How do you want to be laid to rest?

MehGuy said:

I hope others do not find this thread too morbid, but I am curious how other posters feel about their method of being laid to rest? Do you want a traditional burial in a casket or do you prefer cremation? Ashes scattered in the forest? Or something more unique like donating your body to science?

As for me I am one who is very squeamish about death. I abhor the idea of my body decomposing in a dark coffin buried six feet underground. I'd prefer my body cremated as soon as possible. I wouldn't mind burying the cremated remains in the ground with a tombstone on top. That is what my grandfather did. I remember at his funeral being shocked when I saw a little cube instead of a large coffin. I thought they somehow stuff his entire body in that little box. My eyes were wide open when I first saw it and publicly said aloud "how'd they fit him in there?" I was like eight and everyone and the funeral starting erupting in laughter.

Apparently he had the same disgust for the decomposing process as I do. His was is the most appealing for me. My father expressed the same wishes. Although I can respect people who donate their bodies to science, I just cannot stomach the idea for myself. I do not want my loved ones to see my dead body on display either. I want their last memories of me to be as of an animated body, not a lifeless corpse.

Click to expand...

MehGuy said:

Yeah, kind of Monty Python-esque. Lol..

Click to expand...

Anthony2019 said:

The more I think about it, I quite like the idea of becoming stuffed and turned into a toy or manikin.
If anyone in my life had wished me dead, then it would be a good act of revenge!
All I'd need is a hole cut in the back and a place to insert some batteries. I'd be walking and talking in no time!
I could become the next Resus Anthony!

Click to expand...

Anthony2019 said:

Many years ago, I was very uncomfortable about the subject of dying and would refuse even to talk about it as it unsettled me so much.
These days, it's part of my job to verify death and I have to do it on quite a regular basis. Although I always feel a great deal of sadness when someone passes away, there is always the comfort that the person has now moved on and no longer struggling or suffering. When I am verifying, I always talk to them as if they were still there as it shows you respect them as a person.

Click to expand...

MehGuy said:

I hope others do not find this thread too morbid, but I am curious how other posters feel about their method of being laid to rest? Do you want a traditional burial in a casket or do you prefer cremation? Ashes scattered in the forest? Or something more unique like donating your body to science?

As for me I am one who is very squeamish about death. I abhor the idea of my body decomposing in a dark coffin buried six feet underground. I'd prefer my body cremated as soon as possible. I wouldn't mind burying the cremated remains in the ground with a tombstone on top. That is what my grandfather did. I remember at his funeral being shocked when I saw a little cube instead of a large coffin. I thought they somehow stuff his entire body in that little box. My eyes were wide open when I first saw it and publicly said aloud "how'd they fit him in there?" I was like eight and everyone and the funeral starting erupting in laughter.

Apparently he had the same disgust for the decomposing process as I do. His was is the most appealing for me. My father expressed the same wishes. Although I can respect people who donate their bodies to science, I just cannot stomach the idea for myself. I do not want my loved ones to see my dead body on display either. I want their last memories of me to be as of an animated body, not a lifeless corpse.

Click to expand...

MehGuy said:

There is a Youtube video of a funeral service (cannot post here due to language) but in the video it shows them lowering the casket into the ground and the person who died left a recorder and in the tape he is talking about banging on the coffin wondering where he is and wanting to get out. The mourners are all laughing, so at least he helped put a smile on their face.

Click to expand...

MehGuy said:

I hope others do not find this thread too morbid, but I am curious how other posters feel about their method of being laid to rest? Do you want a traditional burial in a casket or do you prefer cremation? Ashes scattered in the forest? Or something more unique like donating your body to science?

As for me I am one who is very squeamish about death. I abhor the idea of my body decomposing in a dark coffin buried six feet underground. I'd prefer my body cremated as soon as possible. I wouldn't mind burying the cremated remains in the ground with a tombstone on top. That is what my grandfather did. I remember at his funeral being shocked when I saw a little cube instead of a large coffin. I thought they somehow stuff his entire body in that little box. My eyes were wide open when I first saw it and publicly said aloud "how'd they fit him in there?" I was like eight and everyone and the funeral starting erupting in laughter.

Apparently he had the same disgust for the decomposing process as I do. His was is the most appealing for me. My father expressed the same wishes. Although I can respect people who donate their bodies to science, I just cannot stomach the idea for myself. I do not want my loved ones to see my dead body on display either. I want their last memories of me to be as of an animated body, not a lifeless corpse.

Click to expand...

Occams Barber said:

I've donated myself to science/organ donation. Whatever's left over will be cremated. I'd prefer no funeral but that's my kid's decision - in my world funerals are for the living.

The link below talks about organ or whole body donation (in a US context) and includes a few interesting alternatives like going to a body farm, 'plastination' or - my favourite - becoming a crash test dummy.

7 Things You Should Know About Donating Your Body to Science

OB

Click to expand...

JackRT said:

A distant friend was sitting at home on the computer at 2 AM when the hospital called and said "we have a heart for you get here quickly". The donor was a young man killed on his motorcycle. The transplant team worked steadily for the next 12 hours. My friend got his heart transplant and about eight other people also got transplants as well. It is the right thing to do.

Click to expand...

NerdGirl123 said:

I struggle with the same fear. I always have.

I think that's beautiful, the respect that you show to the dying.

Click to expand...

Anthony2019 said:

I've learned over the years that our lives are extremely fragile and we should make the most of every day we have. One day I will never forget is when a work colleague and friend of mine was found collapsed, unresponsive and not breathing - in a patient's bathroom! I was called by staff to help and I spent 15 minutes doing CPR. He ended up in an ITU bed . We were all convinced that he would not make it through. Two weeks later, he was on the phone asking when he could come back to work!

Click to expand...

Lord Give Me A Sign said:

(snip)
I do love wild animals so i suppose i also wouldnt mind being left as a meal for them in a forest or some woods somewhere

Click to expand...