One of the songs I have always loved is When I Go by Dave Carter and Tracy Grammar, written two years before Dave’s untimely death at age 49.

Sigh, mournful sister, whisper and turn, I will rattle like dry leaves when I go
Stand in the mist where my fire used to burn, I will camp on the night breeze when I go
And should you glimpse my wandering form out on the borderline
Between death and resurrection and the council of the pines
Do not worry for my comfort, do not sorrow for me so
All your diamond tears will rise up and adorn the sky beside me when I go

We all have different beliefs about what happens after we die. We also have different ideas about what should happen to our bodies.

Many of us have religious beliefs that guide us. It is worth considering possibilities beyond traditional burial and learning about the options. When we did, my husband and I immediately knew what our choice would be. First, let me share a bit about some of the many options available around the globe.

Cremation

Cremation is used by 99% of people in Japan and by 75% in Britain. In the US, in 2023, numbers are expected to rise to about 60%.

Remains can be taken home in urns, spread in nature, or placed in crypts. Cremation is less costly and causes less damage to the environment than a traditional burial.

Green Burial Sites

Green burial sites are environmentally friendly places where people can be buried while preserving natural habitats and reducing carbon emissions.

People are not embalmed and are buried in a natural way in shrouds without caskets. In some cases, a stone is chosen to identify the spot, though GPS coordinates may be the family’s best bet.

Home Funerals and Burial

In years past around the world, families kept their loved ones’ bodies at home. Many don’t realize that keeping a body at home is still legal in the US and many other countries. Families can keep their loved ones at home for a few days using dry ice as a temporary preservative.

Each locality and state has legal requirements for burial with specific guidelines (e.g., New Hampshire states that the body must be at least 3.5 feet deep, 100 feet from a dwelling, and 50 feet from water sources).

Other unique ancient and new traditions include:

Burial at Sea

Some organizations specialize in natural burial at sea (in a shroud), allowing the body to decompose or be consumed by sea animals. It is a natural burial if done in a way that benefits the environment – and without formaldehyde.

Sky Burial

Vajrayana Buddhists in Mongolia and Tibet believe the soul leaves the body and moves on. To return the body to the earth, they chop it into pieces and place it on a mountaintop, exposed to the elements and the vultures.

Coral Reef Balls

Cremated remains can be placed inside concrete coral reef balls and become attached to a coral reef in the ocean. The balls help repair damage to coral reefs and regenerate the ecosystem, providing new habitat for fish and other sea life.

Burial Beads

In South Korea, due to limited space, a law requires bodies to be removed from graves after 60 years. Cremation has become more common, but some families choose to have their loved ones’ remains compressed into gem-like beads, available in different colors. They can be kept at home and displayed.

Fantasy Coffins

In Ghana, some people are buried in coffins decorated and shaped to represent their work or something they loved in life.

Our Choice: Donating Our Bodies to Medical Research

When my husband Rito and I learned about the “willed body” option, we immediately knew this was our choice. As I have been grappling with cancer, I have been so grateful for the medical advances that have kept me alive.

Everyone has received the gift of healing from medical research, extending our lives with discoveries and interventions. The training of our doctors and the research benefits greatly from bodies that have been donated to science.

This is different from organ and tissue donation programs. As seniors, we are unlikely to have organs in top condition to donate.

In the past, dubious methods were used to obtain cadavers, including body snatchers and the sale of murder victims. Now, laws require legal permissions and procedures.

Many hospitals and medical schools have body donation programs. Uses include cadavers for training surgical students and research for new technologies. Each “willed body” program has its own policies.

A simple process includes filling out and submitting online forms, requiring only your signature along with those of two witnesses. Bodies in nearly all states of health are accepted.

UCSF, our local medical university, picks up the body with no cost to us. After use, they cremate and spread the ashes at sea, not returning them to the family. In some programs, cremated remains are eventually returned to the family.

Rito always said that he did not want remaining family to bear the burden of funeral costs, so we liked the thought that our family wouldn’t have any expenses. Also, I learned that there is a shortage of bodies, which makes the contribution more significant.

Once we submitted our forms, we informed our children and received cards to carry in our wallets. It is a good feeling to have made informed choices together.

The Five Wishes: Make Your Choices Ahead and Make Your Wishes Known

It is worth taking the time to consider your physical, emotional, and spiritual needs in the event of sickness, during dying, and ultimately after death.

Using a Five Wishes Form with specific questions helps you reflect on how you want to be treated. It also can be used to guide family discussions and share feelings and desires.

I close with a quote from the Final Passages website:

“The nature of life includes the eventual miracle of death, a rite of passage that deserves dignity and loving care.”

Let’s Have a Conversation:

How would you like your body to be treated after death? Have you considered the question? We would love to hear your thoughts about your wishes and choices.