Implants such as pacemakers, defibrillators, artificial joints, metal plates, and dental work have become increasingly common. In the past,  these implants were buried, incinerated, or sent to landfills after a death. Today many can be recycled—extracted, processed, and ultimately reused in some form. Read more

1. EXPLORE YOUR OPTIONS AND TELL YOUR FAMILY
Do you want to be buried or cremated, embalmed, viewed? Where do you want to be buried or scattered? Put your wishes in writing and share them with your likely survivors. If you say you want something “simple” and your survivors aren’t sure what you meant, they may end up spending a lot more than you would have wanted. Read more

All major religions have established traditions and rituals for caring for the dead. In days past, the religious community was the focal point of activities at a time of death. Unfortunately, as we became a more dispersed society, we witnessed the emergence of for-profit “chapels,” and the funeral industry took over creating new “traditions.” Read more

A memorial service is a commemorative event without the body present. Unlike a funeral, the service can be held weeks or months after the death, allowing the family time to plan and then gather at a convenient time and place. It is typically less expensive and simpler to arrange than a traditional funeral. Read more

WRITTEN BY AN INSIDER Many funeral homes sell tombstones. Monument shops, as well as many cemeteries and memorial parks, sell tombstones also. Most, however, do not refer to these items as tombstones, but rather as monuments or memorial markers. Here, language is important—A tombstone denotes something old, dark and scary; a monument, on the other hand, is sold as a unique item denoting the person’s role, as well as station in life. Read more

by Frances Newton
This article has appeared twice in The Reader’s Digest and was recommended by the president of the Raritan Valley Memorial Society, Roberta D’Angelo. Father was 87 when he died. And I, at 41, had never before seen death, knew nothing of funeral rites. Read more

I’m getting older now. I’m beginning to think about which of my personal things I want each of you to have. Yes, I’ve written a will, so each of you will share equally in what little is left after I’m gone. There are a few special things, though, I’ll want to give you while I’m still alive, because they should not be counted in the sum total of it all. Read more