[radiohead]

But would it have fit into a standard size vault?

Nope. I don't know if it was here on FR or elsewhere that I read that the funeral industry is responding to the problem of larger dead Americans. They have to resize the vault, the hole and the casket. Apparently over a certain weight you can't even be cremated because the incinerator won't handle the weight, while some of those below this threshold are opting to be cremated rather than pay the additional charges for outsized caskets, vaults, etc.

All of this is creating a nice little profit center for them.

More than you wanted to know? : )

[Ichneumon]

Apparently over a certain weight you can't even be cremated because the incinerator won't handle the weight,

No problem -- just do it in two batches.

[Salman]

Apparently over a certain weight you can't even be cremated because the incinerator won't handle the weight...

Nonsense. Just be cremated in two or more pieces.

[Marauder]

More than you wanted to know?

Not really that so much, but the visuals are killing me. :)

[StayoutdaBushesWay]

I'd be interested in reading that article.
Cremating overweight people isn't an easy thing, I'll refrain from the details, but can tell you there's a lot more to it than your average cremation!

[spiffy]

Apparently over a certain weight you can't even be cremated because the incinerator won't handle the weight...

Yeah, but couldn't you be cremated in.. maybe two or three separate pieces?

[Cronos]

Re: the funeral industry is responding to the problem of larger dead Americans. Well, they certainly ought to, seems like 2/3rds of Americans are obese -- that's the undertakers future market!