Comments for The Curious Autodidact

Comment on Ten Tips for Saving Money on a Funeral by thefuneralbizz

thefuneralbizz — Wed, 28 Oct 2009 18:46:45 +0000

although a vault is not requried by a “State” it may be required by the cemetery. the funeral home will let the family know if a vault (or graveliner) is required, we will even call the cemetery for the family, while the family is sitting there to find out if they do. or the family may go directly to the cemetery to find out, if they do require a vault the family may call us later and purchase or actually purchase one from the cemetery if they sell them.
as far as saving cost by no embalming, depending on what type of “viewing” you choose there is a 48 hour rule. which means, you can show a body without embalming within 48 hours of death. for most families however, this is not enough time for them. say someone passes at 6pm on a Friday. the family comes in for arrangements the following day at 10am for arrangements, which means the very earliest they could start viewing would be the following day, which would be Sunday. so by Sunday at 6pm is 48 hours.
also ordering a casket on line is fine and often a way better deal than what the funeral home can offer and the caskets are just as nice sometimes even nicer than what the funeral home carries. the only problem that could occur would be if somehow the casket was damaged in delivery. the funeral home is not responsible if that casket is damaged. if you already have the funeral arrangements set and we receive a damaged casket, how are you going to get a replacement casket delivered to the funeral home to replace the damaged one on time? also if the casket isn’t delivered at the promised time. although i have not experienced any caskets being delivered “late” but i have received them damaged and the family has ended up having to purchase one from us and returning the one they ordered.
having a memorial visitation is a great way to save on expenses. having the body cremated and having a memorial later is a great way to say your good-byes, have people come to say their good-byes and pay their respects to the family and also very inexpensive. creamtion is becoming more and more popular these days. many people still feel as if they “have” to have “traditional” funeral or feel pressure from family and friends to do so because “they” think that is they way you “have” to do it. it is not, it is your choosing and what is affordable to you.

Comment on Recycled Posting: Pancreatic Cancer by honilima

honilima — Sun, 08 Feb 2009 22:48:39 +0000

Perhaps all the news of Justice Ginsburg’s pancreatic cancer surgery will raise people’s awareness about this “silent killer” and bring attention to the needed research funds to find a cure.

If Steve Jobs, Patrick Swayze, Justice Ginsburg can’t raise awareness and put a public face to this disease no one can.

Comment on John Updike 1932-2009 by coffee

coffee — Fri, 30 Jan 2009 06:29:07 +0000

the loss of John Updike makes me wonder if the literary world is being replenished at the same rate that it’s losing such great writers

Comment on Leisure Matters from the New York Times by mysticmiss

mysticmiss — Mon, 19 May 2008 14:04:25 +0000

great article thanks it was very interesting

Comment on One Last Kindness: Organ and Body Donation by dju316

dju316 — Sun, 04 May 2008 11:27:52 +0000

Over half of the 99,000 Americans on the national transplant waiting list will die before they get a transplant. Most of these deaths are needless. Americans bury or cremate about 20,000 transplantable organs every year. Over 6,000 of our neighbors suffer and die needlessly every year as a result.

There is a simple way to put a big dent in the organ shortage — give organs first to people who have agreed to donate their own organs when they die.

Giving organs first to organ donors will convince more people to register as organ donors. It will also make the organ allocation system fairer. People who aren’t willing to share the gift of life should go to the back of the waiting list as long as there is a shortage of organs.

Anyone who wants to donate their organs to others who have agreed to donate theirs can join LifeSharers. LifeSharers is a non-profit network of organ donors who agree to offer their organs first to other organ donors when they die. Membership is free at http://www.lifesharers.org or by calling 1-888-ORGAN88. There is no age limit, parents can enroll their minor children, and no one is excluded due to any pre-existing medical condition.