When Your Time Is Up, How Do You Want To Be Disposed Of?

This alleged exchange between Gene Weingarten, author of the Washington Post's humor column Below the Beltway, and Heather R. Human of Van Eperen Public Relations, who apparently serves as a PR representative for the National Funeral Directors Association (via Peter Himler), drove home the fact that we're all going to go at some point. The only choice in the matter is what kind of send-off and final physical arrangements we'd like to have.

The NFDA has a handy little chart that shows that the projected death rate for 2010 is 2,638,000 U.S. deaths, or a death rate of 8.8 per 1,000 population, compared to 2050 (many of us will be on our way out then or already gone), when the projected death rate is 4,550,000 or 11.2 per 1,000.

Given the booming funeral services industry, what are some of the current trends?

"Many consumers... are seeking products, services and experiences that are different than those that have been included in the traditional funeral service. Their decisions are more event-based than product-based....

Through personalization, funeral services can be more creative, unforgettable and meaningful. Funeral directors can offer various ideas to make the service more personalized and are very open to family suggestions and creativity....

There has been a dramatic increase in the number of individuals choosing to preplan their own funeral. This trend can be credited to the aging baby boomers, which are known for their desire to control all aspects of their life and for developing their own ideas...

The public’s interest in cremation continues to rise. In 2000, cremation accounted for 26 percent of final dispositions in the United States."

Quick aside: Want proof that funeral services are part of a lucrative industry? Look no further than this classified ad available on NFDA's site.

"Funeral Home For Sale - Oklahoma. Brand new funeral home for sale in small town Oklahoma. Huge chapel, large up to date kitchen and dining facilities, outdoor deck, three beautiful visitation rooms, large selection room, and embalming facility. Landscaped professionally with large parking lot all on approximately 2 acres. Great location in town."

Or this one.

Come to Florida. Wanted LFD/Embalmer. Family-owned, multiple locations. Great work environment & schedule. Will keep confidential.

The decision about the type of burial and vessel one's remains will be housed in are highly personal. For the environmentally inclined, here are a few choices:

• Space Services Inc: "A new choice in truly unforgettable memorial services, honoring the memory of a departed loved one. Join us at our launch events, and help bring the dream to reality by placing a portion of cremated remains on board a commercial or scientific satellite."
• Eternal Reefs: "An Eternal Reefs Memorial Reef is a designed reef of cast concrete that can include the cremated remains of a loved one. These Memorial Reefs create new marine habitats for fish and other forms of sea life." There's even an option for pets. (Eternal Reefs has a blog, but it appears to have gone dormant.)
• Choosing a "green burial" as advanced by the Green Burial Council: "Green burial, which means burial without embalming, a conventional marker, a vault, and with either a shroud or a biodegradable casket, can be requested at any conventional cemetery. Some conventional cemeteries are even setting aside specific portions of their grounds to accommodate this type of burial."
• Uono Cocoon Coffin: The biodegradable Cocoon is described by Unono founder Andreas Spiegel (via Business 2.0 April 2006 print issue) as "a piece of furniture with a high design standard -- the last piece of furniture they'll ever buy."

Additional information: Kami Huyse offers two more "options" in the comments.

Comments

[Jack Yan]

As part of globalization, in the 1990s, American interests bought up most of the funeral homes in New Zealand, so it is a growth industry. A few independents remain, such as Harbour City Funeral Services, in my neighbourhood. Hmm, all these more novel options sound good, incidentally.

[Andrea Weckerle]

Jack: I like the Eternal Reefs, personally.

[Kami Huyse]

It is hard to think of death as a growth industry, but...

You can also get a diamond made out of your loved ones ashes:

http://www.lifegem.com/

OR

You can have your body plasticized and made into art. This exhibit recently came to San Antonio:

http://www.beachbrowser.com/Archives/eVoid/April-2001/Plasticized-Corpse-Exhibit.htm"

I didn't attend. Really, what will they think of next?

[Andrea Weckerle]

Kami: Very interesting options. Sounds like you missed a cultural opportunity by skipping the exhibit! :-)

[Kami Huyse]

I guess you have to pick and chose, they had some great photos in the Express News, so that was enough for me. It certainly caught my attention anyway.