An out of this world send-off! Family of woman who died in 2022 send their beloved relative’s ashes into space (and they even paid for the cat too!)

The ashes of a woman and her beloved cat are scattered in space, in a farewell that is literally out of this world.

Elizabeth Garcia, born in St Albans but living in Barnsley, died in 2022 aged 70 from a heart condition, but she made sure to arrange an extraordinary final journey to the stars after her death.

Elizabeth was initially given two years to live, but she sadly passed away less than two months after her birthday.

Together with her husband John, Elizabeth was an avid explorer, and the couple regularly traveled the world, visiting new lands and people.

After seeing and exploring many places on Earth, there was only one destination left to check off: space.

Pictured: Elizabeth Garcia as a child

Pictured: Elizabeth Garcia’s certificate issued by Aura Flights

Before she passed away, Elizabeth had arranged for her ashes to be scattered into the stratosphere in an attempt to fulfill her dying wish and create a unique and unforgettable tribute to her life.

But the business owner wasn’t sent alone: ​​she was accompanied by a traveling companion in the form of her beloved cat, Chloe, who had also passed away.

Her sister, Jean, said of her sibling’s wish to be sent into space during a final farewell: “They (Elizabeth and Mark) enjoyed traveling and socializing.

“She was a very generous person who helped family and friends without question. It was her wish that her ashes be sent into space.”

Elizabeth had come across Aura Flights, a Sheffield-based provider of space memorials.

The company’s website lists the price as £2,950 for its ‘space Memorial’ service. It includes a personalized video and a memorial page on the website.

Elle Lilley, the customer service and liaison for the company, said: ‘It’s extra special to do the launch for someone you’ve spoken to so much – knowing how much she wanted to be spread out in space and that we could really do that for her fulfillment was an enriching and heart-warming feeling.’

Elizabeth and Chloe’s ashes traveled more than 100,000 feet above Earth in October 2023 in a scattering craft lifted by a specialized stratospheric balloon.

With a black and white portrait photo attached to the ship, the ashes were released and scattered across the cosmos – all captured on film for a moving memorial video.

After seeing most of the world, there was only one destination Elizabeth still had to check off: space

Elizabeth and Chloe’s ashes traveled more than 100,000 feet above Earth in January 2023 in a scattering craft lifted by a specialized stratospheric balloon

With a black and white portrait photo attached to the ship, the ashes were released and scattered across the cosmos – all captured on film for a moving memorial video

Alongside her husband John, Elizabeth (pictured) was an avid explorer, and the couple regularly traveled the world visiting new lands and people

Emotions ran high among family members, who observed Elizabeth’s final adventure through footage played thousands of feet below.

Jean added: “It was emotional, but special to know that this was exactly what Elizabeth wanted. She would have been delighted with the outcome, as would we all.”

Since her remarkable and unconventional farewell, demand for the service has grown significantly over the past year. Last year there was more than one launch per week and the company believes this will only increase.

A spokesperson for Aura Flights said: ‘When we launched the service, there was already a cultural shift with people opting for cremations over burials and moving away from traditional funeral services to more personalised, celebratory events.

“That change was widely accepted in the early days of the pandemic when people couldn’t attend in-person funerals, and we saw a huge increase in inquiries that has only intensified since.”