Thank you for putting so much effort in replying me. I truly appriciate that. I'm just so afraid that the company will get suspicious if I say I want to plan and pay for it myself. Is that even a common thing to do, unless you're dying of a somatic disease? I really like the easy going process you're describing. I have to check it out. The only problem is that my funeral most likely will be in my home town, and not the city I'm living in. I have to have that in consideration.
The "MY LIFE" video sounds so great and heart warming, and I love how you thought about sending the package. I will certainly have that in mind.
Yes, I have also thought about making a video like that. Almost like the video shown for Lilly Kane in Veronica Mars, just not that outragious of course, but the video really showed her happy life and her dad (yes, I know it's a TV show) cried watching it. I'm really thinking about doing something similar.
Thank you so much for sharing all this with me. I really do feel honored to be in this community.
Thank you for the tip! I will definately look further into it!
And FYI I'm having an appointment with the law firm TOMORROW at 10 am. That's 12 hours to go. I'm a little thrilled, and I hope she can make some of the things easier for me, and maybe have me think of other things that I'm not really thinking about now.
It's also reassuring that the lawyer has full confidentiality, even though I'm not going to say "hey, I'm planning to CTB, so you have to help me with the practical stuff".
Hello,
When I went to the mortuary I offered no explanation other than saying I have no family or friends who can take care of my arrangements, should anything happen to me, so I wanted to take care of it myself. They really shouldn't press you too much. Less you volunteer the better. Don't look guilty when you go, just matter of fact business like as if you are going to live long but want this out of your way so your body doesn't become ward of the state. They won't question you, at least I wasn't. I even said I was terminally ill (a lie) but that it was personal and I didn't wish to discuss it. They just want your business!
If you have a lawyer even better! As part of your estate planning etc, you just tell your lawyer you want to set aside money for your funeral and prepare a document outlining in detail exactly how you want it to be. You can find approximate cost by calling any mortuary in your home town. Just say it was part of your planning for the future. You can set aside that money with your attorney or an escrow account, your attorney should be able to guide you. But outline everything in a document specifically, which mortuary, whether burial or cremation. Burials are more complicated- you need to specify which plot, headstones, viewing, embalming, caskets, viewing ceremonies, flowers whatever.
I just took basic cremation, no frills, no casket just basic cardboard box for cremation, basic plastic urn with biodegradable bag for ashes,, no viewing nothing. But I have no one who cares, so it was easy. I just specified ash scattering, as mentioned in prior post. Sound like you might want something more elaborate, so be specific in your document with your attorney. He/ she should be able to take care of it for you. You are paying them for goodness sake!
You don't have to tell your attorney (or anyone) any reasons or your plans to CTB. None of their business. Do not feel guilty or show any guilt or hesitation. As I said, act like you are being prudent and realistic in planning for the future so no one else will be troubled. People do it all the time.
Good luck.
P.S. you can easily make prepaid arrangements even with another mortuary I.e your hometown via phone and email discussions. Just make sure any contract you sign includes transportation of body from wherever you are. Some people travel a lot and their contract might include expense to transport their body from wherever they are to the mortuary. Transportation of body can be a significant expense, especially if you die in some other country and they have to fly back the body, unless one cremates it wherever they die. Something to consider in costs.
It is honestly a concern for me, since I have nobody. I guess I will be thrown in a mass grave with the homeless. Fitting. I will have nobody here to care. Why should it stop in death?
Hello,
I am saddened to hear that.
I have no one who cares either. If you do have the money, you can prepay for basic cremation and ash scattering.
Otherwise, at least in USA, the medical examiner will declare a person dead and the State takes over and will cremate unclaimed bodies at State's expense. So no, you won't be thrown in a mass grave. In USA, I believe they will cremate not bury at State's expense, since cremation is cheaper.