I missed this:
“The gift will also be declined when a close family member objects to or has great discomfort with the donation, or the body is located outside the state of Georgia.”
Well…we have several medical schools in this state…so I will contact one of them.
Most states have an anatomy board, which accepts bodies for medical education and research.
My late husband was part of a rapid autopsy research study for pancreatic cancer at JHU. They send what they don’t use to the state anatomy board. The donor family could opt to receive the cremains and/or attend the annual memorial celebration.
After learning this, my kids, my MIL and I all decided that the state anatomy board would our choice. We will contact the appropriate state at the time.
https://ieds.online/body-donation-programs-by-state/
ETA, not sure why there are hyperlinks to research and JHU; I did not include them nor do I know how to remove them.
My sister wrote my mom’s (currently healthy at age 86) obituary just last week and sent it to the funeral home to keep in their files. I had some input - not sure my mom is aware of this. My parents had a side by side mausoleum space and my mom has already purchased a coffin that matches my dad’s. Matching is a big part of her asthetic.
Your post made me mist up. What a blessing your mother was to so many children & families.
Oh, thank you. She really was special. That’s one reason I wanted her to have a funeral. It was a chance to honor her. She was usually in my dad’s shadow, because he was accomplished on the international level. I wanted people to know what SHE had done!
Wow, @MaineLonghorn . She was amazing.
That’s priceless!
https://celebrationashes.com/pages/collections
Did you know you can have some of your ashes made into art? I actually have a glass-blower friend from college who does this. This link is NOT him. Just found it as an example.
A friend of mine just did this with some of her dad’s ashes.
I think it’s a cool concept - especially the Christmas ornaments. But another friend said to me, “Don’t do that to your ds.” Lol.
I don’t get writing your own obituary?? I mean if it were the, “just the facts,” kind, I can see that. But, I like the ones that are off-beat and funny. I don’t know that I could be clever enough. I also might be inclined to inflate just how wonderful of a person I am/was.
I have known people who have done the ashes in an ornament or piece of jewelry.
That is not for me.
Here is another example of glassblowers that do this kind of work:
I have not thought much about self or husband. Still trying to decided what to do with Mom’s ashes… She died during Covid in summer 2020, and per suggestion of funeral home they are in a cheap urn suitable for air travel someday. I have not opened the box. It sits in our den/guestroom (where she spent her last week), on a low bookshelf with some of her photo albums and favorite items. I figure when it is safe for my sister to visit we’ll figure out. Per quick online research, I think it is legal to scatter ashes in my yard (where she gardened for many years). But we won’t live here forever - still need to ponder.
There are all sorts of companies that can turn ashes into a man made diamond. And I believe there is someone who can shoot your cremains into space. Talk about increasing your carbon footprint after kicking the bucket! 
I don’t want to hang onto ashes in any form. I’d be worried that I would break a glass ornament and then feel terrible.
Not hanging on to ashes at all. Was it the movie Meet the Parents where the cat knocked the urn of ashes off the fireplace mantel?
I think of whatever that movie is everytime I go to my MILs house…where my FILs ashes are.
A couple years after my dad died, my aunt was still upset that she didn’t get to say goodbye to her brother (no funeral). She sat with him at my niece’s wedding reception a week before he died, so I didn’t feel too sorry for her. I told her she could visit him at my brother’s house, where he resides in the china cabinet next to my older brother. I don’t think she appreciated my sense of humor.
When my spouse and I did our wills there were questions about funerals and we filled out a document. Was a bit maudlin. But we ended up laughing. Our musical tastes are really different. But we agreed that it was a weird exercise but something that should be done. My husband had to plan his Dad’s wedding who died unexpectedly. That gave him context. He said he didn’t want to do that to our kids. Plus, it’s a one and done. We’re done. Not to think about it again.
Wedding?
I have some of my son’s ash’s blown into a pendant but the majority are still in the urn to be dispersed with ours.
The story goes that when his wife asked Bob Hope what he wanted at his funeral he replied, “Surprise me”!
Most of the talk here is about adults who die and don’t want any fuss, but sometimes those who live on need something.
My kids had a classmate who died when they were in 5th grade. They needed the big funeral. they needed to be part of it (my kids were in the choir, some kids were alter servers, some help with the luncheon after, etc.), but they were all given time to ask questions and try to understand the process. And her parents needed it too, so that worked out well for everyone.