Sally Simpson

Much as I love my husband, there are definitely limits!

I didn't think much of being entombed in a pyramid either!

bil

The wife on the funeral pyre bit was often less than voluntary.

Me, I want to be cremated, and have half my ashes sprinkled around my fruit trees in Spain, and the rest at the low tide mark at Conil.

crispy

Yes it does, friends mum was popped in with dad and there is even room for her in there I believe her twin sister who died when she was just three years old is with her parents and I think they thought she would like to be with them. She has declined the offer as she has a hubby of her own, her brother though has said he is having no one in with him, he wants some peace and quite after nearly 55 years of marriage.

COWBOY_BUILDER

My MIL say's she's going to Dance on my grave , so i'm being buried at sea.

wheatsheaf42

Fascinating. Clearly you have charnel knowledge.

Sally Simpson

crispy

I want to be cremated and placed gently into the sea, not to fussed were as long as it is warm, I rather like the idea of the bay of Trafalgar it's one of my fav beaches in this area and I do believe it is about 11k from conil so I might see you around bil.

When my BIL died, my sister had his ashes devided into 4, one quater is in Gran Canary, a quater in Tenerife, a quater buired with the budgy that died the same month in a potted rose in the garden and the last quater is to be buired with her. She said he was always 4 sheets to the wind when he was alive so she thinks he would have liked what she has done.

Cleopatra

agreed - certainly answers a few things that I thought weird in a local cemetary where I used to live.

There was a cemetary opposite my primary school in Portugal, in there was a wall with name plaques on with pictures of the deceased next to the names - I'm assuming this was where their ashes are.

Others were as described as before but had a little glass box which flowers, photos and trinkets were placed - which I thought was a lovely touch.

The glass box in which a wooden coffin was laid in was a bit weird and it was slightly open, just a crack, until it was explained to me that that particular person wanted it that way as the thought of never seeing daylight again was more scary than death itself.

Fair enough.

tednsharon

that really tickled me!

Carol&John

It's all a bit too scary though for some folk, isn't it?

The above links (Age Concern, SPN, andaluciadotcom) have given good information. May I include another one? http://jimenapulse.wordpress.com/200...ing-in-jimena/

I am more aware now of how important it is to make a (legally drawn) will and to tell someone of your wishes (regarding burial or cremation etc.) should you die suddenly. It would be better if you could put something aside towards the costs: be it an insurance plan, or a separate "funeral expenses" account in your bank with a letter of instruction to your bank manager on the event of your death. "If only..." How many times have those two words started a sentence, eh?

On the subject of interment in "nichos" which appear too small for the length of the deceased; well, an undertaker would know how this is done. But, who is brave enough to ask that question at that point in time? (I have my own theory.) The sealing of the niche, witnessed by the mourners, might help dispell worries about grave robbers.

Another point to add, el dia de los difuntos on the 2nd November is an important event in family life, when the plaques/headstones are polished and cared for by surviving family members.

Lastly (and apologies for going on so long), I found this link by Googling: http://www.guardian.co.uk/lifeandsty...being.weekend2
It helps answer quite a few questions many (myself included) are afraid to ask.

Carol

scampicat

I have asked my husband what he remembered and he said that Emilio was put in the wall in a coffin.

Dick Dasterdly

Friend of mine died in Tenerife about 12 year ago.
His widow asked for a cremation,most unusual there I believe.
After a comedy of many errors we followed the procession up the M.way at a speed of no more than 20kph for all of 50km with traffic hurtling up behind us at 150kph or so.
We arrived at a large field with a small building on one side and a row of chairs outside.
In the middle of the field was a huge pile of heavy timber resembling tree trunks almost the size of a house with ladders all around it.
The coffin was hauled up onto the top and then workmen continued to stack even more large pieces of timber on top of it.
They then came with lots of buckets of some liquid,maybe kerosene and ran up the ladders throwing it right on the top in huge quantities.
It was then lit with a flaming torch on the end of a long pole.
The fire and flames were massive and for all we were a good way of, we were driven back even further with the intense heat.
We sat there in awe and amazement ,almost lost for words, for maybe 2 hours before leaving ,at which time the fire was as strong as ever.
I would think it could have continued burning for at least 2 more days after we left.
We were later told it was about the last of its kind on the island and the UK style cremation(which is what we had originally expected)would be the norm in future.

bil

Dam' fine show.

Quite the Viking funeral.

Duchess

Here in Tenerife, those little slots in the wall are rented for around 5 years I think, if the family did not realise this at the time & no longer pay for the rental, out the loved one comes & into a communal grave !ohmy:

So worth checking how long you have the site for.

Cremation is most popular here due to I suspect, digging the volcanic rock would be hard work, space is limited & cost.

SUPERPOT

It seems to me that if you look at one area as an example "Madrid" and its heavy population how would it be possible to have a graveyard as is common over in the UK?
There simply would not be the room locally to do this and over the years graveyards fill up.
The only true fact of life is that one day we are going to die!
Everything in between is in a way irrelevant.
We are on this earth for the blink of an eye.
We are but grains of sand being swept around by the sea and blown around by the wind.
Enjoy every moment you can whilst you are here.Give not take, be happy and in truth does it matter whether we get cremated or buried? Once you are gone you are gone.
Sorry if this offends anyone but its purely my opinion.
As the Romans said when in Rome!
If people are living here and have made it their home we have to live by the natives ways of doing things?
If someone has very strong thoughts about it and so desired they could always pay and be transferred back to the UK for burial \ cremation and no doubts people do this and its down to personal choice.
I have enjoyed a lot reading this thread and feel its a very important issue however I am not planning on departing this planet for quite sometime!
Good luck to you all,
Superpot