3 Shifting Explanations For Choosing Traditional Burial By Hal Stevens

Burial is commonly called interment. It is frequently has a considerable price tag and unquestionably the most pricey part of a funeral. In an ideal world, burial or interment arrangements would be made beforehand with a pre-planned funeral. Still, often, this is just not feasible. Now and then, a death can be out of the blue due to an accident or other situations. Other times, people basically prefer not to dwell on the topic of death or even think about it until the time comes.

Regardless of pre-planning, a traditional burial is very costly, not only financially, but also environmentally. As cemetery space becomes rapidly and increasingly more limited, many cities and even countries are reevaluating their cemetery systems in hopes of coming up with a plan that meets all needs.

Despite the cost, cemetery interment remains very popular and is the most common funeral practice. The reasons for this are because:

• In large part, this is due to the fact that many people prefer to adhere to the traditions that they know. If they come from a family that preferred in ground burial then they are that much more likely to use the same.

• Another reason for the continued popularity of interment is the fact that many religions and cultures still forbid or caution against cremation or other forms of disposition. Greek Orthodox Christianity, Islam, Orthodox Judaism, Parsees, Russian Orthodox Christianity, and Zoroastrians all forbid cremation. Each group has its own religious convictions about why they forbid the practice of cremation but primarily it is because the body and resurrection.

• Most Christian denominations have changed their stance on cremation, though some still have certain guidelines that must be followed to adhere to the laws of their faith. If you have questions, always check with your religious leader, should you have one, before making any plans.

In many countries, the beliefs about death haven’t changed in centuries. Even in the United States, we still adhere to many rituals and funeral practices that were in place in the nineteenth century. Soon, however, circumstances will force us to reexamine these customs and traditions. Of course, no discussion of burial, can exclude the major, underlying influence of religion. Increasingly, however, those guidelines are changing as many other aspects of religious beliefs change with time.

Not only do religious entities put laws into affect, but, of course, our governments do. Most governmental guidelines regarding burial will be explained to you by your funeral director. You can also research them online on your own by searching for the laws of your state and region. This is an important step to take even if you feel that you know the laws of your area.

There are many mistaken beliefs concerning burial. Be certain to be informed. Still, prior to considering burial, check with your funeral director to make sure that you have or can get the correct burial permit (if considered necessary) to permit you to bury the remains of your loved one below ground.

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4 Main Explanations On Why More People Are Choosing Cremation By Hal Stevens

1. People are enjoying a longer life (the average life expectancy for men is 73.3, and for females, 79.6). This sets aside additional time for pre-planning of funerals and complex decision making. The more time that is made available the more time that people have to thoroughly consider all of the options.

It's important for you to know that the most valid reason for choosing cremation is your reason. You don't owe anyone -- not me, your funeral director, or your minister, priest or rabbi -- any explanation whatsoever. College graduates are more likely to consider cremation than someone with a high school education or a high school dropout. Wealthy people view cremation as a viable disposition option whereas people who have little (or no) disposable income tend to choose burial for their dead. There is not particular reason for this but it is the trend. Soon it is expected that people of all socioeconomic backgrounds will join the movement towards cremation.

2. More people are moving further from their original homes. This leaves fewer people behind to tend to family graves. Taking care of cemetery property is now considered a burden that most people don’t want to worry about.
For numerous reasons, families are splitting up across the country. Mom and dad may have their roots planted in one area and their grown children have relocated. It is very common nowadays for families to be split. This makes taking care of graves a very difficult, if not impossible task. For these people cremation is starting to look more like a viable option. It can be an uneasy thought to consider mom and dad’s grave left unattended for sometimes even years because the kids have all relocated. Cremation, in conjunction with scattering the ashes or keeping them is much more attractive to many.

3. The idea of cremation becoming more 'acceptable' and more religious groups are changing their stance on the subject—giving an increased number of people the freedom to explore cremation as an option.

People who believe that the Bible (or any sacred textbook) is the literal word of God will almost universally choose burial over cremation. People who consider themselves 'spiritual' or 'other' on census forms or public polls will strongly consider cremation when a death occurs. There has been a curve in traditional thinking about this. Religious groups are becoming more receptive to cremation and the “ashes to ashes” concept that man evolved from dust and to dust he will return.

4. People are becoming increasingly concerned about the environmental impact of the traditional cemetery, ranging from taking up land-space to chemicals released into the earth and the ecological impact of using trees and other natural resources for burial.

No one can deny the fact that cremation is becoming a well-liked choice to burial. Furthermore, more funeral homes and cemeteries are joining the movement of 'green burials' which never use unsafe chemicals in preparing the body. Many use eco-friendly caskets. This is a huge motivator for many people in the increasing attempt to stabilize the planet.

Resource: http://www.isnare.com/?aid=374726&ca=Death

3 Crucial Pieces to Reflect on When Writing a Eulogy For Your Spouse By Hal Stevens

Through exceptional times and dreadful, through delight and pain, your partner is the person whom you have chosen to spend your life with. When your husband or wife departs this life, you might feel lost and very alone.

Sometimes a spouse may not want to deliver the eulogy at the funeral or memorial services simply because he or she is too close and too emotionally involved to be able to stand before the other mourners and speak about the life of the person they loved so dearly.

However, many spouses do want to speak at the service so that their affection and devotion can be made known. Overall, your spouse knows you better than anyone else.
Make three considerations when you are thinking about writing a eulogy for your spouse.

1. Traditional eulogy: Start off with a little about when and how you met, how you life has changed since they have been in it, mention children, grandchildren, and pets. Share a funny story. Talk about their careers, hobbies, and interests.

2. Death of a spouse poem: Poetry often can reveal your deepest feelings about your spouse. It can also bring to life emotions that otherwise couldn't be expressed. When you recite a poem as a eulogy you are sharing on the very deepest level. If you are not a poem writer there are plenty available on the Internet that you can either use or use as a base to create your own.

3. Death of a spouse (brief marriage) - Begin with a bit about when and how you met, how your life has changed because they have been in it. Point out any children, even if the children were not made together. Share a funny story. Talk about their profession, hobbies, and interests. The one thing that you may want to put in is, 'My only regret was that our time as one was so short. However, I know that the love we shared and the things that I learned from him will keep me until we are reunited one day. I will love on the recollections we shared. As an alternative to wishing we had more time, I will be satisfied to remember…'

Any time that was spent together is neither enough time or too short of a time to precisely express the joys and sorrows that were experienced together with the person that you felt made you complete. To say that dealing with the death of a loved one is difficult is an understatement. Every person is unique, and the ways in which we react to the passing of someone we care about are just as unique.

Though death is inevitable, very often, we’re not prepared to lose a loved one, regardless of the circumstances. Our minds and our bodies go through changes during the process of grieving. The amount of stress—especially on those closest to the deceased—is often overwhelming.

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6 Final Resting Place Considerations For Cremated Remains By Hal Stevens

With cremation, you will, in fact, have added choices for a final resting place than with a classic earth burial. With interment, you can choose burial in the family plot, church garden, or other memorial site. You can also choose a columbarium, which is an arrangement of niches, indoor or outdoor, with memorial character plaques. This is also sometimes referred to as an urn garden.

A memorial service is a service given for the deceased without the body present. A memorial is usually held after a burial, donation of the body to an institution, cremation (sometimes the cremains are present), entombment in a mausoleum or crypt, or a burial at sea. Sometimes such a service can be held at the funeral home and may include prayers, poems, or songs to remember the deceased. Very often, photographs of the decedent are displayed.

A memorial service doesn’t have to be a formal or expensive event. Gathering friends and family at home to watch your loved one’s favorite film or television program could serve as an opportunity to reminisce about the life of someone special to you.

You can choose to have memorial prayers and religious rites performed at the graveside with cremation, just as you can with a traditional in-ground burial. You can also choose to have a marker or monument as a permanent testimony to the life and the history of the deceased, and as a place of pilgrimage for loved ones to visit.

One popular scattering option is over water or in some other site loved by the deceased. You’ll need to be certain of the laws and regulations in the area before scattering. Your cremation director or funeral director will be able to provide you with information about this.

We would like to remind you that laws concerning ash scattering differ in each state. If state law permits it, or cremains may be scattered in lieu of preserving them in a columbarium, burying them in a grave, or keeping them at home. Some cremation societies offer scattering services to their members.

Because it's expedient and inexpensive, the scattering of cremated remains is beginning to appeal to those people who are always on the “go,” to those who may have young families, or those who move around a lot.

Something to keep in mind is the fact that, the remains of a cremated body are not “ashes” as the term is commonly referred. The remains are calcium deposits that do not immediately dissolve when scattered. They normally cannot be disbursed and blown away when scattered; so be mindful of that.

We will be of assistance to you in locating just what you are looking for, whether it is a discounted cremation supplier, a specialty urn company, a special scattering service, an on-line obituary site or just general information about cremation. We do not sell any of the products or services listed on the site. As an alternative, we recommend that you use carefully researched links to several companies offering cremation-related items.

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10 Unique Cremation Urn Options For Holding Cremated Remains By Hal Stevens

As a result of the soaring costs of burial and quickly decreasing cemetery space, the alternatives in materials, styles and arrangement of cremation urns have increased, with cremation becoming a more accepted and conventional choice. Cremation has been practiced for thousands of years and urns have been in use just as long. Today’s urns vary from the very conventional to the completely custom-made. We propose that if you do not intend to scatter the “ashes,” you will most likely want to keep them in an exceptional container. The process of placing cremated remains (cremains) in an urn or other vessel is called inurnment.

Increasingly, families are dividing the cremains amongst family members who each wish to keep a portion. In these cases, smaller urns can be purchased. For these purposes, some are even buying specialized urns or containers that can be worn as jewelry. Like caskets, urns can vary widely in price. The cost of the urn depends on a lot of different things including the urn’s material, size and the amount of custom personalization. At its most basic, an urn can be purchased for as little as US$35.

Before choosing an urn, think about how and where it will be kept or displayed. Once you’ve decided that, you’ll be able to better decide what sort of style or material you’ll want for your urn. An urn can be made of many different materials. Your choice of material depends on the place in which you will display the urn.

Some types of urns that you may choose from are:

• Hand made urns
• Wood
• Glass
• Ceramic
• Marble or Granite
• Various Metals
• Gold
• Biodegradable
• Keepsake boxes
• A fountain

Why personalize the urn? You would do it for the same reason that we put a marker on a grave. The most important reason is because it's a benefit to the family grieving the loss of a loved one. Personalizing offers a visual record of a life lived. In addition to names, birth dates, and death dates, a favorite activity, sport, or hobby, fraternal organization, or military emblem can also be engraved on the cremation urn.

We believe that until the urn is personalized, it's just a container. After it's personalized, it serves as a permanent memorial—a lasting tribute to the life that was lived.

The ways in which you can personalize an urn are endless. What’s important is that the way in which it’s accomplished fits the mood and memory of the person whose remains the container holds.

Our cremation portal will assist you in finding exactly what you are looking for, whether it is an economical cremation provider, a specialty urn company, an exclusive scattering service, an on-line obituary site or just general information about cremation.

Resource: http://www.isnare.com/?aid=373734&ca=Death

5 Advantages Of Cremation As Opposed To Burial When Planning A Funeral By Hal Stevens

There are several reasons that people decide on cremation. Some of the immediate advantages of cremation are:

• Cremations are typically much less expensive than ground burials for many reasons. For example, in many cases a cremation is not preceded by a funeral. If a funeral is held before the cremation, very often the casket is rented for the duration of the funeral instead of purchased. Similarly, remains that are to be cremated are often not embalmed for a wake or visitation.

• Cremations save not only on the cost of the casket in most cases, but also eliminate the need for some of the more extravagant trappings of a traditional funeral. Also, a cremation will save on the cost of cemetery property for a variety of reasons.

• We are in an age when Americans are becoming more and more concerned with recycling.

• The cremation option is much simpler. They do not necessarily require an elaborate funeral, are certainly simpler than traditional burials. Those who enjoyed a simple life are, perhaps, best memorialized in a simple way.

• Cremation’s quick and clean disposal of a body is comforting to some people.

If no funeral is planned (very often a body will go directly to the crematorium) and the body isn’t going to be viewed, embalming is unnecessary. If a funeral is planned, we want you to know that you have choices as to what kind of casket you use. Most casket makers have specially made caskets for cremation which allow both the coffin and the remains to be burned at once.

As I mentioned earlier, very often, a casket can also be rented at the funeral home to be used for any planned services. These rental caskets often have removable liners which are changed after each use and which are usually sturdy cardboard lined on the inside with cloth. The body can be cremated in this container. In some areas, a body can be cremated without a container at all. If the ashes aren’t going to be scattered, the urn or small casket which contain the cremains may be kept in the home of the deceased’s family.

We understand that many people are uncomfortable thinking about decomposition. Cremation can be opted for regardless of what religious conviction is involved. Cremation can, in addition, be an excellent option for those who are apprehensive about environmental factors. For some, in this day of “green” consciousness, the thought endangering the environment for wood that will only be buried is not comprehendible.

Regardless if your choice is burial or cremation, it should not be made lacking due consideration of all that is involved. The deceased’s wishes should be honored always. However, in cases where the deceased’s desires are unclear, very careful thought with respect and love must develop before any decision is made final.

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3 Rationales For Choosing Cremation By Hal Stevens

The choice of cremation is a very delicate one. Whether you’re making the choice for yourself or for a loved one, your preference can be effected by numerous factors.

1.Some people have a fear of close spaces. Very often the idea of burial is particularly terrifying for these people and they pre-arrange their cremation.

Some people have a severe psychological or pathological fear of burial in the ground or a tomb. This thought can often leave people in a panic so if they pre-plan their arrangements for after they die; many times they are much better able to cope with their own death.

2. Some find the concept of having their ashes or the ashes of their loved one scattered on the wind or water to be a very beautiful thought.

After cremation, the “ashes” are returned to the family of the deceased.

Depending on the wishes of the family, the cremains can be placed in a special urn called a “cinerary” urn which is sealed or in a small wooden or metal box.

Sometimes, however, the cremains (especially if they are going to be scattered) are returned to the family in a plastic-lined, cardboard box. Many people, however, prefer the notion of “scattering” the ashes. Some cemeteries are now offering “scattering gardens” on cemetery property, but further away from the grave sites. Here, the family of the deceased has the opportunity to scatter the cremains in an attractive, but controlled setting. In many cases, the cemetery offers an opportunity to place a plaque in honor of the deceased on a wall or bench within the scattering garden.

Some people prefer to scatter the cremains in places that were meaningful to their loved one. It’s important to check the laws in that area to make sure that the disposition of cremains is not illegal. Many areas have guidelines which govern this including the scattering of remains in public water.

3. There’s freedom in planning the funeral service. In preparing for cremation, the family of the deceased (unless pre-instructed) will need to decide whether or not they will have a traditional funeral prior to the cremation.
When someone that you love gets cremated, you have separated yourself from having to obey any restrictions that are part of a traditional funeral. There is no precise timeframe in which the funeral must be held. There is also no exact place where it must be held. If the family wishes they can have a traditional funeral in combination with a cremation but they don’t have to. That is what many are finding to be a very attractive alternative.

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Cremation Issues To Talk About With Your Funeral Service Provider By Hal Stevens

Here is a list of topics about cremation and cremation services that you may well wish to talk about with your funeral director. Your funeral professional can supply the answers to these questions, as well as to any others you might have.

1. Crematoria in your area.

Once you have decided on cremation as your choice and have decided whether or not you wish to have a funeral or memorial service, you will need to decide on a cremation service provider. If you are working with a funeral home in planning the services, they will be able to recommend a crematorium with whom they regularly work. However, if you are going the route of a direct cremation without a funeral service or visitation beforehand, the task of choosing a crematorium will most likely fall to you.

2. Where the cremation will take place.

Whether you deal with a funeral home or not, the cremation process will take place at the crematorium. Funeral homes have certain crematoriums that they use but if you are not using a funeral home then you will locate one on your own.

3. Viewing or visitation.

An ever increasing number of families are requesting cremation services. Cremation services options are:

Full service cremation includes visitation with public viewing and funeral service held at the funeral home or at a place of worship. This service usually also includes a private family viewing arranged at your convenience. These arrangements require embalming by company policy and, in most cases, by state law. At the end of the service or ceremony, family and friends are dismissed and the decedent is taken to the crematory for cremation.

Full service cremation with a public viewing or visitation the same day as the service. The service may be scheduled either daytime or evening.

Public viewing followed by cremation and then a graveside committal service.
Public viewing followed by cremation but without a committal service, with cremated remains returned to the family.

4. Costs associated with cremation

Cremations are typically much less expensive than ground burials for many reasons. For example, in many cases a cremation is not preceded by a funeral. If a funeral is held before the cremation, very often the casket is rented for the duration of the funeral instead of purchased. Similarly, remains that are to be cremated are often not embalmed for a wake or visitation.

5. Caskets choices.

If a funeral is planned, you have choices as to what kind of casket you use. Most casket makers have specially made caskets for cremation which allow both the coffin and the remains to be burned at once. Very often, a casket can also be rented at the funeral home to be used for any planned services.

The finest possible thing to do both for you and your family is to pre-plan. Advanced planning will ease a lot of the burden when the time of death truly comes. Nevertheless, I know that realistically, this can’t always occur. Death is not always predictable.

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My Recent Psychic Messages From Spirit About Michael Jackson By Cherokee Billie

Here's the latest information I have received from spirit on July 17, 2009 regarding Michael Jackson. I know that the autopsy report is going to show that Michael died from a drug overdose causing cardiac and pulmonary arrest. There was no conspiracy to kill him. This was strictly accidental. He had been using drugs for a long time and thought he could handle the amount that was given.

Doctor Murray is going to be the prime suspect by the LAPD homicide division. It’s quite apparent that he was the doctor that gave the final injection. Eventually criminal charges will be brought against him and he will serve time in prison. Also several other doctors are going to be brought up on charges for prescribing massive amounts of drugs, similar to the Anna Nicole Smith case.

Michael’s mother is really suffering and it’s taking a toll on her health. She needs to be looked after carefully and comforted because she could have a health crisis. She definitely is doing a wonderful job with his children. Janet is being a mother to those children right now. Having their nanny back is giving them a sense of security which they haven’t felt since their father died. The children are having a difficult transition living with their grandmother, even though they love her. It’s still not the lifestyle that was free and easy and playful with their father. Their grandmother is teaching them a new religion and I keep hearing Michael Jackson saying, “No, this is not what I want for them. I was teaching them religious values, but I don’t want them brought up in such a restrictive religious format.”

Because of the security risk of burying Michael’s body the family cannot come to a conclusion as to what they should do at this time. Michael does not want to be frozen in cryogenics and would prefer that the family have him cremated and the ashes scattered, so that no one has to worry about his body after his death. It would be costly because of round the clock security to make sure no one stole his body and this would put more pressure on the family then they need. He would like his ashes scattered in the mountains far away from everyone. He does not mind if his family makes a memorial for him at some time. Right now he would just like to see his family have peace and not be so burdened.

His estate is going to be argued about for several years. His will is going to be contested by people outside of the family. All of his investments will be tied up for several years. What he has left for is children will be uncontested and they will receive everything that he has left for them.

I truly wish that the family could see how happy Michael is now. They are too caught up in grief to realize he is free and happy. The family would be greatly comforted if they knew that his spirit is happy and he is with them even though they cannot see him.

I will continue to post messages as I receive them from the Great Spirit or from Michael Jackson’s spirit.

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5 Added Tips For Writing a Traditional Eulogy By Hal Stevens

If you’re thinking about going with the conventional style of writing a speech for the eulogy you’re going to deliver, I’d like to present some tips that will help you.

Take some time alone to sit down in a quiet place and reflect. Sit at your computer and type what you are thinking, or bring a pen and some paper to write down your thoughts.

At first your thoughts may be random and may not follow any particular order or structure. That’s perfectly all right. Not many people—especially in the grip of an emotional situation—have thoughts that flow perfectly.

Once you’ve recorded your thoughts, read through them. If you’ve written them on a pad or piece of paper go back and number them in order of importance. If you’re using a computer, cut and paste words and sentences after formatting for numbering. Don’t be afraid to add or delete.

What you’re thinking really depends on you. What you want to say will vary according to your situation. However, you want to make sure that you’re being true to your own feelings, true to the memory of the deceased and conscious of the feelings of those who will be listening to what you’re saying.

1. Pick a tone. This is the point in which you decide if you want to be serious, sentimental, or light-heated. A good eulogy doesn’t have to be solemn and serious if that isn’t the mood of your family. Pick the tone that best fits the situation. If your family is more formal or traditional, write and organize your thoughts in such a way. If you’re a family of free-spirits or the deceased was a jolly person who loved a laugh, your tribute can be written in a more light-hearted tone. If the deceased was someone of deep sentiment and emotion, a more sentimental eulogy is appropriate. Injecting some humor even into the most serious of eulogies is often a good idea. The use of appropriate and relevant humor in the form of a witty anecdote about the deceased or a funny memory can help relax the audience and, actually, help you relax.

2. Make sure your words are respectful. A good rule to keep in mind is that you shouldn’t say anything in a eulogy that you wouldn’t have said to the deceased’s face when they were alive.

3. Don’t be afraid to get personal. Talk about moments that you shared with the deceased—moments that define him or her and the relationships that they shared.

4. Write short sentences. Long sentences track well on paper, but can be confusing when said in front of an audience.

5. Write from your heart. The most eternal memory that people will seize from your eulogy is what you enlighten them with that’s most sincere. You can do this without being excessively emotional. Just take into account the best qualities of your loved one and remind the listeners that those qualities will continue.

Resource: http://www.isnare.com/?aid=374721&ca=Death

5 Steps In The Process Of Cremation By Hal Stevens

Not many people want to dwell on the technicalities of death but we do need to be educated about it so that we are fully conscious of the choices we’ve made and what they mean.

In this section, I will talk about the basic steps of a cremation which I have divided into five distinct phases.

1. Let’s begin at the moment of death. This is the time when a professional staff person (either an agent of a funeral home or a cremation provider itself) will arrive either at the home, hospital or holding facility to transport the deceased to the cremation facility or funeral home (depending on what sorts of services will be required). This will take place after a death certificate is signed and processed and all legal permits and paperwork are filled out. In some places, there is a 24 to 48 hour 'waiting period' which is enforced before the cremation can be performed. During this period, the deceased is protected in a temperature controlled refrigeration unit until the cremation can be performed.

2. The actual cremation will take place following any sort of services that the family has planned (if any). When that time comes, if the laws in the area require that the deceased is placed in a container prior to cremation then that is carried out. If the deceased was displayed in a rented casket for the purposes of services, he or she will already have been removed from that casket prior to delivery at the cremation facility. Once the deceased has been placed in the container (if required), then, the remains are placed into the cremation chamber where they will stay for approximately 2-3 hours depending on the weight of the individual.

3. Once the process of cremation has successfully concluded, the cremains are removed from the chamber. All foreign objects, such as metal from prosthetic devises or bridgework are removed so that they may be respectfully discarded.

4. The next step finds the cremated remains processed by means of a grinder into a consistent and regular size and shape. During this phase, larger fragments are ground down. When this is complete, the processed cremains are put in a container so that they may be returned to the family. If a permanent container (such as an urn or other vessel) has not been selected, then the cremains will be returned in a temporary container of plastic, cardboard or metal.

5. The cremated remains are placed in a container and returned either to the family, to a funeral home, cemetery or other facility depending on the family’s plans and desires.

Resource: http://www.isnare.com/?aid=373366&ca=Death