What would you like to happen when you leave this place? When your spirit departs for
adventures unknown, what about the shell it inhabited on earth? Orthodox Jews and Christians
believe the body must return to the soil from wence it came, thus the popularity in burial
underground or in mausoleums. But as the world broadens and becomes enlightened about other
cultures and their traditions, the idea of burial is becoming less popular.
Cremation is a very old tradition, one which has been gradually creeping into the
traditional church beliefs over the past 30 years. Now the Catholic church has accepted
cremation, and some cathedrals have built columbaria, an area to hold burial urns. Cardinal Adam
Maida of the Catholic church in Detroit believes cremation doesn't violate any religious laws.
"We need to educate our people that, although cremation is valid, this does not mean that
we have any disrespect for the body. In our Catholic tradition we like to have the ashes placed
in a cemetery in a special place where people can come and remember and pray and reverence
the life of someone who has been important to them."
Choosing the Unorthodox
But a lot of people are choosing more unorthodox methods of handling the 'cremains' of
loved ones. In addition to keeping their urns in the home as decorative objects, now there is a
huge variety of other options. Amongst these are the making of decorative objects from the
cremains, including candlesticks, wind-chimes, and heart-shaped lockets. For information about
cremation go to: www.urnmail.com/.
Many people spread cremains in a favorite place, but there are littering laws that interfere
with some spreading practices. An interesting idea comes from Eternal Reefs, a company that
works with an ecological group called Reef Ball Development Group. They build artificial
underwater reefs out of environmentally friendly concrete and incorporate cremains into the reefs.
There are choices of the size of reef, or as part of a community of reefs. This option is helping to
save underwater life and the deteriorating coral reefs. For more information go to:
www.eternalreefs.com or telephone 404/966-7333.
Another choice for the new millennium comes from Celestis, a company which launches
cremains into space. Your remains can orbit the earth, the moon, or be shot into deep space,
perhaps one day to be discovered by the Starship Enterprise. This fascinating idea doesn't come
cheap, however -- Earthview is $5,300 and Lunar or Voyager are $12,500 each. They also offer
the 'Ad Astra' for $300, in which a digital message including photos, biographies and tributes are
sent into space, and the naming of a star in honor of the deceased. A Certificate of Star Registry
and Verification of Transmission, and a star map are included. The Celestis services are popular
now because they enable those left behind to feel that their loved ones have become a part of the
cosmos they can see. Celestis can be reached at 713/522-7282 or www.celestis.com.
Want to Make Your Own Arrangements?
Many people today are making their own death arrangements. When Sandra
Brandenburg's mother died, she had specified she wanted to be cremated. But Sandra's sisters
wouldn't agree to this, so Violet Daniels was buried alongside her husband John. Sandra has
decided to take matters into her own hands, and after learning about Eternal Reefs is planning for
she and her husband Tom to become part of a 'community reef' along with as many of their friends
as are interested...including the author of this piece, who has also chosen to become a reef
(hopefully not for many years yet!).
Help in funeral planning is available online. Go to www.deni.net/cf/kit/order_form.cfm
to buy the Deni Enterprises Funeral Planning Kit ($19.95). At the 4Preneed website you can read
articles about preplanning your funeral and get fact sheets from the National Funeral Directors on
all aspects of funeral planning including prepayment. And if you have individual questions you
would like answered, they have an e-mail address just for that. Their website is:
www.webworldwide.net/roeders/Web_Site/4preneed.htm. Address specific questions about
funeral preplanning to: Joe@4Preneed.com.
Wesley Daniels, third-generation director of Daniels Chapel of the Roses in Santa Rosa,
California, talked to me about how the funeral business has changed since his grandfather opened
the business. Much of Daniels' business now comes from the Asian community -- Santa Rosa has
a large Vietnamese community, and Buddhist funerals are specific and complicated. Wesley and
his sister Aimee have learned to diversify in order to serve the different needs in funeral
arrangements today.
All Faiths Welcome...Almost
But there are some problems associated with a global marketplace in death planning.
Another funeral director in Northern California also accepted all kinds of beliefs and
ceremonies...until the Satanist entered his chapel. He wanted a special ceremony for his mother,
and when the funeral director (who asked to remain anonymous) refused his request, he locked
himself in the chapel with his mother's body and began his own ceremony. After getting the door
open, the funeral director ejected him from the building.
In the 21st century you can choose your own resting place...even in outer space or the
bottom of the ocean. But Satanists are on their own...
Sources used in Story:
www.urnmail.com/
www.eternalreefs.com
www.celestis.com
www.deni.net/cf/kit/order_form.cfm
www.webworldwide.net/roeders/Web_Site/4preneed.htm
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