Burial
Cremation
Entombment/Family Crypt
Other (please explain)
Yesterday, my twin (hey Twin!) posted a blog about graveyard visits, which prompted me to pose this question to you. (Check the poll & feel free to comment as you would like.)
Me, myself personally & the rest of my immediate family*, will be laid to rest at Laurel Hills - the resting place of my mother, my sister, my play aunt, my BFF's step-dad (was like an uncle to me) and my ex uncle-in-law (who at my cousins' request, happens to be just a few plots from my mom & sister). I guess this is now our official place.
*My uncle is a vet and Uncle Sam has a place waiting for him, but he has instructed me to have him cremated. Afterwards, he wants his ashes tossed into a flowing body of water. I told him once I got the insurance check, I'm booking a Caribbean or Alaskan cruise and will carry out his final wish. Who I am to deny him? :o)
Click here for a prior interesting link & discussion.
My will has clear instructions that I am NOT to be laid out... I am to be cremated and any type of memorial service held needs to be a party of the highest order. No tears.
ReplyDeleteCremate me
ReplyDeleteWhich reminds me, I need to do my Will.
I want to be cremated. I have specific instructions for my funeral attire though. I want to be in my black jeans and white Skins jersey. There will also be no tears allowed. I'm not worth any.
ReplyDeleteAll my life my mama said, "No sad singing or flower bringing. Al Green, Marvin Gaye & Colt 45 will do just fine."
ReplyDeleteEven tho I didn't honor the sad singing & flower bringing part (due to the circumstances, I just couldn't). We did honor the latter at the repass.
Taxidermy.
ReplyDeleteOnly you! *lol*
ReplyDeleteBurial. Scared Imma feel the flames! LOL
ReplyDeleteI have never considered anything other than a burial, but as I have gotten older and see how sad and depressing funerals are I think I may want to be cremated.
ReplyDeleteI told my mother that I want to be creamated and my ashes sprinkled in the warm waters of the Carribean. She's all pissy about that so I'm going to have it drawn up in a will.
ReplyDeleteI haven't really thought about it, but a burial is all I've known and that's probably the route I'd want to go.
ReplyDeleteI'm erring on the side of indifference also. I thought about cremation because it is far more environmentally sound. And I find that when I've attended memorials were there wasn't a body, it was more of a joyous celebration. So, maybe I'm leaning towards cremation then...
ReplyDeletethats funny, my folks are all in a *state* about me wanting to be put in the ground! LOLOL Ashes to ashes, dust to dust, I ain't in no great big hurry to become dust.
ReplyDeleteI honestly don't have a preference. But as a genealogist, whether I'm cremated or not, I want a headstone.
ReplyDeleteI have specifically instructed my people to take possession of my bike and helmet... my helmet is to be strapped to the pillion seat and somebody's taking me for a symbolic last ride. For the "party," they've been instructed to wear something I made for them... somebody will make the mac n cheese, somebody else will make the lemonade and they are to party like rock stars...
ReplyDeleteI gotta be honest... i dont think I really care either way... i never liked going to funerals, but sometimes I think they're as sad as we make them... And I know that makes no sense... But if I guess I should come up with some resolutions on this... My mom is opposed to cremation whereas the Dude would honor my request... and the two would clash... but that would only occur if Dude wrapped a beautiful ring with some kind of pink stone in it around my finger... But for now... I guess I would have to go with buriel... As odd as it is.. I think seeing that person at rest is some type of closure as opposed to a bucket of sand (figuratively speaking)... And also, i think it is my hearts desire to go out of this world the way I lived it... LOVING PINK to the fullest and people need to see that... Actually this is getting me to thinking... Cuz I do need to make my arrangements and put together a will... They do make pink coffin's right..
ReplyDeleteHonestly, I don't even care as long as I have a nice send-off. My main concern is where I'm going to end up...do I want to burn eternally or fly around with a harp and a halo...LOL
ReplyDeleteI want to go like your uncle. I wantt to be cremated and I want someone to enjoy a lovely vacation as they scatter my dust in some amazing place. *sigh* But my daddy already has our plots picked out. LOL Maybe I can talk him into getting his money back for mine. He has burial insurance on everybody and all except my mama (who's buried in her family area at another cemetery because her daddy did the same thing) is to be buried in the same area.
ReplyDeleteIgnant!!!! LOL
ReplyDeleteHonestly, I don't really care whats done with my Body. I'm dead. I won't feel it or KNOW. I just know that I don't want nobody to be all teary eyed.
ReplyDeleteMy Great Grandmother told us when we buried her "I want a lot of flowers and singing. No Crying...at ALL". Of course, some folks cry tears of happiness, while others cried tears of GUILT (Long story). We had a Holy Ghost pary at the funeral, tho. They though we was crazy because we almost had a praise break....but it's what she wanted.
If someone deciedes to bury me, I want to be SUNG to heaven and I don't want no crying at all. A funeral is supposed to be a celberation, not anything sad. Thats what I think, anyway. My Mother already told me cremation on her behalf is OUT.
Oooops! Almost forgot. HEY TWIN!! *waving*
ReplyDeleteNot when they don't look anything like they did in life...
ReplyDeleteWell that much is true...
ReplyDeleteThat's why I want to be in my SKINS gear for the viewing before they cremate me. I want y'all to remember me laughing and joking instead of however I meet my end.
ReplyDeleteIf you have the $$$ they surely will.
ReplyDeleteIMHO, losing an elderly person or someone who is sick & suffering is not as hard as losing someone too soon.
ReplyDeleteI cried twice for my great-granny & grandfather - the day I got the news & the day the casket closed. I cried maybe 5-6 times for my grandmother, my rock. All 3 were well into their 80s when they passed & "felt like going on". They made no bones about it.
However, I still cry for my mama & sister.
I had to re-read this. At first glance, I visualized you (as in your body) making that final ride! Lawd, my speed reading skills are shot. *lol*
ReplyDeleteWhen they laid my grandfather out, he looked great! No lie, I had never in my life seen someone who actually looked like they were sleeping. He didn't look dead and oddly enough, that was kinda eerie.
ReplyDeleteI can about IMAGINE the look on your face... LMAO
ReplyDeleteThe only family member I saw that looked "good" was my Aunt Grace.
ReplyDeleteI got a question though. Why do we take pictures?
I've only witnessed this once. July 1978 - my 4 year old cousin Datheon was hit by a car & killed. I was only 6 and knew he was dead but it really didn't effect me.
ReplyDeleteHere's Muda, at the Family Hour before the service, with her Polaroid Instant. That was the weirdest thing I'd ever seen (at age 6 of course). My mama was a mess & her niece (Datheon's mom) was comforting her.
I asked Muda why she was taking pictures & she said she needed Papa to see them. *scratching my head* My cousin was pissed about our grandmother taking those photos, but 30 years later, she still has the photos, along with his obituary in a scrapbook.
That's the only time I've seen photos being taken at a funeral.
This whole blog has given me the willies. *pause while I wash my sweaty palms*
ReplyDeleteOk...I prefer entombment, but before my aunt passed last year, she made specific instructions to donate her body to Hopkins for research. In her words, "I want them to find out why I had this disease (cancer) and find a cure for it. What better way for me to give them my support." What she said made a lot of sense so that is an option. Also, at her memorial, it was a service of rememberance. Not all gloomy since there was no body.
I DEFINITELY don't want to be buried. **palms getting clammy again** Just crank some Bmore Club music and serve chicken boxes and half & half's for everybody.
I have wondered this myself. I work with a girl who does photography on the side. People pay her $50 a funeral to take professional pics of dead people. She asked me if I wanted to see some pics one day. I told her she was stupid.
ReplyDeleteHonestly, I really haven't put much though into it. I guess I should...
ReplyDeleteHere's a question for those opting for cremation:
ReplyDeleteWhat instructions/wishes do you have for your ashes?
I never ever understood why people want those kind of pictures. I took pictures of my dead neighbor at the request of one of my best friends (his ex wife) because his daddy was locked up in prison and it would have cost him over a thousand dollars to transport him to the funeral. It was the absolute weirdest thing I have ever done. I had to hurry up and get those pics off my pc. I am nosey and have watched a body prepared but the pictures were ick.
ReplyDeleteOmg when my 93 year old grandma died 5 years ago...she just looked sleep...not pasty not dead. She also looked like a good 25 years had been taken off her life. I was like where are the wrinkles....all of at the wake was like Annie Mae...look at you....you done went back to when we were babies. NO LIE!!!
ReplyDeleteThey sure do...my sister tried to get one for my mother and I had to hurry up and say hell no....My mom hated pink so we went with this sunrise color...a nice goldish yellowish color....I remember it was a full casket...two funerals...don't ask...and the funeral director down south said we never had a full casket before only halves. He was right everybody at the church looked from her feet up....wow folks is nosy honey.
ReplyDelete