Ashes

[His_helpmeet]

It all kind of depends on whether your state has a strong Funeral Directors Association lobby.
In our state, you cannot transport a body unless you have an approved receptacle…which for us meant, a cardboard box (sold by the mortuary of course) to take him to the crematory. It wasn’t huge, but there was a cost.
If you should decide on natural burial (like at a monastery) you need to arrange that with the Mortuary in advance…they simply keep your loved one chilled, do not embalm, and then make arrangements to transport to your chosen site.
As with anything, thinking about it in advance, discussing the pros and cons with family, and not having to make impulsive decisions by your survivors will save money, grief, and they will be secure knowing that they followed you wishes to the letter. People struggle enough at the death of their loved ones…without the added task of making these hard decisions for you. Planning your funeral and burial/cremation is a great gift to those you love.

I agree. Some people actually have preplanned, prepaid funerals. All you have to do is make sure that your loved ones know which funeral home to contact, and you’re good to go. It sounds a bit morbid, but I really think that it can make things much easier for people when they’re going through a difficult time. If everything is planned in advance, you know exactly what your loved one wants, and there’s no arguing about “what Dad wanted” or “what Mom said”.