bury him at sea after he dies.

[angliholic]

Mr. Smith asked his sons to bury him at sea after he dies.



The part sounds odd to me. How could we bury a person at sea? But I couldn't find a better version to replace it. So, your help, please! Thanks.

 

[Anglika]

There is no other way of saying this, except the formal one of "commit his body to the sea".

 

[angliholic]

Thanks, Anglika.
Your version sounds excellent to me.
It just sprung to mind that there is a way of saying it in our language--spread his ashes into the sea. But does it sound right to you?

 

[Delmobile]

"Burial at sea" does not necessarily include cremation. Here is a description of the ceremony associated with such a burial in the US Navy.

As for the ashes, the usual verb is "scattered." "Mother always wanted us to scatter her ashes over Lake Witchicobee, where we spent so many happy family vacations."

[not a teacher]

 

[angliholic]

Thanks, Delmobile.
Got it.

It sounds good--scatter his ashes over the sea.