F.R. 229.1, general permit for burial at sea
Can we keep the ashes at home or divide them among family?
Yes. Maine law allows cremated remains to be disposed of “in any manner not contrary to law,” and nothing in it forbids keeping them at home or sharing them among relatives.
Sources: Maine Revised Statutes, Title 13 §1032 · Maine CDC, Cemeteries & Crematoria FAQ
Do we need a permit for cremation or to move the ashes in Maine?
As of our last review (November 2026): A permit from the State Registrar or a municipal clerk is required before a body is cremated (22 MRSA §2843), and the funeral director gets it. We found no Maine rule requiring families to get a separate permit to carry the ashes afterward. Confirm with the landowner or the agency that manages the place before you go.
Source: Maine Revised Statutes, Title 22 §2843 (disposition permits)
This information is general and educational, not legal advice. Laws, park rules and agency policies change, and cities or counties can add their own rules. Before you scatter, check with the landowner or the agency that manages the land or water. Last reviewed November 10, 2026.
