Downsizing the Traditional Funeral

People expect the liquor industry, films and other forms of ‘entertainment’ to do well during a recession. These businesses offer individuals a way to escape reality, even if it’s for just an hour or two. But, who knew that the funeral industry would receive attention during this economic turmoil? A brief look through recent news articles brings some interesting perspectives to this death care field.

The Pros and Cons of Green Funerals

My brother, who is into an extreme green lifestyle, reminds his family occasionally how he’d like to die. He wants to trip into the great beyond while traipsing in the woods. Then, he wants no one to find him for a good three months or more.

How to Avoid the Body Snatchers

Some fiction writers may jump to tell you that body snatching is so “five decades ago,” with the current popularity of full-body donations to science. But, grave-robbers still exist, mainly to supply bodies and body parts to the medical field. The 2008 arrest of medical supplies boss Michael Mastromarino offers solid evidence that grave robbers still exist.

How to Reduce Funeral Costs

One way to avoid expensive funerals is to stay alive forever. If you’re human, however, it seems that this option isn’t a reliable one. If you pre-plan your funeral, then, you may learn that funeral costs often fall immediately behind homes and automobiles as the third most expensive item that most American families will make during a lifetime.

Ten Topics for Last Wishes

If you’ve ever been involved with planning someone’s funeral, you might understand the difficulties with planning arrangements at the last moment. The words are more difficult to write for the eulogy or for the obituary, the flowers seem too obnoxious because too many were ordered, and the casket became far too expensive, because the family wanted the best.