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		<title>Consumers go for cheaper burials</title>
		<description>Discuss Consumers go for cheaper burials</description>
		<link>http://www.oregonbusiness.com/articles/79-february-2010/2905-consumers-go-for-cheaper-burials?device=xhtml</link>
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			<title>short cutting grief?</title>
			<link>http://www.oregonbusiness.com/articles/79-february-2010/2905-consumers-go-for-cheaper-burials?device=xhtml#comment-340</link>
			<description><![CDATA[Hello, Thanks for this article about what I find to be a somewhat alarming trend. It's sad to think of people believing they are unable to afford the kind of closure they may need when facing a death of someone they love. There is often another option though. In Oregon, as in nearly every state, a designated friend or family member has the right to act as a funeral director for someone they love who has died. In practical terms this means that a family can take on both the care of the body and filling out the death certificate. In terms of closure, this means that people can engage their spiritual beliefs and create a meaningful vigil or wake in the home or a place of their choosing. (church, community center, etc.) In Oregon, you have the right to transport a body home from the hospital or nursing facility. (you can verify this by a call to your local county medical examiner) Embalming is neither necessary nor required by law (except in rare cases) and a family can use dry ice to preserve a body long enough for a dignified home vigil. In addition, a simple inexpensive cardboard casket can be purchased at most funeral homes and family and friends can decorate or "personalize", in a surprisingly satisfying way. Of course this still leaves the cost of a burial plot plus the fee for opening and closing the grave, if a person chooses burial. Prices for plots vary widely so it's good to think ahead on this and do some research. If a family chooses cremation or even direct cremation, they can still do all of the above and perhaps save even further on some of the costs. Some funeral homes will work with people and offer a list of individually priced services that support home care of the dead. In addition, there is a growing network of people calling themselves Home Funeral Guides who have researched all of the above and can be available to support a family's legal rights to a home or family directed funeral. The bottom line is to think about all of this ahead of time, and talk about it with your family members. You can make informed choices about this, and you may find that doing so gives you a surprising sense of relief and confidence about facing death. And that can change the way you live your life.]]></description>
			<dc:creator>Marian Spadone</dc:creator>
			<pubDate>Thu, 04 Feb 2010 22:58:20 +0000</pubDate>
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