[Deke40]

After my mother's funeral in February, which she had pre-arranged, I decided to go ahead and pre-pay for everything concerning mine and my wife's funeral arrangements so my remaining loved ones wouldn't have to deal with all the decisions in a time of mourning.

It got me to wondering about the percentages of people opting for cremation verses a normal burial of the remains.

I also wonder if most people opposing cremation are doing so on a religious belief and what in the biblical teachings are against this practice.

PS-Just for information it cost a total of $6300 for everything inculding a vessel for the remains and a niche at the cemetary for two people.

[MightyQueenC]

Science/medicine can have some of my innards (the details are known by them that need to know) and then I'll have a (pre-arranged and already paid for) cremation. Then they can dump ashes in the garbage or wherever they want, but I've told them I don't care for keeping the remains in some fancy vase that will just fall off the fireplace mantle, sooner or later.
I am not religious and cost is/was not an issue.

Carolyn

[Deke40]

MQ-We have been married for 43 years this November and decided to be interred in one container so we will be together for eternity, mushy I know, but we are not only married but best buddies and true soul-mates.

[MightyQueenC]

Originally Posted by Deke

MQ-We have been married for 43 years this November and decided to be interred in one container so we will be together for eternity, mushy I know, but we are not only married but best buddies and true soul-mates.

I am not religious, but I am highly romantic. Gosh, Deke. That sounds really nice. Makes the idea of "leaving" a little more cuddly.

Take care

Carolyn

[eggplant43]

Deke, in something so personal, I think you should do whatever feels right to you.

In the bigger picture, making arrangements ahead of time is thoughtful, considerate, and probably more cost effective. I've seen what happens when arrangements aren't pre-made and discussed, and it can really create problems for the survivors

I am so thankful that Willi made a will about a year before she passed, or my life would be much different for me now. I can't tell you what a loving gift it turned out to be.

I hope everyone reading this will make arrangements now, no matter what age you are, especially if there are childen involved. You just never know.

[Deke40]

Originally Posted by eggplant43

In the bigger picture, making arrangements ahead of time is thoughtful, considerate, and probably more cost effective. I've seen what happens when arrangements aren't pre-made and discussed, and it can really create problems for the survivors

EP-Your are so right. The cemetery we went to has a book that you can fill out with all your financial, personal requests, property info, military background, and their location. We sat down last night and filled it out and are going to place it in our lock box at our credit union at which are daughter has access to.

As you well know when your are in a time of deep sorrow there are just way to many important decisions to make and not to have a guideline just makes them more difficult.

[Deke40]

Seeing I have kind of a bent sense of humor I am also in the process of writing my on obituary.

[MightyQueenC]

Originally Posted by Deke

Seeing I have kind of a bent sense of humor I am also in the process of writing my on obituary.

Originally Posted by Eggplant

I am so thankful that Willi made a will about a year before she passed, or my life would be much different for me now. I can't tell you what a loving gift it turned out to be.

...and Eggplant got me to thinkin' (as he usually does ) that I've got lots of "stuff".
I have stuff everywhere.
I have stuff that's really just garbage.
I have stuff that's meaningful to me but might be uncomfortable or even embarrassing for others to have to sort through.
I have stuff that I have no business having: broken, old, stale, out-dated, and "other".
I decided, today, to sort through all this stuff.
One grocery-sized bag a day.
There, a move in the right direction. Go me

Carolyn
*is not looking forward to going through all of her Mum's "stuff", one day, as she a lightweight in comparison*

[XL Guru]

For a long time I thought cremation -- but since Mrs XL expressed a preference for a green burial, I'm torn.

[angelize56]

I was going to get cremated until someone told me you couldn't get into Heaven if you were! Since the body only houses the soul...and it's "ashes to ashes"...I don't see how that is possible. It'd be nice if I could get a serious answer to the cremation/Heaven issue.

On the other side...I have no money to get buried in the first place...so if my brother foots the bill it will definitely be cremation.

[angelize56]

Since Deke has a sense of humor...my brother actually told me in a lighter moment I'd be buried in a Hefty Bag in his backyard....but I think that's illegal!

[MightyQueenC]

Originally Posted by angelize56

Since Deke has a sense of humor...my brother actually told me in a lighter moment I'd be buried in a Hefty Bag in his backyard....but I think that's illegal!

Yes, it is. I already checked. Seems rather economical, though

[angelize56]

Carolyn: I can relate to your post!! I have 25 years of clutter in my basement...I'd never expect my family to sort through all that....I can't even manage to do that! I have a hard time parting with things...but starting Monday...thank to this thread and your post...I'm having my son bring up two boxes a day to sort through until it's all gone or given away!

[XL Guru]

Originally Posted by angelize56

On the other side...I have no money to get buried in the first place...so if my brother foots the bill it will definitely be cremation.

-- I didn't post any links (no advertising), but at first glance green burial looks significantly cheaper than traditional.

[angelize56]

Thanks for the info Carolyn...on to plan B!