Loved it, loved it, loved it.

I want to join a club too.

Just brilliant.

For all the rubbish on the internet, every now and again one gets a gem. This is one of the gems - IMHO.

-- Edited by RustyD on Tuesday 15th of August 2017 10:49:14 AM

Does this mean you cannot have a DIY coffin made out of treated pine and covered with a good layer of Dulux?

I looked into the subject of coffins a few years back mainly because I don't want my children getting ripped off when I snuff it and they have to organise my funeral.

Undertakers make a lot of money from the sales of coffins. They want you to buy a coffin from them.

The laws regarding burial, coffins and bodies vary from state to state.

Generally, coffins have to meet health standards - don't want leaking bodies around the place.

Undertakers will tell you they can't use your home-made coffin because its weight and shape don't meet their workplace health and safety standards for safe handling, this can sometimes be true but usually isn't.

Cardboard coffins are available which do meet health standards but it's a decent bet your undertaker doesn't sell them - shop around.

You don't *need* an undertaker at all. Once a certificate of death is issued you can put Uncle Fred into an approved coffin or (presumably) body bag and keep him in the back room whilst you make arrangements for burial or cremation - I imagine there are time limits. Once arrangements are made you can drive Uncle Fred to the burial place in your station wagon and, with a few mates, put him in the ground or furnace.

Probably the best way to do it is to organise and pay for an approved coffin now and let your kids sort out an undertaker who's prepared to handle that coffin.

Caveat: I'm no expert on coffins and burials - check for yourself.

PS. I have a great idea for an after-death product which one of these days I may get around to designing and marketing :) Seriously!

Thanks Mike.

I'm going to get burnt in a cardboard box. We went to a funeral at a crematorium many years ago. There was a magnificent expensive coffin there. 15 minutes later it went off on a conveyer belt to be burnt. Thought it was a bit of a waste. My dad wanted, and had, an el cheapo private service and we had one large hell of a wake at the golf club over the road from the crematorium with the relatives and friends. He'd have been pleased. Mum (93) is going the same way except that she's outlived everyone of her generation (friends & relatives) except her little sister (90). Only got one son (me), 2 grandchildren & 1 great-grandchild. The wake could go on for days.

Mike Harding wrote:

PS. I have a great idea for an after-death product which one of these days I may get around to designing and marketing :) Seriously!

---

 Now I'm curious.... any hints as to what this might be?