Unusual Alternatives to Burial

What would you like to happen when you leave this place? When your spirit departs for adventures unknown, what about the shell it inhabited on earth? Orthodox Jews and Christians believe the body must return to the soil from wence it came, thus the popularity in burial underground or in mausoleums. But as the world broadens and becomes enlightened about other cultures and their traditions, the idea of burial is becoming less popular.

Cremation is a very old tradition, one which has been gradually creeping into the traditional church beliefs over the past 30 years. Now the Catholic church has accepted cremation, and some cathedrals have built columbaria, an area to hold burial urns. Cardinal Adam Maida of the Catholic church in Detroit believes cremation doesn't violate any religious laws.

"We need to educate our people that, although cremation is valid, this does not mean that we have any disrespect for the body. In our Catholic tradition we like to have the ashes placed in a cemetery in a special place where people can come and remember and pray and reverence the life of someone who has been important to them."

Choosing the Unorthodox

But a lot of people are choosing more unorthodox methods of handling the 'cremains' of loved ones. In addition to keeping their urns in the home as decorative objects, now there is a huge variety of other options. Amongst these are the making of decorative objects from the cremains, including candlesticks, wind-chimes, and heart-shaped lockets. For information about cremation go to: www.cremation.com; www.help4srs.org/end_of_life/funeral.htm or www.funeralplan.com.

Many people spread cremains in a favorite place, but there are littering laws that interfere with some spreading practices. An interesting idea comes from Eternal Reefs, a company that works with an ecological group called Reef Ball Development Group. They build artificial underwater reefs out of environmentally friendly concrete and incorporate cremains into the reefs. There are choices of the size of reef, or as part of a community of reefs. This option is helping to save underwater life and the deteriorating coral reefs. For more information go to: www.eternalreefs.com or telephone 888/423-7333.

Another choice for the new millennium comes from Celestis, a company which launches cremains into space. Your remains can orbit the earth, the moon, or be shot into deep space, perhaps one day to be discovered by the Starship Enterprise. This fascinating idea doesn't come cheap, however -- Earthview is $5,300 and Lunar or Voyager are $12,500 each. They also offer the 'Ad Astra' for $300, in which a digital message including photos, biographies and tributes are sent into space, and the naming of a star in honor of the deceased. A Certificate of Star Registry and Verification of Transmission, and a star map are included. The Celestis services are popular now because they enable those left behind to feel that their loved ones have become a part of the cosmos they can see. Celestis can be reached at 213/971-4019 or www.celestis.com.Many people today are making their own death arrangements. When Sandra Brandenburg's mother died, she had specified she wanted to be cremated. But Sandra's sisters wouldn't agree to this, so Violet Daniels was buried alongside her husband John. Sandra has decided to take matters into her own hands, and after learning about Eternal Reefs is planning for she and her husband Tom to become part of a 'community reef' along with as many of their friends as are interested...including the author of this piece, who has also chosen to become a reef (hopefully not for many years yet!).

Want to Make Your Own Arrangements?

Help in funeral planning is available online. Go to www.deni.net to buy the Deni Enterprises Pre-Funeral Planning Kit ($19.95). At the 4Preneed website you can read articles about pre-planning your funeral and get fact sheets from the National Funeral Directors on all aspects of funeral planning including prepayment. And if you have individual questions you would like answered, they have an e-mail address just for that. Their website is: www.webworldwide.com/roeders/Web/4preneed.htm. Address specific questions about funeral preplanning to: Joe@4Preneed.com.

Wesley Daniels, third-generation director of Daniels Chapel of the Roses in Santa Rosa, California, talked to me about how the funeral business has changed since his grandfather opened the business. Much of Daniels' business now comes from the Asian community -- Santa Rosa has a large Vietnamese community, and Buddhist funerals are specific and complicated. Wesley and his sister Aimee have learned to diversify in order to serve the different needs in funeral arrangements today.

All Faiths Welcome...Almost

But there are some problems associated with a global marketplace in death planning. Another funeral director in Northern California also accepted all kinds of beliefs and ceremonies...until the Satanist entered his chapel. He wanted a special ceremony for his mother, and when the funeral director (who asked to remain anonymous) refused his request, he locked himself in the chapel with his mother's body and began his own ceremony. After getting the door open, the funeral director ejected him from the building.

In the 21st century you can choose your own resting place...even in outer space or the bottom of the ocean. But Satanists are on their own...

Sources used in Story:

www.cremation.com

www.help4srs.org/end_of_life/funeral.htm

www.funeralplan.com

www.eternalreefs.com

www.celestis.com

www.deni.net

www.webworldwide.com/roeders/Web/4preneed.htm