About Caskets

A casket or coffin is a funerary box used in the display and containment of deceased remains – either for burial or cremation.

Casket -- All You Need to Know
By Alan Ross

When we talk of caskets, we mean funeral caskets. The word casket is the derivative of Greek word kophinos. That explains why word coffin is in use is some parts of the world. To some Americans, there still exists a difference between a casket and a coffin. Coffin thus is a hexagonal or an octagonal box tapering at one end and used for burial. A simple rectangular box with split lid used for viewing the deceased is a casket.



Photo: itoncaskets.com

Cultural and Geographical Variance
Although, most of the countries practice almost one form in exclusivity, it varies in some others with individual cemeteries. Ornaments, stipple crosses and Masonic symbols which are collectively called as fittings and organized inside drapery customize caskets.

Judaism stipulates plain wooden caskets with no metal parts whatsoever with wooden pegs in place of nails. Japan and China prefers scented non decaying woods like cedar, sugi, cypress etc. Africans prefer caskets made in various funny shapes such as vehicles, airplanes etc.

Modern Caskets
Modern casket manufacturers have innovative and protective caskets on sale; for example airtight caskets with gasket beading on lids. But let you not get misled by the phrase protective caskets, no casket will preserve bodies instead it fosters anaerobic decomposition which means the decomposed and liquefied body tissues remain inside until they are exhumed.

You might have come across transparent caskets occasionally. These are made of acrylic or Perspex material and are refrigerated with battery operated units at their bottoms. No wonder, these are used as transit coffins when the bodies of deceased VVIPs or kept for more than a couple of days for public viewing.

Buying Caskets
Buying caskets can be a challenging ordeal that comes during trying circumstances. It can be a tremendous help to be informed about options and price ranges beforehand. You can buy a casket from a licensed funeral service provider or from a manufacturer. But you should be aware of, in your desperate minute is, some manufacturers don’t sell their produce directly but to licensed funeral homes. Funeral homes sell caskets to family members of the deceased person as a part of their funeral service.

US Federal Law, requires funeral homes to accept the caskets provided by the members of the deceased persons’ families. They are obligated to accept caskets even if they are delivered directly by the manufacturers and in both the cases the families will not be charged separately.
Did you know that the Bronze transit casket of JFK was later disposed off Delaware coast on the behest of Robert Kennedy?

Alan Ross is a regular article contributor on many topics. Be sure to visit his other websites Casket, Arthritis and One Stop Information

The Last Goodbye

The Last Goodbye
By Tim Connor

No one is immune in life to the sting of death of someone close to them. Sooner or later we all lose a loved one. This book is not about preparing for the death of someone close, the psychology of dying or coping with your loss. It is about life and all those moments and memories that you have left – before it, too, is your turn to pass from this world to the next.


Photo: chgs.umn.edu

Writing about the value of life after having lost my father recently and my mother last year might seem odd to some of you. But I can share with you that a few weeks ago, as I was driving from Charlotte to Cincinnati for my father’s funeral, the idea struck me to write this book. Was it a delayed message from my dad since I was not at his side when he passed away? Or was it me facing my own mortality as I head toward sixty this year? Don’t have a clue, folks. However, I know I felt this inner pull to write something that could be their legacy.

My dad was a great writer, but never wrote a book. He was a great orator and never gave a paid speech. Simply put, he was a great man who left behind so little and yet so much.

My mom was an accomplished seamstress, chef, gardener, bridge player, furniture re-upholsterer, artist – but her legacy in my life is not the meals she cooked or the roses she grew, but the fact that in her later life she demonstrated more courage than any human I have ever known. She suffered numerous ailments – from cancer to dementia – and she fought back again and again until her last breath.

My dad’s funeral lasted for only about an hour, but his life lasted for 87 years. What more fitting way to salute him and my mom than to share with you some of the lessons they taught me the past 60 years about life and all of its disappointment and promise.

If you have ever lost a loved one, I can feel your pain and your sadness as I write these words.
During my life, I have been one of the fortunate ones. I have lost to death only three people who were close to me - my mother, my father and a friend.

There is this tremendous sense of loss. Memories that can never be shared again… Experiences you will never be able to tell them about… Laughter that is gone… Love that is gone… Friendship that is gone… Nothing but this emptiness and sadness in your heart.

When a loved one passes away – whether too soon as a young child, or later during the prime of life, or old as a grandparent living to the ripe old age of 95 – the hole in your heart is the same. We miss what could have been and will never be again.

Why does death hurt the living so much? Why do we grieve for our loved ones who have gone to a better place?

Our grieving is often selfishness. We feel cheated, left behind or alone. Why did they leave us? Why did they do this to us? I cannot explain or rationalize the death of a young child because of a drunk driver or murderer running rampant through the halls of some high school or public place. I cannot understand why cancer takes the dear souls in our life, while drug pushers and financial scoundrels might get off scot-free. I can only tell you that there must be a reason. It may be too difficult for me to comprehend with my limited spiritual wisdom. My pain and confusion may occur because perhaps I have not yet come to totally believe in God’s master plan for salvation. I only know the pain is real.

Do not hide behind a fake smile. Send your departed loved ones your love and forgiveness. And then, move on. Yes, without them. You see, I believe my mother and father will always be with me because they both have a special place in my heart and my mind where each of them etched their lessons, personalities, love and dreams forever on the patchwork of my being. Our loved ones are not gone, just absent for a time. This book is about keeping the memory of your departed loved ones alive and active in your actions, decisions, beliefs and values. It is not about staying stuck in the past or agonizing over what will never be. It is about you, your life and your NOW and your future.

Tim Connor, CSP is an internationally renowned sales, relationship, management and leadership speaker, trainer and best selling author. Since 1981 he has given over 3500 presentations in 21 countries on a variety of sales, management and relationship topics. He is the best selling author of over 60 books including; He can be reached at tim@timconnor.com, 704-895-1230 or visit his website at http://www.timconnor.com/.

Family Life Insurance

The Family Life Insurance provides life insurance for your spouse and eligible dependent children. With family life insurance, all of your eligible family members are automatically covered.

Family Life Insurance Companies
By Steve Valentino

If you have a family, having life insurance is a must. A good family life insurance company will help you plan for the future needs of your loved ones if something should happen to you. They will take into consideration the things that your family counts on from you every day like financial support including food, shelter, transportation, education, future plans, children, business, travel and retirement. A family life insurance company will make sure that your family is covered financially in the event you die prematurely. They will also take into account that most families have a double income these days. They will likewise encourage you to take out double coverage in the event your spouse dies unexpectedly. It is important to have adequate coverage for both earners because you depend on both incomes.




According to most family insurance companies, the average American family does not have enough life insurance. Most financial planners recommend that families have insurance coverage equal to five to nine times of the gross annual income of the household. If you have children, it should be close to nine times higher. As your family grows and your income increases, you need to review your coverage to make sure it meets your needs. Most online family life insurance companies will help you determine how much life insurance you need by providing worksheets and calculators for you to work with. They will also offer you options regarding costs, eligibility, renewability, limitations, and exclusions and underwriting information.

Life insurance protects those who depend on your paycheck -- your wife, children and quite possibly, your parents. If you die prematurely, life insurance can provide ongoing income to your dependents, until they are able to live comfortably without it. It can also provide emergency support for legal, medical and funeral costs should family savings not be sufficient to cover them.
Life Insurance Companies provides detailed information on Life Insurance Companies, Term Life Insurance Companies, Family Life Insurance Companies, Life Insurance Company Ratings and more. Life Insurance Companies is affiliated with Life and Health Insurance Agents.

Funeral Costs

The cost of a funeral is one of the three or four most expensive consumer purchases. Traditional Funerals can cost upwards of $15000. They definitely don't have to be so expensive, and there's no reason to believe that paying so much for a funeral is somehow a sign of love for the departed.

What You Need To Know About Funeral Costs
By Morgan Hamilton

It is undoubtedly true that when someone passes away it is a hard time for their loved ones. When preparing someone's funeral you should take into consideration the funeral costs and the many things that must be calculated into them. There is one requirement according to which the funeral homes are obliged to provide you with a detailed amount for the cost of the funeral. Unless funeral costs are taken care of they can lead to serious financial difficulties.



Photo: arlingtoncemetery.net

The financial situation of the deceased might not be good; so many years may pass until the bills for the funeral are paid off. All the funeral costs are given to the surviving family and relatives. Many people have life insurance which covers funeral costs.

The administration costs of a funeral cover the embalming, the staff needed for the funeral and the facilities used such as chapel, preparation room and reception room.

Another thing that should be thought about is transportation. The coffin should be moved from the chapel to service area and the transport should be previously arranged. Generally a limousine is used for the immediate family of the deceased but cars could also be rented for the other family members and the close friends of the departed. What is really expensive in a funeral is the coffin and a temporary grave marker. These are the merchandise costs that should be considered, as well.

It is true that you can save some money by purchasing cheaper markers and coffins, however most families feel obliged to honor the deceased with the very best that can be offered. There are other aspects which should be accounted; these are the cash disbursements; some money should be set aside for flowers. Apart from flowers, you might buy a cemetery plot which should be added to the funeral costs. Printing materials could also add up to the costs as you will need obituaries, invitations, announcements and a death certificate.

However, the main cost of cash disbursements comes from the headstone of the grave. Its price varies a lot and you can buy a cheap or a very expensive one depending on your finances. Other things which might be easily forgotten but should also be added to the funeral costs are guest books, honorariums and the price of food for the wake. When arranging a funeral most funeral homes will explain you all the different funeral costs and will leave you choose the best options for you.

Then they will make all the arrangements needed for the funeral. The funeral costs are different in the different funeral homes but they all include the many costs we mentioned above. This information might be helpful to you in case you have to arrange a funeral. After all, the funeral should run smooth and you have to pay the funeral costs but you should watch out that you are not financially burdened with unforeseen costs.

Morgan Hamilton offers expert advice and great tips regarding all aspects concerning religion and spirituality. Get the information you are seeking now by visiting Funeral Costs