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Funeral Ideas for Unique and Alternative Memorial Planning -

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Virtual Funeral Director Extraordinaire says "You never know when you need a funeral idea"

www.funeralideas.com is your one stop resource for creating a unique and special celebration of life. 

 

I began my alternative funeral planning when I was 12 years old, I wanted my family and friends to memorialize me in a way that was a reflection of my favorite pastime. It was to be held at my favorite ice cream parlor, decorated with balloons and giant picture of me and everyone was served bubble gum ice cream. My parents thought it was childhood imagination, my friends thought my funeral planning was "cool". As I look back, it was far from the traditional service held at a funeral home with a casket surrounded by flowers; day long wakes and church services with register books and prayer cards.

During my career as a Funeral Director in San Francisco , I was involved in planning an array of alternative funerals and memorial services and I realized my childhood fantasy was actually a possibility. There are many ways to create a celebration of life. Families that I have worked with have taught me the variety of this religious ritual. Loved ones can opt for burial or cremation. Remembrance services can be inside or outside. Families can plan their own services or they can follow traditional guidelines . Eulogies can be humorous or serious. It can be big or small. It can be formal or informal. Because our society supports freedom of religion, we do not need to conform to someone's expectation of the "perfect" funeral service. There is no perfect funeral ritual. Each and every person has a unique memorial. It is an important day in our lives, and in our grief. The process of funeral planning can be stressful and daunting, even I, a death care professional, had a difficult time when it came to saying goodbye . I invite families and funeral directors to use this website to freely design a service that reflects the life lived, you will find a variety of ideas for alternative funerals. Funeral planning aids are available for free download, they will make your time more efficient.

Perhaps you have already planned a service and would like ideas on how to better cope with your grief . If you need an idea on how to hold onto your memories be sure to visit our links page for ideas from trusted funeral entrepreneurs. If you are just stopping by for some interesting reading be sure to check out the blog with creative funeral ideas from The Undertaker.

Funeral ideas blog

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Order In Loving Memory Decals

In Memory of Stickers
You've seen in memory decals on the back window of car, sitting in traffic in front of you it reads "In Loving Memory of John Smith" This is a powerful and economical statement of one's grief. I think it's great to share your grief and let the world know, someone you know has passed. I know when I see memorial stickers I take a minute and realize my life is short. In Loving Memory Decals are fully personalized with up to 5 lines of your own text. They are made from Premium Automotive grade vinyl, so they will not chip, crack, or peel. Memory stickers can be bought in bulk and handed out the funeral to the entire family or perhaps a group or organization. In Memory of decals can be placed on your car, auto, truck, refrigerator; wherever you want to put memorial stickers! small, medium and large memorial decals available. Order your in loving memory of decals

Memorial Urns on EBay

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25 ways to make life easier for your funeral director and embalmer

lose weight
live on the first floor
always wear clean undergarments
have your full name tattooed on your big toe
organize your list of contacts
dont keep passwords a secret
die in a hospital
keep your nails and hair clean at all times
brush your teeth
keep your mouth shut
turn on your air conditioner and light some incense
shave frequently
use deodorant
keep your arms down and folded in front of you
keep arranged fresh flowers around
lose more weight
wear loose fit clothing
avoid autopsy
convert your finances into cash and keep it all in one place
keep your eyes closed
dont donate your body parts
refuse all medical equipment to be inserted
mix bug repellent with your perfume or cologne
pick out an urn or casket
make your funeral arrangements

Great Funeral related Stuff on CafePress

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Plan A Funeral

A Funeral Should be Personalized and Creative

Ever thought about how you will be memorialized? Put your ideas to work and create a service that will be one to remember, have it your way!

Use these funeral planning guides for your funeral arrangements and for planning a personalized memorial service, custom designed by the Undertaker---

Free Funeral Planning Guides

Recommended Funeral reading

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A Theme park For The Use Of Memorialization

The Great Pyramid - A Monument For All Of Us
The Great Pyramid Website - a theme park for the use of memorialization, building stones creating a monumental modern pyramid.
The Egyptian pyramids were built for eternity but only for one single person. The new Pyramids we suggest, are open to every individual. As monumental as they are affordable, they serve as a tomb or memorial for those of all nationalities and religions: A MONUMENT FOR ALL OF US
Wood Urns - BRYAN CUSTOM WOOD LASER ENGRAVED URNS
Custom Wood Urns built by hand

Beauty from ashes

My Crystal Companion
The Life You Love Forever Remembered In Crystal == Beauty From Ashes

Have you heard of Resomation?

The alternative to cremation
Resomation is an environmentally beneficial alternative to cremation and is both dignified and respectful. It has been developed in response to increasing environmental awareness and concern. The key aspects of the overall process are patent pending.

Why Choose Resomation?

The resomation process takes roughly the same time as cremation and the funeral ceremony will be the same. However, it uses less energy than cremation and produces significantly less CO2 and avoids putting mercury and other harmful contaminants into the atmosphere.
Unknown
In California, proponents of a relatively new method of disposing of loved one's remains called bio-cremation may get a boost from lawmakers if they get their way. The method uses a liquid chemical process to dispose of bodily remains instead of fire. Advocates say the process is environmentally f

Have you heard of Promession?

Promessa Organic
Ecological burial
Promessa Organic AB is developing and offering a new method of laying
the dead to rest. An environmentally friendly form of burial that takes
full consideration of the biological realities to which a corpse is
subjected.

How it's done

The method behind ecological burial is crystal-clear, easy to grasp and accept. It is based on a new combination of tried-and-tested techniques that prepare the corpse for a natural process of decomposition. The procedure is justifiable in terms of ethical, moral, environmental and technical considerations, and does not subject the body to violent or destructive handling.

"The method is based upon preserving the body in a biological form after death, while avoiding harmful embalming fluid. Then it can be returned to the ecological cycle in a dignified manner as a valuable contribution to the living earth," explains Susanne Wiigh-Mäsak, biologist and head of operations at Promessa Organic AB.

An important part of the solution is to remove that which is least important; the water that makes up 70 percent of a normal-sized body. Technically speaking, this is done using an entirely closed individual process in which the corpse is freeze-dried in liquid nitrogen.
Read more about nitrogen

Within a week and a half after death, the corpse is frozen to minus 18 degrees Celsius and then submerged in liquid nitrogen. This makes the body very brittle, and vibration of a specific amplitude transforms it into an organic powder that is then introduced into a vacuum chamber where the water is evaporated away.

The now dry powder then passes through a metal separator where any surgical spare parts and mercury are removed. In a similar way, the powder can be disinfected if required.

The remains are now ready to be laid in a coffin made of corn starch. There is no hurry with the burial itself. The organic powder, which is hygienic and odorless, does not decompose when kept dry. The burial takes place in a shallow grave in living soil that turns the coffin and its contents into compost in about 6-12 months time. In conjunction with the burial and in accordance with the wishes of the deceased or next of kin, a bush or tree can be planted above the coffin.

The compost formed can then be taken up by the plant, which can instill greater insight in and respect for the ecological cycle, of which every living thing is a part. The plant stands as a symbol of the person, and we understand where the body went.

"Our ecological burial reduces environmental impact on some of our most important resources; our water, air and soil," says Susanne Wiigh-Mäsak, biologist and head of Promessa Organic AB.

"At the same time it provides us with deeper insights regarding the ecological cycle, and greater understanding of and respect for life on earth."

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  • John Oct 21, 2010 @ 7:02 am | delete
    Thanks for the resource. I needed a few funeral messages and ideas for a cousin's memorial, and this has really helped.
  • EasyW Oct 5, 2010 @ 10:12 am | delete
    Really enjoyed reading this lens, good work!
    Please visit my lens Eulogy.
    Thanks!
  • EasyW Oct 5, 2010 @ 9:28 am | delete
    Great lens! Keep up the good work.
    Please check my lens Funeral Poems Eulogies.
    Thank you ;)
  • Ariana Feb 3, 2008 @ 11:52 pm | delete
    Hello there Undertaker. Your site is very good, thank you. I have two sites on Squidoo "Funerals to Die For" and "Waking the dead", therefore I will be returning to your site from time to time to have a look at some more interesting stuff. May I link to your site? Ariana.
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Funeral Ideas in the News

Unknown
Death need not be a grim affair, especially for the living, and at a new columbarium in Singapore, the deceased can depart, rock concert style.
Unknown
Death need not be a grim affair, especially for the living, and at a new columbarium in Singapore, the deceased can depart, rock concert style.
Unknown
Death need not be a grim affair, especially for the living, and at a new columbarium in Singapore, the deceased can depart, rock concert style.
PETS AT PEACE PET LOSS AND MEMORIAL SERVICES | Pets at Peace launches Toronto's first storefront serving bereaved pet owners
Pet memorial, cremation services offered at The Beach locationTORONTO, June 1 /CNW/ - Pets at Peace Pet Loss and Memorial Services is offering the GTA and surrounding area residents its first storefront location dedicated
Building a box is a fluid process

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TheUndertaker

Greetings from The Undertaker... the creator of Funeralideas.com, a resource for your alternative funeral planning.  I have 10 years experience as... more »

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