An Individual Funeral



An Individual Funeral

Much is written nowadays on how funerals have changed and are, continuing to change. Is there a limit? Perhaps a more apt question would be, “Is there anything I can do differently?” or, “Is there anything that hasn’t been done?”

Of course not everything has been done yet; there are no cremated remains currently bound for Mars but who knows? The future will reveal more than the limit of my imagination, though down here on Earth, people are individualising funerals more and more – why?

Being older, I think current generations are deprived, in some ways? Others say, they are the generations of the ‘entitled!’ Not for discussion here – that subject. However, my meaning is this: growing-up through the 60’s, we not only saw the ‘Pop’ explosion with the ‘coming-of-age’ of Elvis Presley and the subsequent boom of The Beatles, The Rolling Stones and The Kinks to name but a few; we had, ‘Flower Power,’ Purple Hearts, Vietnam, Free Love, The Bee Gees, Abba, Woodstock, Long Hair, Short Hair, Mods & Rockers, Teddy Boys, Hob Nailed Boots, Guitars, Sitars, Hippies, Pot, Yoga, Karma – the list is almost endless, we even had a ‘Royal’ divorce!

What we did was, revolutionary – not in a violent way because we were, ‘Banning the Bomb,’ as I recall? Beeching was doing something with the railway – it was a hectic time of change with technology on the brink of digital emergence, heck, we did that too!
Video games, Commodore computers – Apple? Hmmm.. and of course, Clive Sinclair.

The problem we created unfortunately was that we didn’t leave a lot for the generations that followed us – they have no identity of their own. Yes, they keep trying to re-invent the wheel and think they’re pretty good but, we know how it went the first time round.

It’s a struggle. Through the 20th century, there are defining decades of change: Queen Victoria, Henry Ford; Wilbur Wright, World war I; The Industrial Revolution; The Depression; World War II; The Welfare State; Elvis Presley, Buddy Holly, Eddie Cochran; The Beatles – pop music; Discothèque, The Gulf War – what exactly do people growing-up today have to offer or, be identified with? Mobile Phones, Video Games, I-this and that; Digital Photographs or ‘Selfies’ and of course, the ubiquitous Facebook!
Hardly a recommendation and still, mostly provided for them so, no wonder they try to find ‘how’ to be different and in truth, they have succeeded in numerous areas but they usually begin with the word, “Extreme.”

Now is their time: parents are dying and the power of the internet, a particular skill area of this generation, is being used to not only arrange their funerals online in some way or fashion but to read and upstage the exploits of those who dared to do something different or outrageous.

Princess Diana’s funeral was epic. Elton John to name just one performer was seen by millions who tuned in their televisions all over the world.

Today, crematoria produce a ‘Top Twenty List’ of the most popular songs requested at funerals.
In a few short years, I have seen the profession change from using an organist to, cassette tapes, all individually ‘keyed-up’ and ready to go to the advent of CD replacement to, ‘online’ music libraries almost throughout the country. Classical music, hymns, with or without choral accompaniment and popular songs from the last 75 years are no strangers to funeral services and, in churches too!

Scottish Pipers, air fly-bys, dove and white pigeon releases; helium filled balloons, cremated remains turned into jewellery and diamonds; shot into the air in fireworks; sent down the river, scattered on the motorway, dropped from hot-air balloons, taken out to sea, to the moors, beauty spots, golf courses, favourite cricket clubs or football grounds; coloured coffins painted with football team colours, cardboard made to look like wood, wicker, bamboo, seagrass - the list is infinite.

With 75% of all funerals in England and Wales, possibly the United Kingdom culminating in a cremation, crematoria have facilitated the public’s desire and dreams for their own commercial gain – after all, cremation is a business created to deal with death; businesses run or exist because of profit; shareholders benefit, the public benefit – everyone’s a winner?      The ‘church?’ – Well, that’s another story!

Comments

  1. Its sad to know about this. if you are looking for low cost cremation near me, Then you can contact goinghomecremations.com for more information.

    ReplyDelete
  2. We serve the major differences between the funeral options we offer and what will fit best for their wishes, traditions, preferences, and budget. https://www.beacondirectcremation.com/index.php

    ReplyDelete
  3. A lot of valuable information can be derived from the postCremation Services Miami

    ReplyDelete
  4. That’s right that funeral service providers are using deaths for business, but taking funeral services can be helpful for many, which is the main idea behind initiating this service. Like the other services such as cipd assignment service are created for the student who faces difficulties in academics. Similarly, these funeral services cater to people who have not enough resources to do all the arrangements for the funeral.

    ReplyDelete
  5. Sometimes taking the funeral services can provide you many benefits. That is the main idea behind this service to help out many people. With online legal services, people can easily find services according to their needs. I provide online Dissertation Help to many students all over the globe.

    ReplyDelete
  6. Your blog contains lots of valuable data. It is a factual and beneficial article for us.cremation in florida Thankful to you for sharing an article like this.

    ReplyDelete
  7. Then again, assuming you purchase toys made for kids with age under that of your kid, he will think of them as excessively exhausting. The best thing is to pick toys planned exactly for your youngster's age. The following are two articles that will assist you with picking toys for infants and toys remote control toys for little children.

    ReplyDelete
  8. This captivating casino presents its friends an unparalleled level of gaming experience. With more than 107,000 sq. toes of casinos area, each informal gamers and excessive rollers will certainly get that rush that they are in search of. Located in Walker Hill Hotel in East Seoul, this 24-hour casino presents a fantastic venue to play playing cards, slots, and even table 1xbet video games while offering a wonderful, sweeping view of the Han River.

    ReplyDelete
  9. Its great to see there are is alot diversity in traditions of funnels i have to do my online exam but afterwards explore this blog as it seems interesting

    ReplyDelete
  10. Look for elizavecca night cream that contain ingredients that work to nourish and repair the skin, such as antioxidants, peptides, and hyaluronic acid. These ingredients can help to boost collagen production, reduce inflammation, and improve skin texture.

    ReplyDelete
  11. The range of largest nft marketplace available on this marketplace is mind-boggling. There's something for everyone.

    ReplyDelete

Post a Comment

Popular posts from this blog

How To Write A Eulogy

Christmas Greetings from Shoobridge Funeral Services - 2016

Shoobridge Funeral Services named runner up for Regional Funeral Planner of the Year Award