Cremation Urns Displayed on MSNBC’s the Today Show
Some quirky cremation urns were brought to the nation’s attention on the Today Show with Meredith Vieira. The interview was with the writers of a new book called Grave Expectations; Sue Bailey and Carmen Flowers displayed a few options when memorializing a loved one. The ‘Born Ride Motorcycle Urn’ and the ‘Lifetime Hourglass Urn’ by In the Light Urns were some of the cremation memorials shown. One of the most unique was the Lifetime Hourglass Urn, which has a mix of cremains and silica sand flowing through it. Mixed reactions to this urn were expected; but for the authors, this was a favorite.
These fairly different and provocative urns are just the tip of the iceberg, when it comes to ways to remember a loved one. The memorials shown include: biodegradable caskets, a Vidstone panel memorial, a teddy bear urn, a baseball urn, an hourglass urn and a motorcycle gas tank urn. Susan Fraser of In the Light Urns said, “We are very pleased that more people are being exposed to their options after losing a loved one. Not everyone is aware of how many choices they have; they think all that is available to them is at the local funeral home and that’s just not true.” As technology helps make living easier, families have the options to purchase things like cremation urns online. And there are many companies dedicated to that very service.
Grave Expectations: Planning the End Like There’s No Tomorrow is a journal and guide to review before you pass. It takes a light and different approach to death and dying. A good portion of the book is dedicated to the reader filling in their information and requests after they die. Excerpt: “Life is such a rich, complicated, joyous, mysterious, wild ride. Everyone has stories to tell and lessons to pass on, and what better way to do that than when you’re dead?” the authors explain in the book’s introduction. “It was your life; your funeral is the one time you should do and say absolutely whatever you want.” According to a poll from the National Funeral Directors Association, over 60% of adults have or intent to pre-plan for their death and funeral. The book Grave Expectations should help them along nicely.
