Cryogenics & Other Funeral Alternatives

There were some interesting and exotic burials decades ago, such as Egyptian mummification, Indians throwing themselves into a river, and Vikings launched out on ship-made crematoriums. Americans adopted the traditions of

burying someone in the ground, or cremating them, from some of the ancient burial traditions. But getting buried or cremated do not have to be your only options after death. I’m sure you have heard of donating your body to science, and other forms of services. Might sound unusual, but it is true, you can donate your body, freeze it, and even

become a tree in the afterlife! There are so many options to choose from; here’s what they are.

Diamonds Are Forever, And Now You Can Be Too

You can become a diamond, or made into jewelry. A company called Cremation Solutions will turn your cremated ashes into jewelry, and even into a diamond. It can be costly, however, ranging from $3,000 to $30,000. This is my favorite route and the one I chose for myself. What could be better than having your loved one wear you around forever?

Become A Science Experiment

Want to be on display? Donate your body to science. Join the Body Worlds Exhibit, where people can learn about the human anatomy by looking at your transparent body. You can also sign off to send your body to the medical field so they can study your body. Surprisingly, many people have signed up to have their bodies plastinated. What’s plastination? Well, it is the process of preserving the body and organ specimens for medical education. The cost of all of this? Free!

Freeze Yourself

Cryonics is the process of freezing a person’s body, hoping to be brought back to life in the future. The idea is to unfreeze your body after medical science has advanced to do so while keeping your memory and personality intact. You can also choose to just freeze your head in hopes of being transplanted into another body (which is cheaper). If this is the route you want to go, then you better have a large wallet. This process will cost you anywhere from $30,000 to $150,000.

Live In Outer Space

Celestis Memorial Spaceflights will shoot your ashes out into space. Some of your ashes will get put into a tube and then put in a rocket that is going to outer space. Over 600 people’s ashes have rocketed from Earth. Some people are just floating out there in space, while others have landed on the moon! The cost? Anywhere from $1,000 to $12,000.

Swim With The Fishes

If you love being in the water, or always wanted to be a mermaid, then you’re in luck, kind of. While you won’t necessarily be a mermaid, you can live in the water and become a reef. Your crushed bones from your remains will be mixed with artificial reef material and placed into the ocean. They will place these orbs where reefs need restoration. Be a part of producing new life under water. Costs range from $3,000 to $7,000.

Green Cemetery Burial

Become one with the earth. Greensprings Natural Cemetery in NY provides green cemetery burials. Your body is buried in a biodegradable coffin, or you can be wrapped in a shroud, without a gravestone. This way you can help preserve the Earth while becoming a part of it. This will cost you less than $1,000, but other companies range from $5,000 to $10,000.

Become A Tree

On the trend of becoming one with the earth, you can grow into a tree in your backyard, or wherever you choose to be. Bio Urn is made of 100% biodegradable materials and has a two-part capsule: the top where you place the growth medium and seed, and the bottom where you place the ashes. The urn is planted into the ground and with some TLC, voila, you are now a tree. Bio Urns are a whopping $145! Win!

Resomation

Resomation is a new kind of cremation but in an eco-friendly way. A funeral home in Florida dissolved tissues and uses both heated water and potassium hydroxide to dissolve the body into a clear, sterile liquid which is then poured down the drain. Once this is done, any implants or fillings are removed and disposed of from the bones. The bones are then cremated and given to the family. This is considered to be more eco-friendly because it uses less power, and the fillings and implants are not burned causing mercury pollution. This will cost you about $3,000.

Being traditionally cremated or buried are not your only options to go. You can become part of the earth, the ocean, or even travel to outer space! Whatever decision you choose, make sure to have the funds for it, because some of these methods can get pricey. The thought of death can be scary, but when you think about your body becoming something useful afterwards, makes it a little less scary. Maybe even exciting?