Reply
Sun 25 May, 2003 08:16 pm
Like you, I have mulled through some notions of my funeral.
*CELEBRATION...I am not interested in someone using my death as an excuse to preach a sermon; instead, I would like those who have satisfying memories to share them. Laughing is appropriate.
*PLACE...A church is not required. Any comfortable place would do. An outdoor gathering would be special. Maple leaf trees in the Fall would be wonderful.
*CASKET...A plain wooden one would be fine. I'm sorry it can't be placed directly in the ground without the concrete shell. I like the idea of returning to the Earth.
*BURIAL SITE...For years I considered being buried at the Glenn Helen Nature Center in Yellowsprings, Ohio. Now that I have been married to B. the pass 20+ years, I will honor her wants.
*MAPLE TREE...At one time, I was interested in my children (family) planting a maple tree to remind them of our time together. Again, Glenn Helen seemed like a neat idea. If that isn't possible, any place in which the tree would be allowed to grow unimpeded would be acceptable. It is a pleasant thought to believe my family, children, grandchildren and friends might drop by 20 or 30 years later to remember Gary.
*MUSIC...Bag pipes, at the proper moment, might suggest my Irish ancestory.
I'm sure I will think of something else. Hopefully, some of you will share your thoughts about your funeral preparations.
Hiya Mapleleaf!
I recently attended a bar-b-que in honour of my old boss, Bill Solomon, who passed away not too long ago.
An oak tree was planted for him ~ I've been there twice since the bar-b-que just to say hello to him. (He was buried in Ohio.)
I haven't put it in writing yet (something I need to do), but I want to be cremated. I don't want funeral 'services' either ~ a party would be more to my liking.....I've already threatened to come back and haunt people who don't have fun at my funeral!
For a while, I considered a real state funeral, horses and all, stirrups backwards - the works. Then we moved out of town. What I would like is cremation, with my ashes scattered on the ocean, a few friendly words and laughs to follow.
My older daughter has a friend whose husband died, and she still has his ashes in a box, not yet having decided what to do with him. (It's now a number of years, and it was not a happy marriage.) But her mother - whom we all knew and enjoyed...well, Buba's ashes got scattered partly along Fifth Avenue in New York by her daighter and my daughter. Partly into the ocean. Partly shared out to a few. And partly saved by a daughter who loved her and talks to her still.
Ain't particular. Let them do with my wore-out carcass what they wish. Ain't no use to me no more.
Mapleleaf<
I have not made formal funeral plans . . . yet. I guess this is something I'll never get around to doing and will have to settle for what I get.
My choice would be a celebration, and the simpler the better.
Let the family sort it out, I won't be able to enjoy it anyway. I would want it to be joyous, celebrating life, not mourning death, and good food is a must.
No funerals for me. I want my wife to throw a WAM BAM PARTY to celebrate my life. I asked to be cremated and my ashes spread into the Pacific Ocean. I want to do my share for ecology of this small earth. c.i.
For a long time I thought I'd like to buried in a cemetary a few miles off campus where I went to school. Last year I mentioned this to my wife, and she didn't think too much of the idea. I'm not sure if this is because it's (hopefully) premature, or if it's because the cemetary is about 1000 miles from where we're planning to retire.
Well, a celebration would definitely be in order, but not until after the funeral. I'd hate to think nobody will be sad when I go.
Last week, June Carter Cash (wife of Johnny Cash) died. The funeral director asked Johnny if he wanted a line in her obituary directing people to make donations to charities. He said they had donated to enough charities already...June loved flowers, and he said she should have lots of flowers. So the family had the obituary worded thusly: "In lieu of donations, please send flowers." The funeral home received three rooms full of flowers. It made Johnny smile.
Oh yes. I want lots of flowers.
No sermon, though. Instead, I want somebody to sing "Amazing Grace" a cappella.
I want those who knew me best to share their favorite stories about me and make everybody laugh through their tears.
And I want my sister, if she's still alive, to play the piano if she can manage that.
Then they can inter my ashes in a columbarium...somewhere my relatives & descendants can go and see my name & dates on a wall. I'll admit it, I want a permanent marker.
Guess I really should put this in writing somewhere.
I want my coffin packed with high explosives, THEN popped into the cremation fire. Nothing personal, but I'll be damned if I'm going without some company.
While reading a funeral thread, am I allowed to chuckle?
Mt. Still, I see the Prince of Darkness in your posts.
c.i.
I want a party after my cremation. One gallon bottle of Tangueray shall be emptied but for 5 shots. My ashes shall be mixed with the Tangueray and then an oinion. The entire bottle will be taken off Grand Manan Island and tossed over the side by whoever is piloting the boat.
i hope its a good day and the tuna are biting.
The boat will then be auctioned off along with other "toys" and the proceeds given to the Old Fishermans Home.
I was thinking maybe of having myself cooked and served to my guests a la 'The Cook, The Thief, The Wife and Her Lover'...with a fine Chianti of course.
In my will it says to cremate me, put the box of ashes up on the bar for a day of drunken rowdiness (an Irish pub shouldn't be to hard to find here in greater Boston..) and then ship me off to Arlington National for burial... I'm still trying to convince the yahoo's down there at Arlington to allow a jazz quartet to play an upbeat of rendition taps but they aren't willing to go with the flow.
cav, Cancel our reservations. LOL c.i.
I have been wondering about this subject for a while but I have just decided that I will tell my children to do it however they wish. I will not know and I don't want them to be tied to trying to get it exactly as I requested. The funeral for me will be just a practicality but for them, something far more significant I hope, so I think they should do it in whatever way gives it the most meaning for them.
Lol c.i., I promise that human will not be on the menu
Mr Stillwater wrote:...I'll be damned if I'm going without some company.
CI - after re-reading that post, it really is a case of damned if I do (blow em all up) and damned if I don't (no company). Either way I'll be shaking the Prince of Darkness's hand about 5 minutes after I die! :wink:
Fishin' - make sure there's a solid, tight lid on that urn. After a while it
might just look like an ashtray,
'To be sure that dyin' must have been powerful good for him. Just look at all the weight he's been putting on!".
Since I'm a strong smoker I can't allow myself being buried, due to environmental hazards, I should be cremated and be left dead...
any questions?
Stumble It!
Tweet This
Bookmark on Delicious
Share on Facebook
Share on MySpace