A Morbid Poll I know.

[Iam46yearsold]

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.

[Washington88]

After reading someone else's about making there ashes into a diamond, i got a really good but probably creepy idea to some. Get cremated, have a portion make into a man made diamond, and make a Family Ring. Maybe have it given to the oldest grandson/great grandson (or first to get married) to use as an engagment ring. over generations they can be passed down and used some what as a family tree, keeping a record that would have a longevity of the life of the diamond (or atleast as long as the metal last were there name could be ingraved-if you lost that i suppose you wouldnt know which is which). If your going to spend the money why not do somthing that will last and turn out really neat. besides, engagment rings are expensive so im sure a younger generation would appreciate to receive it.

[annabanana1219]

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.

i do not want a green funeral!!!! i am not against green power, though! i want to be cremated and have my ashes spread with the ashes i have of my dogs, which currently is 2 dogs. i have 2 living dogs that will be cremated when their time comes. that is what i want, spread me in the yard, please. with my dogs please.

anna

[jode]

Cremate me baby. Spread me around in New Mexico high desert.

[annabanana1219]

[color=olive]good answer!!

[merrywhiterose]

I would prefer that people's last memories of me wasn't of me in a casket. However, I do understand that others would need to see my body to say their last good-byes. Since once you're dead that's it, I won't know any difference. Hopefully, my family will spend as little as possible to bury me. I already have a grave. I've made it perfectly clear that absolutely no religious leaders are to be present. Also, no religious symbols, songs, etc.

[merrywhiterose]

It's not unusual for the total costs of a funeral to be over $6,000.

[Cherry2000]

I want to be buried with my butt up so everyone can kiss my....

Just Kidding!!! Really I don't care what they do with my body...except for the Body Farm. Ugh. That scares me. Really though, I will be dead. I am an organ donor so hopefully I will be able to help some people out. Other than that, my family can do whatever makes them feel good. I kinda like the idea of a green burial (if they bury me) though. I haven't given this a lot of thought...

[ProudofmyNursingart]

My Nan passed away just before Christmas from VRSA.

The one thing she loved was the colour pink.

She told people before she died as she knew it was coming to "Not be sad. Be happy. I haved lived a long life. Go and have fun." Good old Nan still thinking of others at that time. :redpinkhe

I turned up to her tradition funeral dressed in a beautiful blue dress. No black for me. She wouldn't have wanted that.

BUT.......

Nan's funeral finally made me tell my family my wishes. So here they are.

1) I am an organ donar. So they are going out to those in need first.

2) Open or closed coffin. It depends on them AND what may have caused my death.

3) NO ONE IS TO BE SAD!!!!! :chuckle

4) My funeral is not to be in a church as to me that's too much like a funeral. Instead it's outdoors or something

similar.

5) NO ONE is to wear black!!!!! Colour full on. Clown gear is preferable. :anpom:

6) My funeral IS NOT to be about my death BUT my life. I want them to remember me as the happy, go-lucky

person I am. Not the fact I'm dead.

7) A private cremation afterwards.

8) A party for all my family and friends. With lot's of laughter and music. well come on it's a party isn't it? :dncgbby:

9) My son then is to take my ashes into the Grampians National Park in Victoria, Australia, my faviourite holiday

spot, and toss them off of The Pinnacle. Which is the pinnacle of the Grampians and overlooks the valley and

Halls Gap. So I can stay there forever more. Enjoying the bush, birds and smells.

[bansheecat]

hey well I dont care what happens when I am dead. Just have a great big party, get totally drunk and be happy. Bury me in the garden with my butt sticking out and use it as a bicycle rack for all I care. At least I will be useful!! :)

[Babs0512]

Cremate me and bake me into a cake for my exhusband. I'd have the last laugh on that one!!

[merrywhiterose]

We have to keep in mind that the funeral is for the people we leave behind. It's to help them through the grieving process. They NEED that time to cry, and be held. That is why I've decided against a party for my funeral. When my son died, I needed that, and so I know that people I leave behind will need it, also.

[arelle68]

I would want my usable organs donated. I don't want my body embalmed or buried. I would like to be cremated. It would be nice to know they would have a service and say nice things about how I was able to help and encourage them while I was here. (Dear departed me!) They could scatter my ashes over the Clearwater River, but I really don't care what they do with them. I don't feel attached to my ashes. If they put them in a vase, they'd just have one more thing to dust.