Mar 16, 2023Liked by Amelia Mavis Christnot, The Big Picture, George Takei
I had no idea there were so many options available. I've long been opposed to traditional burial methods and embalming, and I thought the only other option was cremation. I'm certain that in a few years we'll have even more options. The only issue I see now is that you may be leaving your loved ones with a legal problem, even if you did your homework prior to your death, because laws change. Not only do you not know how or when you'll die, you also don't know where you'll die.
Mar 16, 2023Liked by Amelia Mavis Christnot, The Big Picture
Thank you for all the information. We live on a farm in Oregon. When my husband died we had him cremated and then buried his ashes under “his” tree when it was transplanted from where we bought it to the farm. I didn’t know how toxic cremation is when I made the decision, but feel good about buying the tree and putting his ashes under it. Now I see it out my window and watch it through the seasons.
Mar 16, 2023Liked by Amelia Mavis Christnot, The Big Picture
I am disappointed as a Californian that my family can’t bury my cremains in the backyard of our family home! Hopefully by the time I go, the ice urn will be available. I love being on or in water (I swim and paddle as a member of an outrigger canoe club), so that would be a great way to float away from life.
Mar 16, 2023Liked by Amelia Mavis Christnot, The Big Picture
Very interesting information, thank you for this. Pre-planning is important and if one feels strongly enough, best to put into writing what you want along with a few alternatives in case laws (and technology) change by the time you pass away.
Some years ago I discovered Caitlin Doughty, who is a writer and "death acceptance advocate." I read her first book, "Smoke gets in your eyes," which was a fascinating book about one of her first jobs as a crematory operator. Not for the squeamish, but she wrote clearly about a topic most people avoid thinking about. She has also written a few other books on the topic, including one writtenfor children, and also has a YouTube channel (I've not read the newer books nor seen the YT).
Composting would be my option of choice. Unfortunately, a greedy Indiana representative at the State House kept that from being legal here (he was in the casket business). There are green burial options, however, and I was pleased to attend a green funeral for a family member who sadly passed during the pandemic. It was beautiful and my husband and I may pre-plan to rest nearby, as there are only a few cemeteries in the state that offer green burials.
I was hoping to find a way to recycle ALL of my body. I am signed up on my driver's license as an organ donor but am afraid that might not include ALL organs (including skin). Then that still leaves other parts of the body. I thought about asking some farmer to cut it up and use it as fertilizer (like they used fish ages ago) but then thought maybe the rest could simply be eaten (by humans or wildlife or whatever doesn't matter to me)? I just don't want anything wasted!
I told my children that I wanted to be taxidermed into a chair position so they could sit on me when they missed me .... they didn't like that "too creepy" so now I want to be cremated and compressed into two diamonds one for each of my girls ! So far they are in agreement as long as I'm not made into jewelry so I guess I will be in a sculpture or something !! I'll keep looking !!
I had no idea there were so many options available. I've long been opposed to traditional burial methods and embalming, and I thought the only other option was cremation. I'm certain that in a few years we'll have even more options. The only issue I see now is that you may be leaving your loved ones with a legal problem, even if you did your homework prior to your death, because laws change. Not only do you not know how or when you'll die, you also don't know where you'll die.
Very informative - thanks!
Thank you for all the information. We live on a farm in Oregon. When my husband died we had him cremated and then buried his ashes under “his” tree when it was transplanted from where we bought it to the farm. I didn’t know how toxic cremation is when I made the decision, but feel good about buying the tree and putting his ashes under it. Now I see it out my window and watch it through the seasons.
Thank you for this information. There are many options I had never heard of.
I am disappointed as a Californian that my family can’t bury my cremains in the backyard of our family home! Hopefully by the time I go, the ice urn will be available. I love being on or in water (I swim and paddle as a member of an outrigger canoe club), so that would be a great way to float away from life.
Very interesting information, thank you for this. Pre-planning is important and if one feels strongly enough, best to put into writing what you want along with a few alternatives in case laws (and technology) change by the time you pass away.
Some years ago I discovered Caitlin Doughty, who is a writer and "death acceptance advocate." I read her first book, "Smoke gets in your eyes," which was a fascinating book about one of her first jobs as a crematory operator. Not for the squeamish, but she wrote clearly about a topic most people avoid thinking about. She has also written a few other books on the topic, including one writtenfor children, and also has a YouTube channel (I've not read the newer books nor seen the YT).
Very useful information. Thank you.
Composting would be my option of choice. Unfortunately, a greedy Indiana representative at the State House kept that from being legal here (he was in the casket business). There are green burial options, however, and I was pleased to attend a green funeral for a family member who sadly passed during the pandemic. It was beautiful and my husband and I may pre-plan to rest nearby, as there are only a few cemeteries in the state that offer green burials.
I was hoping to find a way to recycle ALL of my body. I am signed up on my driver's license as an organ donor but am afraid that might not include ALL organs (including skin). Then that still leaves other parts of the body. I thought about asking some farmer to cut it up and use it as fertilizer (like they used fish ages ago) but then thought maybe the rest could simply be eaten (by humans or wildlife or whatever doesn't matter to me)? I just don't want anything wasted!
I told my children that I wanted to be taxidermed into a chair position so they could sit on me when they missed me .... they didn't like that "too creepy" so now I want to be cremated and compressed into two diamonds one for each of my girls ! So far they are in agreement as long as I'm not made into jewelry so I guess I will be in a sculpture or something !! I'll keep looking !!