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We thought we had this covered when we bought a single Mausoleum Crypt 30+ years ago. Pre-construction pricing, zero percent financing, and our unit was to be in the bottom row of the 'cheap seats". The plan then was for us to be cremated and our ashes interred in the Crypt. Since the Crypt could hold 50 sets of cremains we envisioned this becoming a multi-generational family Crypt for our sons, their future wives, and future off-spring.
Well, late this past Fall we finally visited the long completed Mausoleum. We don't like our unit"s location within the enclosed Chapel portion of the Mausoleum, and overall the entire Chapel interior is butt ugly (in our view). Not at all like the Architectural renderings shared with us 30+ years ago.
Both sons are now in their early 40's and both are established in their careers in major cities many hours away. Neither son or their wife has any interest in being interred in our area so it will just be my wife and I. Why have any type of structure or monument for just two sets or cremains that will never be visited?
So now we need a different plan. Michigan does not allow Green Burials. Dumping of ashes beneath a favorite bush or tree is not legal. We cannot predict where we will be living at time of our demise to know if we will have a favorite spot outdoor spot.
Our youngest received his MD degree at a somewhat local Medical School which granted him a full-ride scholarship. Knowing the difficulty Med Schools face in obtaining cadavers for Gross Anatomy classes, and as a gesture of appreciation for the School's generosity, we are strongly considering donating our bodies to this same University.
Spell Check did not like Cremains. I corrected all instances of this electronic error after posting. You must have read the post as soon as I clicked the 'submit button.
Cremation! No funeral or memorial. My kids will get to keep the money instead of enriching a funeral director paying for an archaic ceremony and all the extras.
At university, for my major, I had to take a couple of courses that centered around cadavers. I can't really explain why, but because of those courses, I will not ever donate my body to be used in this fashion.
Again, I can't really explain why, but I would donate my body to a body farm, instead. I have been to the body farm at the university of Tennessee and I have used cadavers in college courses... and for some reason that I can't fully articulate-- what happens to your discarded body at the body farm seems far more natural and acceptable than what happens to your body as a cadaver used for research/teaching.
The jokes at the expense of the poor cadaver... silly, I know, but still... I'd rather decompose naturally and have creepy things crawling thru my nasal cavities or a vulture fly down to pluck my eyes out than have some student poke and prod at my personal parts... but that's just me...
If I had to give some kind of reason for my preference... it might be that I'd like my discarded body to be finally done with getting potentially f**ed over by humanity... give it a rest and give my body to nature as much and as soon as possible.
Cremation! No funeral or memorial. My kids will get to keep the money instead of enriching a funeral director paying for an archaic ceremony and all the extras.
Yep. Frankly, I don't care what happens to my ashes. I'll be dead. I hope my kids do whatever provides support and closure to them.
Michigan here. Parent's ashes beneath the tree. Completely legal.
Michigan: Private Land
You are allowed to spread ashes on your own private property. You are also allowed to keep cremated ashes in an urn or container on your own property or in your home.
If you aren't sure what home you will own, How about a few favorite spots around the state? If some gets sprinkled in Lake Michigan, and some in Lake Superior, and some in the Porcupine Mountains on state land, do you really think your kids will get arrested? Just pick where you want them to go and put it in your will.
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