Since the Grim Reaper eventually comes to say Hello

Being closer to grave than cradle - one creates interest to many things that most young peolple do not find so important. And very well so - they still have most of their lives before them - unlike we old farts, who are nearing the unavoidable. The lady who draw my avatar @ 1975 - Tove Jansson - once said in an inteview - "I'm looking forward to death with interest." - my translation might be not quite right - but I recall she was more curious about it than afraid.

Anyway - since we all are going to go someday - what about funeral alternatives?

Reading this article - I learned new things - like that in US the graves are lined w concrete or metal - is that really so? Over here they are just earth, so the coffin or urn will molder and become earth.

After all this long jargon - happy reading for those who do.



Oh - and how I found this article - Desmond Tutu was done this way - his wish.

I have always liked this quote from Samuel Johnson--

“Depend upon it, sir, when a man knows he is to be hanged in a fortnight, it concentrates his mind wonderfully.”​

My contribution. And it's a Volvo hearse!!

Woody Allen: (paraphrase) "I don't mind the idea of my own death -- I just don't want to be there when it happens."

I plan on being the entree at the funeral dinner, so I can be with my loved ones for another 48 hours, give and take...

davismanLV said:

My contribution. And it's a Volvo hearse!!

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Using a woodchipper is old news around here: https://www.history.com/this-day-in-history/green-beret-indicted-for-murder

I wonder if the Coen brothers saw the news and used it in a scene in their movie Fargo.

Never heard of any concrete lining or seen any. It is actually becoming legal to compost people, you can come back as a plant amendment ;]

Concrete grave linings are a thing.


Burial practices in the USA are not consistent across time or region.

A major factor seems to be religious belief. Jews, Muslims and some Christians favor preservation of the body over destruction (i.e. cremation). People with no preference driven by religion tend to make decisions based upon financial or environmental costs.

Embalming was popular in the 19th century US. There are stories of criminals whose bodies were embalmed and then exhibited. There are also stories about soldiers who died during the American Civil War and the steps families took to recover and preserve the body.

Using alkaline hydrolysis as an alternative to cremation is a new thing in the US. It is not yet legal in all states. Archbishop Tutu's was disposed of in this way.

I figure death is also an opportunity to do something pretty cool so my plan is a Norse funeral. Or Viking funeral, if you will. I'm going to build the boat myself out of local spruce and cedar. Wooden, life raft in size, lined with material that will create a lengthy if not dramatic pyre, tugged out to the mouth of a small cove on this little island in the north Atlantic, released and ignited, departing outward to the Ocean's expanse until it all collapses and sinks, disappears, into oblivion. Said to be an illegal practice around here, but the way I see it the dead don't give a damn.

My b.i.l. is saving to have his ashes shot into space. I think its about 12k

MacGuild said:

. . . Said to be an illegal practice around here, but the way I see it the dead don't give a damn.

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Will you have a memorial w : "Sue me!" - BOLD

MacGuild said:

Said to be an illegal practice around here, but the way I see it the dead don't give a damn.

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But the living do. There are cases in the US where the executor of an estate has been arrested and charged with "improper disposal of human remains". There are also a couple of cases with squabbling about the estate where an heir who did not approve of the arrangements took the person who carried out the arrangements to court.

OK - since it has to be executed in sly - the modern technology will help. Just install a small battery powered remote controlled motor in the boat. Set it floating after sunset. Have all funeral guests informed to seek a place at river downstream. Once the boat reaches the spot - ignite.

Yes - I know - debris and pollution. Track of human life . . .

When working at James Berns Music Store - 8417 Pillsbury Ave S - 55420 Bloomington MN - the father of my boss Jim worked there on mornings. Every now and then he got pissed with his son - that's when I learned to cuss in english - he used quite strong words.

Perhaps the strongest was : " I should have strangled that s.. of a bi... when he still was in the crib! " - ( = daddy loves you . . . )

That would solve all planetary problems - if enough many folks would follow that advice . . .

Oh - and being me - honestly, it just slipped out of my mouth - I innocently asked : "Howard - does this mean Frances is a bi... ? " - Immediately after that I learned some new not-family-friendly expressions

All three - Jim plus his parents Howard & Frances were good folks - I respect their memory.

Nuuska said:

Will you have a memorial w : "Sue me!" - BOLD

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Hah! See? People who would explode a Tesla for sport understand this kind of thinking.
But no memorial for me. No marker of any sort, none. Although I like what Yasujiro Ozu did; his marker does not bear his name but has only a single Japanese character meaning "nothingness, non-existence, the void". This is beautifully yin-yang balanced, too, harmonious because the granite marker and the kanji do, in fact, exist. Fireflies in a rainstorm.

fronobulax said:

But the living do. There are cases in the US where the executor of an estate has been arrested and charged with "improper disposal of human remains". There are also a couple of cases with squabbling about the estate where an heir who did not approve of the arrangements took the person who carried out the arrangements to court.

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You are correct, sir, those are very valid concerns. Except I do not intend to be dead when I cast off. That wouldn't be any fun. This is going out on one's own terms. The worst anyone could be charged with would be "Failing to report a missing unlicensed flaming watercraft", if that is even a misdemeanor around here. I've been gradually divesting myself from the system for years, am deeply rural and private, my lone heir will have nothing to complain about. Another five or six years and I'll be as far off the grid as possible. Like a bird on a wire..., right. That bird's death is deeply personal and, like mine, is no government's business. No one will come looking.
Besides, I like my friends too much to make them sit through some dour funeral service, forcing them to chip their teeth trying to make up something nice to say when there probably isn't. Knowing that you control your own destiny is very liberating, takes a lot of stress away, defines perspective, fills in a lot of the blank spaces.

You guys are relentless...I have been thinking a lot about this, since my defib-installation last Spring. If I go by "textbook," IDC notwithstanding but cancer related," I have another three years. Nothing says that is the way but its always in the back of my mind. I really, truly, do not know what direction I should be going in, other than to try to keep Sirkku OK after my eventual demise...

Is this part of the "depression" I am supposed to not have after full-retirement?

So - are you perhaps planning something like in a book "Le Lièvre de Vatanen" - original finnish name "Jäniksen vuosi" - the main person manages to visit national computer HQ where he gets opportunity to delete all his history from national database - and - naturally - after that he is completely free.

We're ALL coming back. So don't be too concerned

Bill Ashton said:

You guys are relentless...I have been thinking a lot about this, since my defib-installation last Spring. If I go by "textbook," IDC notwithstanding but cancer related," I have another three years. Nothing says that is the way but its always in the back of my mind. I really, truly, do not know what direction I should be going in, other than to try to keep Sirkku OK after my eventual demise...

Is this part of the "depression" I am supposed to not have after full-retirement?

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Bill - I am sorry to hear about your condition.

I really, truly, do not know what direction I should be going in, other than to try to keep Sirkku OK after my eventual demise...

I think that is the only way.


I did not mean to be relentless . . . I started this discussion on LTG - because I can not think of any better forum. We have many many people here - who I do believe can discuss these deep serious matters civilized.

I had my 70-year b-day lately - the same day that Jaco would've had - if he lived. So between the two of us - I think I'm the lucky one even thou I never "made it" - whatever that might be - Jaco is world known - but after all glory and misery - he has been dead for over 34 years - I'm still kicking - walking my dog Jymy - or he's walking me - such a good boy he is.

But - many friends - some much younger than I - plus countless acquaintances have died in recent years - they all remind me, that the days are numbered . . . And I'm thankful that I do not know my number. Just today I was talking w a friend. We have three common friends who suffered more or less severe brain damage for various reasons. My friend and I both agreed, that even if we were to be hit by a train and transferred to 1/4 mile long track of ground human leftovers - it would at least be a fast departure - not suffering endless years in hospital bed tied to tubes and what not.


Anyway - I've thought of building a TARDIS shaped urn for my ashes -
I like the idea of my soul travelling in Time And Relative Dimension In Space

Nuuska said:

Anyway - I've thought of building a TARDIS shaped urn for my ashes -

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If you prefer to spend your time on other projects there are both wooden and ceramic versions already made. One example but a search for "tardis burial urn" will get you some more.