It’s
something we don’t really think about until we lose someone close to us, but
behind the scenes death is a big industry.
The Funeral
Service Association of Canada kicked off their annual convention in Regina on Friday.
Inside the
Delta Hotel, you can find the latest in funeral trends.
Orthometals
offers a service most have never heard of. They recycle metals left over after
cremation. Hip or knee replacements are made from valuable ingredients like
titanium or cobalt. People like, Ruud Verberne pick up the etals for free from
the crematorium and re-sell them.
“The money
that comes out of that we deduct the cost for our organization, such as the
collecting and sorting, and then the money is given back to the crematory and
it’s spent for charity,” said Verberne.
The Dutch
company has spread to over 15 countries in Europe,
and is just starting to tap into the North American market.
It’s all
part of a push towards greener funerals.
“Most of
this casket is made from products that would not harm the environment in any
way,” said Raymond Fournier, National Director for Batesville Canada.
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He says
more people are being buried in all natural caskets that are held together with
dowels and glue, and contain only cotton or saffron.
Or, if
you’re even more environmentally conscious, NatureUrns are made with corn-syrup
and sawdust and biodegrade in soil within seven years.
“I think
we’re all looking at ways to reduce, reuse and recycle,” said Fournier. “This
is one way of helping with your “footprint”, if you will.”
The other
noticeable trend in funerals this year is more personalized items like tribute
pieces, or fingerprint impression jewelry. But if that’s not personal enough,
you can make them last forever.
“Remembrance
Diamond Corporation takes cremated ashes and can manufacture a diamond from
them,” said Company President, Rene Dediego.
The company
ships the ashes to Switzerland
where they’re grown into a diamond under high pressure and heat. It takes about
one pound of ash to make a moderate sized diamond, and the average body yields
four pounds of ash. The cost can run as cheap as $2800 for a small stone. But
something like a one karate round can come with a price tag of more than
$20,000.
Dediego
says personalized items are becoming more popular as people try to find new
ways to remember their loved one.
“I think
when people have a funeral they don’t often get to come away from that with
something unique and positive like a diamond can be,” he said.
Dr. Alan
Wolfelt is the keynote speaker for the event and an expert on bereavement. He
says it can be healthy to try new things in the industry.
“It’s
important to keep balance between honouring tradition, but also incorporating
some aspects of innovation,” said Wolfelt.
He’s
encouraged to see some trends emerge, but he’s afraid our culture has forgotten
how to hurt and heal.
“We do a disservice to our friends and family when we say, ‘When I die don’t’
go to any trouble. I’m not sure I want you to throw a funeral, just throw a
party,” he frowns. “That’s not a good trend.”
“There’s a
time in life to be sad. When we don’t’ want to touch our sadness then we carry
our grief around,” he said.
He says no
matter what you include in your ceremony, having that opportunity to come
together and be sad about a life lost is what’s really important.
“You still
need to come together to say hello on the pathway to goodbye,” said Wolfelt.
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