Unclaimed Remains
Program Introduction
The Unclaimed Remains Program is a City of Cincinnati Health Department (CHD) program that is committed to the task of handling and managing the unclaimed human remains of citizens who died in the city and are not claimed.
This program serves people whose families either could not be located or could not provide for the proper disposition of remains.
Decedents in the program are cremated. The decedents are buried in individual containers in shared crypt.
Mission
Our primary mission is to ensure the dignified and respectful burial or cremation of unclaimed human remains.
Eligibility
The City of Cincinnati Unclaimed Remains program provides funding for cremation for individuals who are indigent and who have died in the City of Cincinnati. The decedent must be a resident of the City of Cincinnati for six months prior to death.
Salute to Veterans
Upon approval into the unclaimed remains program each decedent’s name is submitted to the Veteran’s Administration to find out if they were honorably discharged. If the unclaimed is a veteran with an honorable discharge the cremated remains are taken to the Dayton Veteran Cemetery for placement. A service is conducted based on the branch of service. The Final Salute Society, a small group of dedicated volunteers attends graveside services for veterans.
Gone but Not Forgotten
“May there be comfort in knowing that someone so special will never be forgotten." - Julie Hebert