If you are flat busted broke when you die what happens to your

body? I'm curious because my wife's aunt passed yesterday, and between the entire extended family there's not enough to put her away in the traditional fashion. Body preperation, casket, viewing funeral etc....
It used to be that the county would put one away as cheaply as possible, but, I'm not sure they do that anymore.
I don't think they would hold the body forever, people would be stacking up like cordwood, so what happens to paupers now?

In Mecklenburg County, NC the county pays for a casket and a marker in the county owned cemetary.

There's an archaic term, would provide that information to the family, I won't know what they'rer going to do for a while, until my wife comes home she has about the best head on her shoulders from that side of her family.

that someone is paying them to do it whether it's community chest or a family member.

The county probably is responsible for the handling of indigent cases and contracts or handles in house their indigent cases.

Or if your aunt belonged to a church perhap they are assisting.

and bury unknowns or paupers in unmarked single or multiple graves. Some may cremate if space is tight. They do try to find relatives and get the money for a no frills cremation or burial, but if they can't, they'll do the job.

Unburied/cremated dead are a public health risk.

"Unburied/cremated dead are a public health risk" Where did you come up with that idea? Please clarify your statement????

Ya can't leave bodies on ice forever. Well, ya could, but eventually the morgues run out of room.

Like they are still on ice down in NOLA !!! Can't have that can we? I would like to hear, from the poster, what "he meant" Thanks anyhow. I have a low tolerance for misinformation, no offense to you. This would be "your" interpretation. P.S. LOVE your "Westie"

I didn't perceive an objection to cremation in the post, just a shorthand with the UN at the fore. And I don't think the discussion was focused on NOLA at all. Everyone knows that was a fuckup of massive proportions. The discussion was centered on the disposal of the remains of impoverished persons.

My children have been instucted to do the same with me, and then take both of our ashes, and scatter them ....together....at our favorite fishing spot in the Berkshires. We've always said that when we died, we wanted to become food for the fish. Payback for eating so many of them!!! Karma,or whatever you want to call it. DC

...that I would be cremated then snuck up to the top of the World Trade Center, were my survivors would let me fly! My ashes to descend and take their place as New Your City windowsill soot. Now that the WTC are no more, I have to rethink this last wish. Scattered at a favorite fishing spot has appeal. :)

and stashed in the kitchen (no other place to cram it now) and waiting for my surgery to heal enough I can lug them up to the El Valle caldera to scatter them.

My mother said she'd come back and haunt me if I scattered them over water, she had a lifelong fear of water.

Personally, I don't give a rip what happens to this carcass after I'm done with it. It can feed the coyotes for all I care. I will just prepay a no frills cremation, though, instructions to scatter me in the landfill. It's the closest thing to being composted I can come up with.

but only to surviving spouses or children.

Otherwise whatever unpaid SS monies go back into the "Lockbox".

in some cases the deceased can be buried on family property without embalming etc and etc.

We belong to The Greater Buffalo Memorial Society. They have all the info one needs for New York State Law concerning burial.

Check in your area for a branch. I believe the Society is a nation wide organization.

Let me know how you make out.

Please.

180

and put her body on what they call the home place, it's the original farm her ancestors settled in the 1850's. I think the woman would have liked a funeral, but it was a sudden thing she was only 64, and in reasonable health, so, there wasn't any plans.

If she can be buried on the home place -- then she could be buried without embalming in a natural pine box. We come from the earth and we go back to the earth. Embalming is the last thing I would want.

I am sorry about your (wife's) aunt. I trust that she is at peace now.

:hug:

180

have to happen in a creepy place where lots of others have been sent off?

Cremate her, gather the family and appreciate each other, make some speeches, toast the lady off in style.

It's like a wedding, right? Why DOES it have to be planned with invites and registries and all that? 'cause it's kind of a racket.

Have a party, honor the lady with a gathering of family and friends. Make it pot luck, play the music she liked and remember her well.

Though, they'll probably be somber. I was wondering what happened to people who couldn't afford either a cremation or burial, it's not something one's corpse could take care of.

office would be a good place to start.

Or the place that has her remains at the moment.. the hospital, etc.

Sadly far too often people pass without the means to have provided for themselves in the end, far too often, so arrangements are available in some manner or another.

Big hugs. It's tough times these days.. tough times.

At the heart of this question is why anyone would be too broke to respectfully bury their dead. This may be too touchy a subject for this thread, but I read an interesting book a few years back called "The American Way of Death". It basically talks about the invention of today's modern funeral rites more as a business than as a spiritual ceremony. Seems as yet another way to further disenfranchise the poor in our country.

Personally I would prefer to be buried as is to give back to the earth that so graciously hosted me for my years. This should be an option for anyone. If it means digging a deeper hole for public health reasons so be it. The chemicals used in embalming and casket making, not to mention all those endless chemlawn cemeteries, certainly must be more harmful than a burial au naturel...

180, I googled The Greater Buffalo Memorial Society, but not too much info given. Do you have a contact number or address?

Newburgh, Yes it would make a good thread in and of itself, if we don't take care of our living though, what can one expect afterwards?

costs around $800. You are allowed to make your own casket and not be embalmed and be buried on your own land if you so desire. At least that is what it's been like around here in the time I've lived here-since '91. Last person I know to die was cremated and some of his ashes are buried at our local Sufi cemetery. This happened in 2000.

9804 Manchester Road
St. Louis, MO 63119
Phone: 314-962-9600
Toll Free: 888-813-4295
Fax: 314-962-9615
License 2005015038

http://www.neptunecremationservice.com/parent.asp

of respectful burial.

Definition of 'respectful' probably also varies.

Embalming does nothing, really, except delay. It was as much about allowing for a post mortem series of viewings as anything else.

Ashes to ashes dust to dust is pretty much true; embalming only increases the time between the two poles.

Cremation is likely the best option. It is not expensive and can even be done with a carboard coffin (don't laugh, there's nothing disrespectful or cheap about it). My first father-in-law and mother-in-law met their final resting place that way. They were hardly poor. They didn't want any sort of public viewing or even a cermony or memorial. Just to be remembered as in life. Both specified they be creamated in the most economical way possible and their ashes 'respecfully' disposed of. In both cases we had them scattered at sea. There was an organization that volunteers to fly the ashes a few miles out and scatter them on the ocean. The only fee was a donation to them to continue their work.

minimal. Body presented to crematorium in a cardboard box, remains the same way. Here the ashes can be scattered. A close friend of mine had his scattered on a local lake he enjoyed sailing.

but not sure if this can be arranged without specific instructions from the deceased...

Look at all the good that would come of it! I may just change my will, and do just that! When my Mom died of Altzheimers (after 11 yrs. in a Nursing home) I donated her brain to Yale University Hosp. for research on the disease. We were still able to have a viewing, which is what she wanted. Both of my parents, now deceased, had thier funerals pre-planned and pre-paid. That was the best gift they could have given me to ease the loss, as I was an only child, I don't think I could have handled it alone.

disabled daughter. I agree no matter who you are or how old you are this is a good idea and does not leave your family to make the decisions. As a social worker who made sure that all my clients did this I suggest that other workers do the same. Too often they are forgotten.

He told us what he had planned, reasoning that he would be dead and his body would just rot away, someone might as well get some use out of it.
She better make the arrangements though, i'm sure there are documents to be signed.

There is paper work to be filled out by the donor.

After which as a veteran my ashes I will be buried at sea from a ship of the line. Burial at sea is available to all veterans and their immediate family of all services.

180

Watching the epic sea battle movies then afterwards they dumped the dead into the ocean, man it made me have a nitemare. Now it doesn't, actually it does sound rather cool, fish food complete the circle.

I find it kind of interesting. Burial is at 100 fathom curve. That will be my deepest dive.

Longest too!

180

My FIL did that as well. Once they have completed the time allowed for scientific use, the body is then returned to the family for final disposition, at least it was for our family. He was created at the end of his alloted time at the school, with the costs being paid for by the family. This was approximately 12 years ago, so some rules might have changed or might be specific to the school which benefits from the donation.

Checking the fine print for final arrangements after a donation period is my advice.

University Med school...we have never heard a word back from them since. At least not that I know of, I'll ask my mom but I'm pretty sure she would have mentioned if they had returned some remains...or ashes...

Her husband died, she had no money to bury him. So her church had a service and the county held his body until she could afford to get a cemetery plot. Then she had to get a gravestone. It was a nightmare. First a service at the church, and then months later, a graveside service.

Made me wonder how many families don't even bother to bury their dead.

Oh this guy was also a veteran. And my friend got a piddly amount from the VA. (IIRC, it was only $200)

I've told my wife that if I go first that's what I prefer, she wants the traditional funeral and burial, they can put my ashes in with her that's fine by me.
Of course I won't have anything to say about what happens after I kick it.

real estate with a view that no one will ever enjoy.

I prefer cremation and a loud party with lots of food. Celebrate the life!!!!!

It's not entirely wasted--it's a way of ensuring that a piece of ground slightly larger than yourself will remain un-strip-malled.

Tucker

in one, and I think I oppose the whole cemetary final resting place scam racket. It could be that I don't like lawn and grass much!

Whenever I travel I seek out the local cemetaries. My favorite is still a gorgeous one in the Yucatan of MX... on the road between Merida and Tuluum. It was all above ground tombs with a riot of color.. beautifully maintained, two duennas at the gates just sitting quietly. The tombs were decorated with beautiful statues, pictures, portraits, fresh flowers, enclosed glass alters with precious momentos... it was such a lovely testament of beauty and tribute to the dead. Mexican funerals are my favorite. The last one I went to played salsa music for my friend, they had an actual party to celebrate her life... we appreciated how Isabella had brought us all together.

her death!

There are some good recommendations in this thread, and ordinances do vary a bit by county and state, so I guess the best thing is to turn to the county. If her remains are currently in the hospital or county morgue, start with the administrator there, immediately.

As for a funeral, by which I assume you mean a religious service, you can either put that together as a family or enlist the help of a minister. If she was not a church member, call around for a non-denominational minister -- the hospital should have this info on file. People accredited by Universal Life Church are quite sincere.

You don't strictly need a minister, but they can bring solace to the living.

I have to run now, but just wanted to say that if you decide on a family-run memorial service, just keep it very simple. Someone (like your calm and level headed wife) should read a prayer or Psalm (the 23rd is always good). If there's a favorite song or hymn, sing that. Say a blessing, a few reminiscences, that she will be missed. Hug each other. Share food -- potluck. And a :grouphug:

Hekate

look into the laws in your state - it may be legal to build your own coffin (pine wood box) and dig your own grave. All that other stuff is side dressing. In our area we have a minister who was angry at the costs of funerals so he started going to the hospital to pick up the body, preparing it with boxes he built and preforming the ceremony for the great cost of $200. I wish there were more like him.

I'm looking into that. My grandparents and father are buried in one cemetery and I'm looking into being buried in the same grave. I really like that idea. Saves space, and there's some solace in the togetherness.

My sister had my mother cremated and I have always been very sad about that, as there's no grave to visit -- no "home" for her remains.

That's just my personal feeling.

and buried in a casket. They said they could put three cremated deceased into each casket. This has been an interesting thread. Thanks OP.

and die in a hurricane?