Decide what to do with the body

In deciding what you wish to do with the body, there are a number of options, each with different costs, services, and religious or cultural significance. Click on the links below to find out more about these options and specific resources:

Featured
Alkaline hydrolysis/water cremation
Alkaline hydrolysis/water cremation

Alkaline hydrolysis disposes of remains using lye and heat. It is only available in some states.

Body donation
Body donation

You can donate a body to a university near you to further scientific studies essential to learning and research.

Cremation
Cremation

Cremation is where a body is turned into ash by being burned at a very high temperature. You can do either cremation with a viewing or direct cremation. Then, you have many options for what to do with the ashes: leave them in your home, bury them, put them in a cemetery, bury or scatter them in a favorite spot.

Burial
Burial

There are several options for burials: (1) Full-service funeral with burial, (2) direct burial, (3) green, natural, or “neo-traditional” burial, or (4) home funeral.

things to do immediately, funeral & what to do with remains, settling affairsJennifer Goodthings to do immediately after a death, burial, cremation, legacy and funeralComment