Jeff Edwards (right), a pioneer in the funeral industry; CycledLife's first alkali disposition system; and Ed Gazvoda (left), owner of CycledLife, Inc.
First Alkali Disposition at a Funeral Home 1/27/11
Jeff Edwards is truly a pioneer in the funeral industry for performing the first CycledLife at a funeral home.
In 2008, Ed Gazvoda, owner of CycledLife, decided to improve on the costly high-temperature systems. In January of 2009, he licensed technology for low-temperature, alkaline hydrolysis, systems for both animals and for humans. CycledLife contracted with the licensor to build an alkali disposition system for human remains. In September of 2010, Jeff Edwards purchased CycledLife's first system.
In early 2011, we invented the EcoSpa, a new, patentable, alkali disposition system that is both radically different from and a vast improvement over its first system.
Edwards Fighting for Families in Ohio On 4/20, an Ohio judge was to decide the right of Ohioans to choose how they wish to honor their deceased. Unfortunately for the family Edwards was suing on behalf of, the OH Assistant Attorney General Cheryl Hawkinson requested a delay. As a result, the decedent’s husband was forced to cremate his wife, against his and his sons' wishes. The citizens of Ohio are paying for the Assistant Attorney General Cheryl Hawkinson to attempt to deny families their right to authorize their own final dispositions. A CycledLife is ecological; whereas, neither cremation nor burial are healthy for survivors. For those concerned about the living, it is a moral imperative to allow families to choose CycledLife over cremation and burial. This attempt to keep CycledLife from the public is a waste of taxpayers' money and an uncaring way to treat grieving families. Our hearts go out to the families who have been irreparably harmed and who suffer at the hands of Assistant Attorney General Cheryl Hawkinson and those responsible at the Ohio Board of Embalmers and Funeral Directors.
We ask that the county prosecutor or the Ohio Attorney General take action to remove Assistant Attorney General Cheryl Hawkinson from office and to remove Robert J. Wasko from the Ohio Board of Embalmers and Funeral Directors, for violating the Ohio Open Meetings Act. This violation of law gives cause for the Ohio taxpayers to foot the bill for Edwards' legal defense. Assistant Attorney General Cheryl Hawkinson did not have the authority to act on behalf of the Board of Embalmers and Funeral Directors. Specifically, there was no action or vote taken at the February meeting with respect to Jeff Edwards' humane dispositions. Two-days after the Board meeting, Assistant Attorney General Cheryl Hawkinson and Robert J. Wasko took it upon themselves to put an end to Edwards' ecological final disposition option, without the consent or vote of the Board of Embalmers and Funeral Directors. This grave violation of Ohio law merits the dismissal of both Hawkinson and Wasko from further "service" to Ohioans. In light of the facts, we ask that Hawkinson and Wasko resign, immediately.
Jeff Edwards, owner of Edwards Funeral Service in Columbus Ohio, is fighting for the rights of families in Ohio to choose CycledLife. Two individuals, with presumed authority, decided to instruct the ODH to block the further issuance of death certificates to families that authorize an alkali disposition for their loved ones. We ask that the ODH reverse its decision to honor this illegal request, now that the truth has come to light.
Take a stand for families in Ohio by considering having Jeff Edwards, an ecologist and funeral director, provide funeral services for your loved ones. He cares about families and their rights.
Families Forced to Burn Their Dead
Robert C. Carter's business, Robert C. Carter & Assoc., makes a living providing embalming and cremations for other funeral homes in the Columbus area - which just happens to be the same market served by Edwards Funeral Service. He is a member of the Ohio Board of Embalmers and Funeral Directors. When families are allowed to authorize a humane alternative to cremation, Carter stands to lose business. So far, 100% of families given a choice between CycledLife and cremation opted for a CycledLife.It would be fair play if Ohioans were to choose funeral homes in the Columbus area that do not send their loved ones to Robert C. Carter & Assoc. for cremations or embalming.