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Nova Scotia Families Face Uncertainty Over Possible Mis-buried Ashes and DNA Testing Limits
By Drooid · · How we work
Core Event: Unidentified Ashes Discovered After Funeral Home Sale
Families in the Annapolis Valley were told by the new owners of the former Serenity Funeral Home—now operating as East Coast Memorial—that ashes stored in the facility may belong to their loved ones. Michelle Carey learned that the ashes her father, Hendrik “Hank” Sabean, buried in 2018 could be among a larger, mixed collection. The province and Nova Scotia’s funeral-director regulator have opened investigations into the storage practices and the potential mis-burial.
Background & Context: Serenity’s Ownership Change and Storage Issues
Serenity Funeral Home changed hands earlier this month, prompting the new owners to inventory the vault. Their audit revealed a significant quantity of cremated remains that had not been previously accounted for. Families who used Serenity’s services, including the Sabean family, were informed that the ashes they buried might contain a small metal disc with an identification number—a possible clue to the original owners of the remains.
Official Statements & Responses
Dean Hildebrand, manager of the forensic DNA laboratory at the British Columbia Institute of Technology, explained that extracting usable DNA from cremated material is exceptionally difficult. He noted that while trace DNA can sometimes be detected, the high-temperature cremation process (? 900 °C for up to three hours) destroys most organic matter, making reliable profiling a “worst-case scenario.” Hildebrand said testing could be attempted in case a bone fragment yields viable DNA, but he cautioned that success is unlikely. Provincial authorities and the funeral-director regulator are reviewing the case to determine compliance with burial-record requirements.
Verbatim Quotes
- “Well, my sister and I talked and did a little bit of research and it would be very, very difficult to do any sort of DNA testing,” — Michelle Carey
- “But finding trace amounts of DNA is different from being able to use that [DNA].” — Dean Hildebrand
- “But of course, you have to set expectations.” — Michelle Carey
- “I want to believe that what they're telling me is true, that they do in fact have our father's remains,” — Michelle Carey
These statements capture the families’ skepticism, the scientific limits of DNA recovery, and the emotional stakes of confirming whether the buried ashes are truly those of their relatives.
