Dear Judy,
My best friend who lives — like me — in New York City is dying very slowly and making plans. She does NOT want, she says, “an offensive Halloween casket suitable for Dracula.” She wants something “delicate” (her word, not mine) and gentle.
Like her I guess.
Do we have to bury her in a bronze or steel or wood box? My brother who is a New York lawyer says yes, that’s the law here.
But I’d like to oblige my friend with a few ideas. Do you have any? Or is this not your field of expertise?
Sharon C
Dear Sharon,
To answer your excellent question, I contacted Jane Hillhouse, the founder of Finalfootprint (www.finalfootprint.com ), which among other things makes beautiful and ecologically sound caskets. Here’s what she has to say:
What is so sad about the decision your friend is trying to make, is the false information we are all being fed by “the industryThere is no state law that requires that you be buried in a “Halloween Casket”. The only requirement for a casket is that it have a lid. And not a hermetically sealed one either. If a funeral home or cemetery tells you otherwise, find another one.
“Also you don’t have to purchase your casket from a funeral home. You can probably have a home funeral, place your friend in a beautiful bamboo woven, or solid wood casket – and take her yourselves to the cemetery or crematorium. There are zero omissions from the bamboo caskets when cremated, by the way.
Remember too, you do not by law have to be embalmed. If there are further questions you need answering regarding state regulations, I am sure you will be able to get answers from your Department of Consumer Affairs, http://www.nyc.gov/html/dca/downloads/pdf/Funerals.pdf
Thank you for writing — there will be more from Jane in next week’s blog
Judy
