A Morbid Poll I know.

Nurses General Nursing

Published

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.

Specializes in Emergency/Trauma/Education.
I think I'd rather be cremated, although the whole green thing appeals to me. Yup, cremate me, and play a little Johnny Cash while you're at it...:D (I'll let you guess the song, if you're a fan..)

Dare I say, "Ring of Fire"???? :chuckle

Specializes in ortho/neuro/general surgery.
I would hate to wake up in the crematorium getting ready to burn).

Eeeeek! Thinking about that really creeped me out! Sounds like something from a horror movie.

I think I would want to be cremated and turned into a reef ball to help rebuild coral.

For the last 5 yrs. I have had in my will that I am to be cremated and placed in a Reef that will be placed where most of the dolphins are. After that I want a huge celebration of my life to take place with cases of Asti, balloons, flowers and great catered food for all...oh and chocolate...lots of chocolate! I am serious about these plans and my DH knows this.

I want the green burial. No viewing. No marker. And I don't even care if someone builds a house on top of me later. Oh, I damn sure don't want one of those police escorted 10 mph parades through the county, what's up with that?:confused:

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

I have always been entranced by those funeral car processions. But nothing beats watching a legitimate funeral march in downtown new orleans with all the music and all. I have always loved watching them.

My Dad passed the day after Thanksgiving. I'll keep some of his ashes in a wooden trinket box that he built along with his beloved crossword puzzles and a few small items to remember him by. While we were at the funeral home I remember seeing a display where you can have the thumbprint of your loved one made into a gold or silver pendant to wear on a necklace. I thought that was a nice thing to do. I want to be cremated because I can't stand the thought of being in the cold ground! The bugs bother me but it's more the cold. I don't really know why I think about this so much, but I really hate being cold and I can't stand the thought of it. I'm also surprised about how many people specify that they don't want anyone looking at them after their dead. I've said this for years and I thought I was the only one!! Wonder why it bothers us so much?

Specializes in Medical Surgical.

I lost my beloved father in November. I needed to grieve with his body. I needed to have the graveside service and to know where he is buried. I needed to buy plots next to him and my grandparents for myself and my husband and children, if they want to be there. I need to go to his grave and talk to him and mourn.

Specializes in Management, Emergency, Psych, Med Surg.

So far I am planning a natural burial but I do want to have a service with certain specifics. I don't want to donate my organs due to a religious preference. I hope that everyone will have a big party after the service. I don't want it to be sad. I have always been told that I am a funny person and I would hope that people would remember this most of all after I am gone. Also, I have already figured out my funeral music.

Specializes in Management, Emergency, Psych, Med Surg.

Honey, there is NOTHING like a N'awlins funeral. What a celebration of life!!!

Specializes in ER/Ortho.

Actually this is NOT a morbid topic to me. I had to take End of life prior to getting into the nursing program, and spent a whole semester of Fridays having these discussions.

I want to donate everything they can use except my eyes. I know its weird, but I don't want anyone to have my eyes. Then I want to be cremated. I do NOT want a funeral. Instead I want a celebration at some place cozy (like someones home) with good music, liquor, and great food. My family can pretty much decide what to do with my ashes with certain boundries. I do not want them buried, and I don't want them to go into the ocean. They can keep me, split me up between each other, or sprinkle me in someplace that means something to them. I think it would be nice to be sprinkled in a garden or under a tree that is close to my family so they could visit me occasionally.

Specializes in midwifery, ophthalmics, general practice.

having just had my partner Pauls funeral on 29th December, I would agree that a funeral is for those left behind. we are both Wiccan, and I would have liked a wiccan funeral but his parents are christian and the funeral was for them as much as anything. so we compromised. no hymns.. a wiccan chant in the middle and the Jacksons 'blame it on the boogie' at the end.

it has made me think long and hard about my funeral and I will write down my wishes.. want it to be a party and a celebration of my life, not my death. so they can play 'another one bits the dust' by queen and some dance music.. because i will be with Paul dancing again. so have a party, celebrate, no dark clothes.. lots of laughter, and food.. I may even write down the words i want read out.

this is an interesting thread.. and though its made me cry to read it, it has given me much to think about!

Karen

Specializes in Home Care, Primary care NP, QI, Nsg Adm.

Death is not morbid; it is a fact and something we can all agree on....it will touch each and everyone of us.

As a Muslim, I will be buried (assuming body is intact), in two pieces of white cloth called a shroud. If I am still working in Saudi Arabia and die here then I will be buried in a simple Islamic manner. First washed in a prescribed manner, wrapped in my shroud, prayed over in special prayer called the 'Janazah' in the mosgue, taken to the grave yard and laid in a grave by relatives or close friends (brothers in Islam). The body is placed in a carved out area facing the Qiblah or the direction of prayer all Muslims face which is toward Makkah. Then the sand will be placed on top of the body all the while those in attendance will be making supplications to Allah for me and on my behalf and being reminded of their own death to come. This is one of the reasons to attend the funeral. Another reason is that it is one of the 5 rights that the Prophet Muhammad (peace and blessings of Allah be upon him) said every Muslim has over another. One of the rigths is to attend his (her) funeral. The reality of death is brought home in this manner.

Also, there is no embalming in Islam unless a Muslim is in a country that it is ordered by law. If a casket must be used, it is a simple wooden box. Nothing fancy, which frankly, saves a family thousands of dollars reducing what is often a financial burden. Finally, we are buried the day of the death (unless an autopsy must be done for legal reasons). Autopsies are otherwise unlawful in Islam.

There are no raised head stones and all graves look the same. Nothing fancy, no flowers, etc. It is also not permitted to step on the grave.

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