Cremation gaining acceptance, study shows

Baptist Press ^ | Mar 26, 2014 | Bob Smietana

[DouglasKC]

I used to be all for cremation...then I went to the funeral of a relative who was cremated. It’s weird but there’s no sense of closure...no chance to say goodbye in a sense. It was unsettling. Maybe not everyone feels that way but it was enough to change my mind.

[Madame Dufarge]

LOL! The curbside pickup was my first choice, too.

[Mastador1]

Give the grieved a place to go.

That's the issue for me, I don't have a lot of family. My Dad passed a little over three years ago, my Mom has his ashes with her and she's in her eighties and poor health. Since I am in charge of her will and affairs after she passes I have already told her that I will bring my Grandmother's ashes together with her and my fathers in one place near us, and if my sister and brother can't deal with my spending money to do that tough beans.

[Marie]

You get it.

The mortal remains are not for the dead. We won’t care any more.

It’s comfort for the living.

[ExTexasRedhead]

Hitler didn’t give six million a choice!

[Bubba Ho-Tep]

All I know is that the idea of pumping my body full of preservative chemicals, then putting it in an expensive casket and burying it is the height of absurdity. My first choice would be a "green burial," where they wrap you in a shroud, drop you in a hole and plant a tree on top of you. Unfortunately, you can't do that most places. So cremation it is. And i plan to make my friends do something adventurous like climb a mountaint to scatter the ashes.

Although the burning Viking longship funeral has some appeal, too.

[henkster]

I would also prefer cremation. I don’t think I’ve visited family resting places more than twice in the last 10 years.

With the advent of digital media, there will be plenty of memories of me to go around to anyone who cares. I won’t; I’ll be off waiting for the rest of you to join me.

[spudville]

I don’t think that is true. I went to the veterans website and all your family gets is a flag and some war disabled vets get a few bucks to help with the cost. If you have other information please direct me to it, I’m doing a living will.

[VerySadAmerican]

I plan on being cremated. There are too many people who want to piss on my grave. I’m not giving them the pleasure.

[phormer phrog phlyer]

A cousin of my points out another reason to have some type of marker, for future generations to answer questions about their heritage. I agree, it is a place to go to find solace.

[gunner03]

I plan to be cremated and buried with my dog who passed a few years ago. He’s buried on the crest of a hill, under the pines.

[Graybeard58]

I don’t know where you are from or what’s available in your area but my step father was recently buried at a military cemetary in Bloomfield, Mo. My mother will be buried there too. All that’s required is that you had military service. My step dad was a Korean war vet but combat is not a requirement. No cost either.

Cost for the funeral home, visitation, casket did require payment though.

[discostu]

My grandmother always insisted “land is for the living”.

[catfish1957]

Thanks as a genealogist, I’d like to mention that head stones are a means to help you ggggg grandchildren find out who you are. Who knows what paper and electronic records will survive 300-400 years from now.

[discostu]

Scattering the ashes you can still have someplace to visit, it’ll just be more generalized. We scattered my grandmother on her favorite mountain to look at coming home, all I need to do if I want to remember is look at Finger Rock. You could use the whole ocean.

[Mastador1]

If that works for you and others, that’s great! I can only speak for myself and like a little more local traditional place though I have friends ho have scattered their parents ashes in a place special to them.

[jy8z]

I wish to be cremated and spread on the land I have occupied most of my life. I believe as more people buy into the green agenda, resomation will take hold.