Tag Archives: funeral

Haunting story of a lonely man’s death

george Bell I read this story in the New York Times a few days ago and it still haunts me.

The Lonely Death of George Bell tells about a man who died alone. No one realized he was gone and there was no one to plan his funeral or settle his estate. This story goes thru the saga of what happened to him, what he left behind and who had to deal with all of it. It’s more like a novella than an article but it’s well worth taking the time to read it. I did and can’t forget it!

For more information about issues related to dying and settling an estate, go to www.diesmart.com.

Do you want to stay next to your pet forever?

The Virginia legislature recently amended state burial law to allow cemeteries to provide designated spaces for burying pets in caskets next to their owners.

Prior to passage of the new law, cremated remains of a pet could be buried in the casket with the deceased or the body could be interred in a pet cemetery adjacent to one for humans. An example cited in an article in the Martinsville Bulletin prior to passage of the new law is Noah’s Ark, a pet cemetery, that is adjacent to National Memorial Park Cemetery in Falls Church, VA.

The new measure is intended to help people who think of their pets as family members and who want them buried with them. The law specifies that pets and owners cannot share the same grave, crypt or niche and the pet section of the cemetery has to be clearly marked.

Now that the measure has passed, a couple can buy three adjacent plots – one for each of them and the one in the center for their beloved pet.

A few years ago, the New York legislature passed a law allowing humans to be buried in pet cemeteries along with their pets. However, pets still cannot be buried in cemeteries intended for humans.

Burial of a pet with its owner after death is a topic that has spurred a lot of discussion and emotions but very few states up to now have tried to deal with this issue.

For more information about end of life planning, go to www.diesmart.com.

The “Aid in Dying” movement – is it a good idea?

According to an article that appeared a few days ago in the New York Times, there is a new movement in the United States called “Aid in Dying”. It’s supporters try to avoid calling it what it really is – assisted suicide – but, whatever they call it, it’s gaining traction.

Until 2008, assisted suicide was legal in just one state: Oregon. Today, it’s legal in five states: Montana, Oregon, Washington, Vermont and New Mexico. Supporters of the right for a terminally ill patient to choose aid in dying are supporting “death with dignity” bills in Connecticut and other states.

Lawsuits in New Mexico and Montana related to this topic have resulted in a differentiation between aid in dying, which is now legal, and assisted suicide, which is still considered a crime in both of those states.

Church groups have weighed in on the topic and claim that aid in dying is morally wrong. However, more and more people are asking for the right to die on their own terms according to Barbara Coombs Lee, president of Compassion & Choices.

In May 2013, a Gallup Poll was conducted. It asked whether doctors should be allowed to “end the patient’s life by some painless means” when patients and their families want it. 70% said yes. However, when asked whether doctors should be allowed to help a dying patient “commit suicide”, only 51% said they should. It’s clear that the exact wording is critically important in assessing how people really feel about the issue and on what is actually legal.

What do you think? Should aid in dying be made legal in your state?

To learn more about other topics related to death, go to www.diesmart.com.

Have you thought about an at-home funeral?

Until the end of the 19th century, when someone died, it was the norm to keep the body at home where the family would take care of the deceased loved one until his or her burial. But as the funeral home industry grew, the number of at-home funerals declined and didn’t regain popularity until about ten years ago.

A story from WBUR, Boston’s NPR station, discusses the recent interest in this type of funeral and cites several examples of families who have chosen to have a more natural, custom ceremony conducted in their own home.

Some people with whom I spoke said they would like this type of treatment when they died but they didn’t think it was legal. In fact, in all but nine states, it is definitely legal. Massachusetts even offers clear instructions for home funerals on its website, including what you need for a death certificate, guidance on burials and preparing the body.

If this type of funeral is of interest to you, there are many sources for information. One is the National Home Funeral Alliance, which has about 300 members around the country. Another source is our website, www.diesmart.com.

Pet cemeteries can now bury people…in NY

In 2011, the New York Division of Cemeteries ruled that human burials could not take place in pet cemeteries. This left many people devastated because they wanted their ashes to be buried with their pets…but they couldn’t be.

According to Ed Marin, owner of the 117 year old Hartsdale Pet Cemetery in Westchester, NY, prior to the ban more than 700 people’s ashes had been interred at Hartsdale. He said that he gets five or six requests per year for this service.

Now, New York state will once again allow animal lovers to be buried with their pets, if the cemeteries agree to two conditions:

1) They won’t charge a fee for the burial.

2) They won’t advertise human burial services.

For more information about burial options and other funeral related information, check out diesmart.com.