Not only did I never consider my dad passing...

Ashes to ashes
Dust to dust

Whichever way you go in the final analysis his body will return to the earth.

We can delay it but never prevent it.

I don't relish the idea of laying in a box with mild growing on me. But that is me

I would rather be burned and fertilize the rose bushes somewhere

Whatever you decide is good. My condolences on your loss

It is sad you did not have family closure on this before, or at least on, entering hospice. It is surprising to me that the hospice did not insist on there being instruction from the family on preferences. Everyone, no matter how young, should have Advance Directives on what they prefer be done because death is unpredictable; it doesn't follow our schedules. They should be written, as well as discussed in advance with immediate family so any objections by family members can feel they had an opportunity to be included in the decision process so they don't feel excluded and/or betrayed afterwards.

My late wife, I, and my late partner all had/have done that. The only unresolved issue for my wife and I was what to do with our ashes, and my wife's still sit in the chest of drawers under the TV in our family room space. I told my youngest son -- who is my executor -- a few weeks ago I had finally reached conclusion: both our ashes are to buried in one of those new ecologically friendly final resting places along the Pacific Coast. Whether they are in containers or not, up to him and them. If they want to mix the ashes of both us, even better.

I’m so deeply sorry for your loss… so sorry 🥺🥺

I lost my dad just last November. He was a simple man and frugal.. he had all his wishes laid out and documented, as well as separate burial insurance in place.
His wishes were cremation. He personally didn’t see the point in spending the money on a casket..
We did as he wished and my sister and I put together a memorial service that captured so many memories. My son and his wife did the music.
The entire memorial was sweet and beautiful… just as he, and my mom, wanted

My heart hurts reading this. I understand why cremation feels so final… it’s like another layer of goodbye. Even if we know the body doesn’t stay forever either way, it still hits different. I’m so grateful you have those photos and that video. Being able to see him, hear him, remember him like that is such a gift. No matter what happened after, he’s still yours in those moments and in your heart.

I am of a religion that does not and has never permitted cremation though some contravene our laws and do it anyway... but its not our way..

Why? We hold that our bodies are loaned to us and our His property not ours... We take this a whole lot further than most people know.. when a boy is circumcised, his foreskin is buried, if a limb has to be amputated, it also is buried.. Taking care of our bodies is our responsibility. All of this for many good reasons but among them we hold that when the messiah arrives we shall be restored to life.. so yes those who believe take this all very seriously.

There have been plots reserved in our cemetery for us...

i feel exactly the same way. my family believes in being buried and so we all are. i think iti s now a cost factor. to be buried costs over 10,000. mine is going to cost 15,000 and it is paid for so that when i die, they just have to bury me next to my daughter and mom. but i feel the same way-looking at an urn is hard to comprehend. at least you know that the body whatever state it is in is in the ground

My mother was cremated, my family personal preference. Her ashes was divided between me and my sisters, even necklaces were made. We always have her with us this way

hugs my friend!

(((((HUGS))))) I am so very sorry 😢🤗🤎 I am choosing cremation because I am claustrophobic, the thought of being in a casket forever freaks me out.

Wow