audreyh1
Give me a museum and I'll fill it. (Picasso) Give me a forum ...
Cremation is very traditional, but I know what you mean (US).
Religious beliefs prevent cremation, but after reading in detail about it I don't think I would be interested. It just seems (just my opinion) disrespectful of the body.
After my husband died I purchased the plot next to him. Burial wishes are at my attorneys along with my will, and my sister also has a copy.
It's wise to let your relatives know what your desire is for burial, or lack of. It's difficult for them to try to figure out your preferences once you are gone and you gave them no indication of what you would like.
Some religious beliefs say no to cremation. Many other religious beliefs embrace it.
Cremation. Because I don't think people should "own" land after they die.
Cremation. Because I don't think people should "own" land after they die.
He thought it would be ashes that he could toss in the breeze or sprinkle on the water and watch it get carried downstream, but a lot of it was much larger than that. It was a shock to see pieces dropping into the shallows of the river's edge.
Same caveat: don't read this if you shy away from the details.
Typically there needs to be some processing after the cremation to break down larger pieces which inevitably remain. (In Varanasi, the Chief Mourner throws them into the river.) The largest piece I've encountered in DH's cremains were less than half an inch in any dimension. Nothing was recognizable except his dental implant, which I put in a plastic bag so I could ask our dentist if he wanted to see it. He did, and I knew he would- he's a curious guy and found it pretty interesting. I'd never dealt with cremains before DH died- now I'm pretty relaxed about them.
I'm guessing the crematory your friend's family used did a less-than-thorough job.
When bro died, he stipulated in his will that he wanted to be cremated and have the ashes interred with our parents. So we had the extra costs of the urn and interment. I had noticed that others that had done that had an added brass plaque to the parents headstone and I said that is what we wanted.
They said no they don't do that anymore and that another headstone has to be added. We took a pass and rationalized that anyone who cares will know.