Tips on Do-it-Yourself Funerals

Somehow, I got on a funeral list. I am not talking about a specific funeral, but trends that go on in the funeral industry. My first thought as to why I get the funeral updates was that I must have done an article on this topic, but I cannot for the life of me remember researching or writing such a piece. So, being the logical person I am, I jumped from point A to point Z and decided my husband must be investigating funerals. It’s not that farfetched. When he does online research, he gives everyone my email address, so his email box doesn’t get filled with spam. Somewhere along the line, my email address has become our family’s clearing house for stuff they were interested in, but don’t want to be contacted about. But now, I am left wondering why he is investigating funerals and should I watch what I eat when he cooks.

This latest email on this macabre topic led to an article about “Do-it-yourself” funerals. Apparently, in these tough economic times, people are looking to cut corners wherever they can and a loved one’s funeral is no exception. Why spend $8,000 to put Grandma in the ground when you can shave half of the costs if you do some of the stuff on your own. Again, this is a red flag for me with my husband. He is a human being who loves to get a good deal, so allow me to ask a favor here: If there comes a time when someone out there says, “Gee, I haven’t heard from Donna in a while”, would you please ask someone to check my freezer? It’s in the basement. Down the steps, hang a left. Thanks.

Do you know it’s perfectly legal to do your own funeral? It’s not that long ago that people did have wakes in their homes. There were no funeral parlors. You just parked the casket next to the sofa and let the booze flow and the mourning begin. Now, for most of us, it seems a bit creepy having a dead body in the house. However, with the rising costs of such an event, the funeral industry is telling customers or soon-to-be customers that a funeral can be a shared experience. The idea of death is one that we cannot escape. Although it isn’t the most exciting topic to discuss, it is important to think about it. Whether you are considering a DIY funeral to keep costs to a minimum or are planning on giving your loved one the send off you think they deserve, life insurance would be something you will need to look into, as this will cover the costs. Not everyone is familiar with this, which is why sites like https://www.moneyexpert.com/life-insurance/ exists. It is in everyone’s best interests to make sure you know everything is there is to know before going ahead with the funeral arrangements. Not everyone is going to have the same opinion on a DIY funeral, but for those who are considering this route, here are some aspects to consider.

For instance, to cut down on “preparation”, you can opt to wash down the deceased yourself. You can do the makeup and dress the body, etc. Now again, I don’t have a problem with this, but personally, if my funeral is going the economic route, I want someone who is good at makeup. I don’t want someone who has held a grudge toward me or my family applying lipstick or — and I can’t emphasize this enough — a curling iron.

You might be asking who would want to prepare their own loved one’s body. Well, would you be surprised to learn that if you are a “green” person, opting to prepare the body and foregoing embalming is helping out Mother Earth? Yep, embalming chemicals and whatever else they do in funeral parlors in not a “green” procedure, so a do-it-yourself job eliminates chemical waste and the deceased becomes great mulch along the way. I could see my husband liking the mulch idea and planting me in the vegetable garden. Okay – new thought. If I’m not in the freezer, go to the garden. It’s at the end of the backyard by the fence.

There are a few caveats with the whole body-in-the-house thing. First, most states have a limit on how long you can keep a dead body in your residence. Secondly, funeral professionals suggest that even if your event is taking place in the midst of a blizzard, you need to crank up the air conditioning or have a lot of dry ice on hand. When you do plan a “home” funeral, know that you can ask a funeral parlor for help in different ways. Apparently, most do offer a-la-cart services now. For instance, perhaps you need help transporting the deceased from one place to another. I wouldn’t underestimate the value of transportation. This is something best left up to the professionals. Otherwise, you have to think about details like do you throw the body in the back seat or trunk? How do you get the body from the car to wherever you are going to put them in the house? Do you use a Dolly or a wheel barrel? If there are stairs involved, how are you going to get the cadaver up and down the stairs without dinging your walls? I hate dings in my walls.

To me the difference between a good at-home funeral and a disaster lies in those details. From what I read, a good funeral parlor will give you a loaner casket for transportation or you can rent one. You don’t need a good one if your beloved is becoming mulch or if you are planning cremation.

Oh, and for the record, and this is important: you cannot do your own cremation! It doesn’t matter how hot you can get the grill or fireplace, this is still against the law throughout the country except in those backwoods areas where you can still marry your first cousin. Also, remember to get all the right permits for a do-it-yourself event. You have to check with the county and state to make things legal.

I cannot imagine that a do-it-yourself event is an easy task to accomplish. It’s not a fun project to tackle like remodeling your own bathroom. If you screw up up this event, you will never live it down – so to speak.

photo by Touring Cyclist