A Morbid Poll I know.

Nurses General Nursing

Published

Specializes in ER,ICU,L+D,OR.

Now I know this may seem rather morbid to some. It really isnt meant to be. But as nurses some of the issues we have to face are the decisions that patients and families have made for the end of their life. This is a poll of what you think best applies to your thoughts and beliefs about how you would like to see the end of your life ceremony proceed. There are many different ceremonies and I cant begin to list them all.

Would you prefer.......

1 The standard traditional funeral in this country with either a closed or open casket followed by cemetery

internment with the usual body preparation at a funeral home.

2. Cremation

3. Cremation with your ashes being made into "Reef Ball" to help rebuild coral reefs.

4. Natural or green Burial, where after a viewing if wished you are buried in green or enviromentally safe fashion.

I know this is a morbid question , but I have been researching for a while. Just out of curiosity and some decisions I have had to help patients and their families with of late.

Did you know in a study, easily found on the net. That is an average 10 acre cemetery contains enough coffin wood to construct more than 40 homes, nearly 1000 tons of casket metal and another 20,000 tons of vault concrete. Add to that enough toxic embalming fluid to fill a backyard swimming pool, a human carcinogen. I can see why they are being considered as de facto landfills of nonbiodegradable materials. Classified by the EPA as hazardous waste. All this has amazed me to no end.

0 Votes
Specializes in ER.

I personally prefer not to be viewed and prefer not to go in the ground. I mean for what reason? Creamation, nice service in a church with my ashes and enlarged photo up front. I want people talking about how and why I meant something to them. What they do with the ashes is their call as long as they don't bury them.

0 Votes
Specializes in ER.

I just wanted to mention that I had a friend my age who died just 2 years ago. He wanted to be creamated with his ashes spread in NY harbor and his family had a traditional funeral and had him buried. They were well aware of his wishes but didn't want people in their church talking about them so they did what they wanted. I don't think it in anyway effected where he went but I think that's so horrible to not abide by their loved ones wishes :cry:

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Specializes in midwifery, ophthalmics, general practice.

well.. I just arranged the funeral for my partner- he died on 8th December and the funeral was yesterday... so this is a subject close to my heart at the moment!!

I would not want anyone to see me after I am dead- its a body and it will look nothing like me! I'd like a wicker coffin.. but they are 4 times more expensive than the traditional wooden one. so it will be cremation with my ashes being scattered over some far distant hills! I plan on writing this into my will.

I'd have a proper wiccan funeral but think my family might have a blue fit and the funeral is for them, not me! I wont be there. oh and they can play 'another one bites the dust' by queen...

0 Votes
Specializes in Emergency.

Cremated and put in the ocean. I do not want to be eaten by bugs even if I'm dead and don't know they're eating me. If my family disregarded my wishes (of which they are all aware) I would just have to haunt them for the rest of their lives. And they can play "Brokedown Palace" by the Grateful Dead. Then they should all go out and have a huge party. No one is to look at me when I'm dead other than the guy imbalming me (I want to be sure I'm dead after all. I would hate to wake up in the crematorium getting ready to burn).

0 Votes

No funeral...cremation and a big family trip to go scatter my ashes in Belize

0 Votes
Specializes in ER.
well.. I just arranged the funeral for my partner- he died on 8th December and the funeral was yesterday... so this is a subject close to my heart at the moment!!

I'm sorry for your loss karenG

0 Votes
Specializes in ER.
Cremated and put in the ocean. I do not want to be eaten by bugs even if I'm dead and don't know they're eating me. If my family disregarded my wishes (of which they are all aware) I would just have to haunt them for the rest of their lives. And they can play "Brokedown Palace" by the Grateful Dead. Then they should all go out and have a huge party. No one is to look at me when I'm dead other than the guy imbalming me (I want to be sure I'm dead after all. I would hate to wake up in the crematorium getting ready to burn).

Just curious? Why would you be imbalmed if you're being creamated?

0 Votes
Specializes in Emergency.
Just curious? Why would you be imbalmed if you're being creamated?

See the last sentence in parentheses of my post.

0 Votes
Specializes in Critical care, tele, Medical-Surgical.

I've already done the legal stuff to donate my organs and/or tissues if useable.

Or donate my body to a school of medicine.

I would like to think people would sing a song in my memory.

0 Votes
Specializes in Emergency.
I've already done the legal stuff to donate my organs and/or tissues if useable.

Or donate my body to a school of medicine.

My aunt, an RN for 44 years, tried to make arrangements to donate her body. The medical schools here in my area told her that she would have to pay for her body to be transported from the university to the funeral home after they were done with it. She told them to stick it.

0 Votes
Specializes in Cardiac.

Cremation and scatter my ashes someplace nice, like a garden or forest. Definitely NOT the ocean. The deep ocean scares me and I'm not fond of being there. And I know I will be dead and all but I still do not want to end up in the deep, cold, dark, ocean.

0 Votes
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