wood for the coffin they carry you off in but not very often

[Electric Comet]

thought they did that so they would not pop up when the water table gets high

i will have some holes in mine so it doe not pop up

[Electric Comet]

i think my pillow will be ok as is for padding

[Electric Comet]

i think he used that in the movie

that works too weighted down with all those pennies

i have seen floating and burning funeral pyres that could draw undue attention though and then you are back to wood selection for the float and the burn

bamboo for the floats and fir or spruce for the burn

[Puckdropper]

Martin Eastburn wrote in news:G0y7x.18733 $ [e-mail]:

I did hear a story about a person mowing a cemetary when suddenly the ground gave way beneath him. He got out of there as fast as he could and never returned. I guess the concrete 'box' vault will keep that from happening.

Puckdropper

[John McCoy]

Electric Comet wrote in news:mjmg5c$dac$4 @dont-email.me:

You're thinking of Louisiana, I suspect, where they do have problems with burials not staying buried.

Don't think that will work...a wood coffin full of water will still float.

John

[Casper]

"Mike Marlow" was heard to mutter:

Yup, yup. I know of plenty from MA down to DC that can do that too.

[Electric Comet]

less bouyant and less likely to pop up

but these are the right things to discuss

so ironwood with holes might be called for

[Electric Comet]

that means there is a space available no problem there

[Sonny]

Even with concrete boxes, there have been coffins that float, pushing the c oncrete lid off the box, then the coffin floats away.

Here in Louisiana, we're not allowed to make our own coffins.... takes away from the economy of certified coffin makers. Only a specific group of mo nks, in New Orleans, can still make their own coffins, and they had to go t o court (fight the morticians' lobby) to retain that right.

Sonny

[Casper]

IMO, I cannot see why anyone cannot build their own as long as they meet any restrictions that may apply in their state of burial.

I found this article, a bit old, but informative...

I believe things should be done per the deceased's wishes only. I've seen too many families hurt by arguments over funeral, casket, etc.

No one is going to make money off my dead carcass.

[DerbyDad03]

re: I believe things should be done per the deceased's wishes only. I've seen too many families hurt by arguments over funeral, casket, etc.

You have to take that "too many" number and subtract the number of families in which the deceased wishes were not known. The family can't do things "p er the deceased's wishes" if those wishes were never expressed.

It's really up to the "deceased" to make their wishes known while they are still pre-deceased, and it's best that it is in writing. Heck, some famili es don't even know if the person wants to be kept alive, never mind the tri vial items such as what color the casket lining should be.

[graham]

When I was making out my will, I told the lawyer: "A sack will do!" She didn't think the authorities would allow that:-) Graham

[Puckdropper]

DerbyDad03 wrote in news: [e-mail]:

In dealing with the recent deaths of an uncle and grandfather (on different sides of the family), one thing I've learned is that things in writing have 1,000 or even 1,000,000 times the weight that something that was said does.

If you'd like to be buried a certain way or certain place, write it down. Your family will be busy dealing with the shock of the death and probably isn't in the best frame of mind to make a long-term decision like that. (Even a "You may decide otherwise, but I'd like to be burried in Crater of the Moon, Oregon" may make things easier.) There are some who get something out of visiting the graves of their loved ones.

Puckdropper

[Larry Blanchard]

I checked with the funeral home and they said that since the cemetery (just across the road) uses concrete vaults, they could carry me over in a cardboard box - I said that sounded good to me.

[graham]

There have been scandalous occasions where undertakers have re-used coffins after recovering them before shoving the corpse into the furnace. So much of the funeral business is for show! Graham

[Ed Pawlowski]

I hope you have that information some other place. Often a person is buried before the will is opened. At least tell your spouse/kids verbally as a start.

[graham]

They are well aware! Graham

[Casper]

I was speaking of where wishes were not complied with.

A friend was handling his mother's burial when his aunt came from nowhere (hadn't heard from her in 30+ years) and took control of everything. She used up all the monies, including 15k+ on the coffin. My friend was so broke at the end, he was forced to sell his home.

That is the purpose of a Will/Living Will. Everyone should at least have a written statment and include it in their personal paperwork.

I have that and more to secure the demise of my remains.

I am considering a tatoo as yet another copy of my wishes ;)