Cremation
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From: West Henrietta UPSTATE NY
Anybody up for a funny/sad cremation story?
One of my father's friends wished to be cremated, and he had a wish for his ashes to be spread someplace where you can't legally do it. So, his ashes were in his urn sitting on the top shelf in my father's closet waiting for Dad to decide what to do. Unfortunately my parent's home burnt down and they lost everything, including the urn and ashes.
So every once in a while over a glass of single malt scotch, one of his favorite drinks we share fond memories of him and reflect on the fact that he is sort of hanging out in the old house with some of Mom and Dad's favorite belongings.
One of my father's friends wished to be cremated, and he had a wish for his ashes to be spread someplace where you can't legally do it. So, his ashes were in his urn sitting on the top shelf in my father's closet waiting for Dad to decide what to do. Unfortunately my parent's home burnt down and they lost everything, including the urn and ashes.
So every once in a while over a glass of single malt scotch, one of his favorite drinks we share fond memories of him and reflect on the fact that he is sort of hanging out in the old house with some of Mom and Dad's favorite belongings.
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From: Bowie
Originally Posted by Triple-H,Aug 6 2004, 09:42 AM
Anybody up for a funny/sad cremation story?
One of my father's friends wished to be cremated, and he had a wish for his ashes to be spread someplace where you can't legally do it. So, his ashes were in his urn sitting on the top shelf in my father's closet waiting for Dad to decide what to do. Unfortunately my parent's home burnt down and they lost everything, including the urn and ashes.
So every once in a while over a glass of single malt scotch, one of his favorite drinks we share fond memories of him and reflect on the fact that he is sort of hanging out in the old house with some of Mom and Dad's favorite belongings.
One of my father's friends wished to be cremated, and he had a wish for his ashes to be spread someplace where you can't legally do it. So, his ashes were in his urn sitting on the top shelf in my father's closet waiting for Dad to decide what to do. Unfortunately my parent's home burnt down and they lost everything, including the urn and ashes.
So every once in a while over a glass of single malt scotch, one of his favorite drinks we share fond memories of him and reflect on the fact that he is sort of hanging out in the old house with some of Mom and Dad's favorite belongings.
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From: Myrtle Beach, SC
Can you still have a wake if you're cremated? I believe you can. As much as I hate them, and I've been to my share, I've concluded that they do serve a few important purposes.
a) It gives the family and friends time to say goodbye (I know that sounds crazy...the person is dead after all).
b) It gives friends the opportunity to express their support for the family.
c) It does bring a sense of closure seeing the body.
d) It brings out repressed emotions that need to come out. It's very cleansing.
Soooo, I want a wake. I'm not sure what kind yet. I DON'T want that horrible music playing that makes you cry. Maybe Metallica; we'll see. Then cremated. Then I want my ashes spread over the area between Afghanistan and Pakistan. That way, my ghost can haunt that SOB Bin Laden wherever he goes. I figure my ashes will have some kind of cosmic intelligence too so I can correct the misfired cruise missile so that it hits him right up his pasty white-cave-ridden ass.
a) It gives the family and friends time to say goodbye (I know that sounds crazy...the person is dead after all).
b) It gives friends the opportunity to express their support for the family.
c) It does bring a sense of closure seeing the body.
d) It brings out repressed emotions that need to come out. It's very cleansing.
Soooo, I want a wake. I'm not sure what kind yet. I DON'T want that horrible music playing that makes you cry. Maybe Metallica; we'll see. Then cremated. Then I want my ashes spread over the area between Afghanistan and Pakistan. That way, my ghost can haunt that SOB Bin Laden wherever he goes. I figure my ashes will have some kind of cosmic intelligence too so I can correct the misfired cruise missile so that it hits him right up his pasty white-cave-ridden ass.
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From: NW Chicago Burbs
Originally Posted by Triple-H,Aug 6 2004, 09:21 AM
There is no way I want to be planted! I want my left over remains to be burnt. However, before the left over parts are going to be burnt, I want to make sure the local medical college (U of R / Strong Hospital) takes every last spare part they can, to help someone still alive or for just testing. Once I'm done with this sack of flesh and blood I don't need it, nor do I see the need for it to take up a lot of space and give people a place to come and cry or come and place flowers.
Yesterday I gave blood for the 16th time, completing my 2nd gallon, now I'm ready to start working towards completing my 3rd. Because this is my frame-of-reference there is no way I could be burnt up without giving the medical profession a chance to take what they wanted first, I'll obviously be done with it...
Yesterday I gave blood for the 16th time, completing my 2nd gallon, now I'm ready to start working towards completing my 3rd. Because this is my frame-of-reference there is no way I could be burnt up without giving the medical profession a chance to take what they wanted first, I'll obviously be done with it...
I only wish I could give blood, but being a cancer survivor disqualifies me.
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From: West Henrietta UPSTATE NY
Originally Posted by tomcatt,Aug 6 2004, 11:48 AM
Boy, do I ever agree with you on this one. Between organ donor and research, I hope there isn't much left to be cremated. I only wish I could give blood, but being a cancer survivor disqualifies me.
I only wish I could give blood, but being a cancer survivor disqualifies me.
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From: West Henrietta UPSTATE NY
Originally Posted by OhioRacer,Aug 6 2004, 11:26 AM
Can you still have a wake if you're cremated? I believe you can. As much as I hate them, and I've been to my share, I've concluded that they do serve a few important purposes.
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From: South Carolina
True cremation story: A good friend went to a graveside service of her boyfriend's uncle. Although the uncle had been creamted, he wanted his ashes to be buried alongside the other family members in the private cemetary on the family's land. The family apparently decided to keep costs down and (my trustworthy friend swears this to be true) had put his ashes in Tupperware and wrapped it in gold foil. I guess the Tupperware was supposed to be waterproof and airtight and the foil was decorative... 
Granny--don't know about your neck of the woods, but here there are (still) both funeral homes and cemetaries that exclusively cater to white folks or black folks. Of course the majority of them service everyone. The saddest visitation (wake) I've ever been to was for a coworker's daughter held at a funeral home that serviced the black community. People may do things differently (depending on religion, race, etc.), but loss is loss and that family's overwhelming grief was haunting.
Granny--don't know about your neck of the woods, but here there are (still) both funeral homes and cemetaries that exclusively cater to white folks or black folks. Of course the majority of them service everyone. The saddest visitation (wake) I've ever been to was for a coworker's daughter held at a funeral home that serviced the black community. People may do things differently (depending on religion, race, etc.), but loss is loss and that family's overwhelming grief was haunting.
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From: Bowie
Julie, that tupperware story is too funny. Isn't there a program called "people do the darndest things?"
Yep, now that I think about it, there is still segregation in the funeral industry down home. It's pretty much accepted by both sides. Interesting.
Isn't there a program called "people do the darndest things?"Yep, now that I think about it, there is still segregation in the funeral industry down home. It's pretty much accepted by both sides. Interesting.
couldn't resist though. 
)