funerals

[splange]

I posted a question yesterday but its not here,so I'll try again as I don't think its offensive, not in my opinion, anyway. Just wanted some info as I am researching unusual/alternative/ funerals. Does anybody have any info regarding this?

[Hgrove]

There was a recent newspaper article about ecological funerals which may be of interest to you.

http://observer.guardian.co.uk/magazine/story/0,,1416696,00.html

 

If the link does not work, I suggest you go to the guardian website, archive search, and input the author/title which I reproduce below.
Ethical living
 
Push up daisies

Meadow burials, wicker caskets, cardboard coffins... Lucy Siegle reveals how green goodbyes are giving the funeral industry a new lease of life

Sunday February 20, 2005
The Observer

[jake-the-peg]

Non-religous fulnerals overview on the BBC web-site here:

http://www.bbc.co.uk/religion/religions/atheism/features /rites/funerals.shtml

[Will__]

well for my money, when I go, since I�m not superstitious and don�t want some man in a dress droning useless platitudes over my suited-up body in a box in some cold church, I want to go out in any way that those who might miss me would appreciate and might allow them to think of me while they do it.

 

Do whatever, wherever, and to hell with convention. You only die once.....

 

As far as the disposal of the body is concerned, you will of course have to obey the law (and I don�t know whether you�re allowed to be buried just anyway if it�s private ground) but other than that I would think of it not as a funeral but as a goodbye party. Hope this helps. Wasn�t meant to be flippant.

[spunkypumpkn]

try the humanist society

[buchanan]

I agree with ************ (which is not a phrase I have ever used before - fab name ****** - keeps making me giggle).  Husband's Nan has just recently made us all aware that she wants a humanist funeral.

[RevShirls]

It depends what you mean by an unusual funeral. I think every funeral should be unique to the extent that it represents the life of an individual and should reflect the life and memories that people have of the person. The format of the funeral and the arrangements often vary but the majority seem to opt for "traditional formats" (probably got something to do with the fact that most of the people who have died are older) In my experience the funerals that tended to be different were mainly (although not totally) those who were younger. They included different types of music (live bands playing - jazz, brazilian, hiphop, etc etc or CDs being played - even a recording of the person who had died being played as the coffin was brought in), different people speaking, sharing memories etc etc. At one funeral I conducted many people came to the service dressed as clowns, at another 100 motorcyclists (many on Harley Davidsons) accompanied the hearse, at another some stand-up comics did a sketch (the guy was a comedian) and so on. Have also conducted eco-funerals too and learnt how to put together a cardboard coffin  (I first saw a cardboard coffin several years ago. The local funeral directors ordered some. they arrived when I was there. We struggled for ages to put it together. They are a lot easier to assemble nowadays)My own philosophy is that a funeral is a very personal thing and should reflect the life and views of the person who has died - so I really don't regard anything as so unusual or alternative - more of an individual expression.

[splange]

Thanks to everyone who has replied.