How do I plan or arrange my disposal when I dont want a funeral/service or anything?

margaretclare

oldhenry wrote: »

I am sure funerals were invented by capitalists as the funeral directors make a good living out of the dead ( so to speak).

I've read archaeology which says that - as far back as it's possible to go - human beings have always disposed of their dead in a 'respectful' way according to whatever beliefs they had at the time. The Bronze Age, for example pre-dates capitalism by a few thousand years!

DH and I have beliefs. So long as we are laid to rest in a dignified and respectful manner that is all that is necessary. If what we believe is true, then He in whom we believe will know where to find us. If it isn't true then we'll lie at peace in Mother Earth.

For myself, I really like the prehistoric method of laying a dead person on his/her side, curled up as if asleep, with favourite jewellery still in place. No one shall take my wedding-ring away, nor DH's.

Lifeforms

I'm a bit interested in this as well. I am not near 50+ but recently at a family friends funeral it was the first time I saw a funeral from an outsider persay, than as a directly grieving relative. I hated it. I didn't hate his funeral persay, but I hated what it was, like time keeping, shepherded in and out like viewing sheep at a busy selling market, the feeling of all these stories and sad people, and impersonal rooms, and yeah everything was just anything I would not want.

The wake was more fun, if a wake could be that, but it was more a little close get together where actually little was talked about the person, but more exchanging area stories and such like. But it was stressful for the close relatives and again just made me think I would never want anything like that.

I understand the funeral and the wake is for those left behind, and that I would be well dead, and not capable of feelings to care about it, but it's just so against what I would find tasteful, good, celebratory of my life. It's everything that I am not.

So what do you do with that? I understand they have to get rid of my body somehow, and I have no conceptions against burial or cremation. But as much as it's for others, it's also all about me. So what is left as an alternative that's also logistical doable.

yangptangkipperbang

Hold the wake/booze up, or whatever you wish to call it, first. Then at a pre arranged time the undertaker will bring the deceased (in a hearse) to the venue. Final "goodbyes" can be said then and there - the hearse then departs for the crematorium, with no mourners in attendance.

Mourners return to the wake...........................

seven-day-weekend

My sister and b-i-l both had remains just disposed of (cremated) with no ceremony and no-one there, and then a memorial afterwards, which was a party to remember them. They were both Communist atheists, so this was wholly appropriate and the wake was good fun, as well as respectful; their children and close friends all made speeches.

I would like a woodland funeral,(must get round to organising it), but would like my church to hold a service celebrating my life.

Goldiegirl

To be honest, I don't really care what sort of funeral I have.

I won't actually be there, so it's of no importance to me.

The funeral is primarily for the people left behind, so I'm completely happy for them to arrange something they want.

No-name_2

I'd like this as well - and there plenty of discussion of this on the internet - just google " direct cremation".

luxor4t

No-name wrote: »

I'd like this as well - and there plenty of discussion of this on the internet - just google " direct cremation".

The costs round here are about £450 plus disbursements if you use a company.

The LA have a useful advice page on their website if you want to do it yourself, and charge £420 for a 9am 'committal only' cremation which lasts 15 minutes.

http://www.swansea.gov.uk/index.cfm?articleid=35062

A recent family funeral cost over £4,000 - the grave was already paid for- and it was not elaborate. I would rather enjoy that sort of money when I was alive than dead, so I'm making plans

Fishingtime

GwylimT wrote: »

You don't need to be healthy to donate your body to science, any deemed 'unfit' are used by medical students, you do however need to be within a certain distance of a collection centre when you die.

I used to be an undertaker that dealt with the london medcal school.
There is no set distance I went as far as Devon to collect a cadaver, and then took them to a London hospital.
And they are all used by medical students

You do get a free funeral after the students have done all their work, and a 10 minute service for the funeral

vaio

pollypenny wrote: »

I don't care what happens to my corpse. OH, of course, wants the works, with a huge booze up in the rugby club............

Is the booze up/wake for his funeral or yours?

pollypenny wrote: »

........Actually, I'd like a non-religious something, with hymns. But as sister says, by the time we kick the bucket, the next generation won't know the hymns.

Agree about the hymns but aren't they religious by definition?

FLAPJACK

I remember years ago going to a funeral of a neighbour.....ended up going as I gave a lift to his brother.

Anyhow apparently the deceased was a bit unusual as he had read out at the service (sparsly attended I may add) a statement along the lines:

" I was born with no name and I am going with no name....the state decided I should have a number...... so say goodbye to that".

After this the service began, ..."We are here today to say goodbye to :XX XXXX XX X." His National Insurance number was quoted!!!

Even outside the floral tributes (well tribute) had a card saying Floral Tributes to ....then the number!

No music....it was all over in ten minutes.

Pretty sad I thought.