Question about funeral Mass

[Arlene]

OK, seriously, this is not a joke;

My mom is 90 years old. Several years ago when she was of sound mind she registered with a medical school to be a cadaver when she died. The deal is that if they take her, they can use her for up to 2 years. Then they are responsible for cremating her and sending her ashes to the designated person. I will be the designated person.

So my question is, since we can’t count on having her back for 2 years, what do we do about a funeral Mass? Can you have a funeral Mass without a body? Do we just have a memorial service? Do we just have a Mass said for her without it being an actual funeral? Do we do the funeral when we finally have her ashes? Is her soul OK if we wait that long?

I don’t think my mom thought about this aspect when she made the decision to donate her body. She just wanted her body to be useful to others after she didn’t need it anymore. She is unable to discuss this with us now. But I know she would want a Catholic burial.

I know this is a weird situation, but was hoping someone might be able to help.

Thanks
Arlene

 

[Br.Rich_SFO]

Arlene:

So my question is, since we can’t count on having her back for 2 years, what do we do about a funeral Mass? Can you have a funeral Mass without a body? Do we just have a memorial service? Do we just have a Mass said for her without it being an actual funeral? Do we do the funeral when we finally have her ashes? Is her soul OK if we wait that long?

I don’t think my mom thought about this aspect when she made the decision to donate her body. She just wanted her body to be useful to others after she didn’t need it anymore. She is unable to discuss this with us now. But I know she would want a Catholic burial.

I know this is a weird situation, but was hoping someone might be able to help.

Thanks
Arlene

You can’t have a funeral Mass without a body present*. You have several options.

Shortly after her death before being sent to the medical school you could have a funeral Mass. With the Rite of burial with the cremains after they are returned. You can rent a casket just for the funeral Mass.

You could have a memorial Mass after her death without her body present and the Rite of burial with the cremains after they are returned.

You could wait until the cremains are returned and then have a Memorial Mass and Rite of burial all at once.

But what happens if something happens to you in those 2 years?

• I understand that there was some discussion of allowing a funeral Mass with the cremains present n the church. (without certain parts, like the blessing of the body)