The only things that are guaranteed in this life are death and taxes, and most people have given at least some thought to how they would like to be put to rest when the time comes.
Whether you tell your family that you want to be buried, cremated, or turned into fireworks, we all hope that our wishes will be honored once we're gone.
But a list of "fun" behind-the-scenes facts about funerals have some people reconsidering their choices. As it turns out, funerals are a much messier, nastier business than you might have guessed.
Here's what Tumblr user reillymouse shared about the process that most people don't know:
Warning - Some readers may find this list disturbing.
Fun Funeral Facts
- Embalming, the process of chemically preserving a corpse, is typically not required by law. Unless you need to transport the body long-distance or postpone the burial, it's 100% a vanity thing.
- A body still rots in air-tight conditions. So "protective" or "sealed" caskets are basically a scam, and anything fancy like metal is a waste of money.
- Want a beautiful casket for viewing, but think burning or burying an expensive piece of hardwood is a waste of money and trees? Rentals exist.
- You don't need a coffin for cremation. The minimum requirement is that the body be in a "cremation container," which is a simple cardboard box.
- Home funerals are an option. You don't need to hand the body over to a funeral home, and you can keep their involvement to a minimum.
- Natural burial sites exist. You can have your unembalmed body straight up thrown in the dirt to be tree food, if you want.
- There are a lot of funeral homes that will prey on your ignorance and vulnerability in order to get as much money out of you as possible. They may imply certain services are legally mandatory, steer you away from cheaper options, charge additional costs for what's supposed to be all-inclusive services, etc.
- One person's death is another person's profit. Know your rights, do your research, and apply the same scrutiny you would to any other business.
Well, that's definitely a mix of interesting, unusual, and disturbing facts, even if I wouldn't call any of them "fun."
While it's infuriating to think that some funeral homes are making money by up-charging grieving family members for useless products, it's also nice to know there are options like home burials and natural funerals available.
Has this list convinced you to change your own burial plans? And have you run into the kind of unscrupulous funeral homes that reillymouse references?
[H/T: Bored Panda]
