If you have always wanted to be buried for eternity in an airplane, largemouth bass or something else, that can be arranged.
When people plan for their own funerals or for those of recently deceased loved ones, they normally choose from a wide-range of coffins at varying price points. Most of these coffins have a lot in common. They are all in the basic shape of a rectangular box. The shape has been standard for a long time.
However, the Wills, Trusts & Estates Prof Blog reports on a different type of coffin in “The First Family of Custom Coffins.”
A family in Ghana is in the business of creating coffins in the shape of just about anything, so that people can be buried in something that represents their life. A YouTube video of their work is available at the blog’s website.
This is part of a larger trend concerning death and funerals. People are choosing to turn away from traditions in place of specific ways for the deceased to be remembered. The trend includes everything from humorous obituaries to lavish services and now custom coffins.
Many families find that by customizing the funeral experience in unusual, nontraditional ways, they get a better sense of closure and peace.
There is a potential downside to this trend, however.
The unusual arrangements are often made after the deceased has passed away. That leaves open the question of whether it is how the deceased would like to be remembered.
One thing people can do to make sure they are remembered in the way they want, is to leave specific funeral instructions as part of their estate planning.
Reference: Wills, Trusts & Estates Prof Blog (Dec. 30, 2016) “The First Family of Custom Coffins.”
