Final Resting Places
When planning a funeral either for yourself or for a loved one, there are many things you need to weigh and consider.
One of the most important decisions you will make in this difficult time is where the remains should be interred, or what should be done with them if they are not to be buried or entombed.
There are many options available to people of every cultural and religious background which cater to every spiritual belief and individual concern.
This short guide will present a number of these options and help you decide which is most appropriate for you.
Traditional funerals are the most common practice.
A ceremony is conducted in remembrance of the deceased.
Loved ones have an opportunity to mourn together and share stories of the life of the deceased.
The body may be displayed before it is transported to the burial, entombment, or cremation site.
A hearse may lead a funeral procession to the final resting place where a more solemn ceremony is performed as the remains are interred.
Traditional funeral services are usually the most expensive option, as there are a multitude of additional fees.
The cost of the casket, hearse, funeral home, embalming process, and cemetery plot all contribute to this higher cost.
The cost can be reduced by having a direct burial service.
In this case, there is no ceremony and no viewing.
The body is not dressed or embalmed and is instead buried immediately in a less expensive container.
The body may also be cremated shortly after death.
These options still leave room for a small memorial service, often limited to family members and only the closest friends, but this will typically incur an additional fee.
If the body is cremated, the question then arises of what to do with the cremated remains, or cremains.
Oftentimes they are scattered, although there are a number of legal concerns regarding this option.
It is easiest to have the cremains scattered by a licensed company.
Some offer scattering services at sea.
These services will often let you specify a location for the scattering.
Other, more exotic options include having the cremains incorporated into the construction of artificial reefs, or having them launched into Earth orbit or deep space.
This was the fate of Gene Roddenberry, the creator of the television series 'Star Trek'.
Some companies are now even offering the option to have the cremains turned into an artificial diamond, composed of the carbon of the deceased's remains.
This gem may then be mounted in a ring or necklace.
The body may also be donated to science.
Many medical schools and teaching hospitals have a need for human bodies to use in the education of new doctors.
These programs will typically cover much of the cost of the delivery and final disposition of the body.
Organs may also be donated to benefit those in need.
One of the most important decisions you will make in this difficult time is where the remains should be interred, or what should be done with them if they are not to be buried or entombed.
There are many options available to people of every cultural and religious background which cater to every spiritual belief and individual concern.
This short guide will present a number of these options and help you decide which is most appropriate for you.
Traditional funerals are the most common practice.
A ceremony is conducted in remembrance of the deceased.
Loved ones have an opportunity to mourn together and share stories of the life of the deceased.
The body may be displayed before it is transported to the burial, entombment, or cremation site.
A hearse may lead a funeral procession to the final resting place where a more solemn ceremony is performed as the remains are interred.
Traditional funeral services are usually the most expensive option, as there are a multitude of additional fees.
The cost of the casket, hearse, funeral home, embalming process, and cemetery plot all contribute to this higher cost.
The cost can be reduced by having a direct burial service.
In this case, there is no ceremony and no viewing.
The body is not dressed or embalmed and is instead buried immediately in a less expensive container.
The body may also be cremated shortly after death.
These options still leave room for a small memorial service, often limited to family members and only the closest friends, but this will typically incur an additional fee.
If the body is cremated, the question then arises of what to do with the cremated remains, or cremains.
Oftentimes they are scattered, although there are a number of legal concerns regarding this option.
It is easiest to have the cremains scattered by a licensed company.
Some offer scattering services at sea.
These services will often let you specify a location for the scattering.
Other, more exotic options include having the cremains incorporated into the construction of artificial reefs, or having them launched into Earth orbit or deep space.
This was the fate of Gene Roddenberry, the creator of the television series 'Star Trek'.
Some companies are now even offering the option to have the cremains turned into an artificial diamond, composed of the carbon of the deceased's remains.
This gem may then be mounted in a ring or necklace.
The body may also be donated to science.
Many medical schools and teaching hospitals have a need for human bodies to use in the education of new doctors.
These programs will typically cover much of the cost of the delivery and final disposition of the body.
Organs may also be donated to benefit those in need.