Columnists

Cremation Options That Are Out Of This World

Issue 48.16

Would you be surprised to learn that the funeral industry is ever changing?  Take cremation, for example.  The cremation rate in the United States has been increasing steadily since 1960.  As a funeral director, I monitor current funeral trends closely.  However, I was a bit surprised by a recent article that I read on CNBC.com.  Entitled, “Space funerals: A surefire way to get to heaven,” author Daniel Bukszpan explores a new option entering the funeral industry.

According to Bukszpan, space pioneer companies Celestis and Elysium Space are now offering a “space funeral.”  Basically, an individual’s cremated remains “are transported suborbitally for a cost of $1,295 and returned to Earth.”  One may also select from the Earth Orbit option, where “remains travel around the Earth and are then released into space for a fee of $4,995.”

By contrast, Elysium Space offers a “Shooting Star Memorial” for $1,190, which involves “launching a loved one’s remains into space and seeing it turn into a fireball when it reenters the Earth’s atmosphere. While it flies through space, family and friends can track its location and watch the flight from the capsule’s point of view via a mobile app.”

Bukszpan notes that “Star Trek” creator Gene Roddenberry had his ashes loaded into a Celestis spacecraft and released into space as part of his last wishes.  But Celestis co-founder and CEO Charles Chafer insists that space funerals are a viable option for everyone because “people want something special, something that says something about who they were and what they believed in.”

Wow.  While many of us may not be interested in purchasing a space funeral, there are many options associated with cremation of which you may not be aware.  These options may include a personalized funeral or celebration of life.  How about a golf or hunting theme?  Hawaiian shirts?  Rock music and cold Dr. Pepper?  One of my best friends selected the latter option, and it was a wonderful tribute to him.  Taking the time to honor the life of the deceased and to acknowledge his or her uniqueness is vitally important, whether it takes place on planet Earth or amongst the cosmos.

Let us help you plan a unique cremation service.  We are located at 1316 S. 400 E., Ste. A5, St. George, or call (435) 986-9100. www.CremationCenterSU.com

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