Diversity in Death: Body Disposition and Memorialization

• Published in: Illness, crisis, and loss crisis, and loss, 2012-04, Vol.20 (2), p.141-158
• Main Author: Dickinson, George E.
• Format: Article
• Language: English
• Subjects: Cremation; Death; Diversity; Dying; Internet; Memorials
• ISSN: 1054-1373; 1552-6968
• DOI: 10.2190/IL.20.2.d

The place and method of final disposition of dead human remains is important to many individuals. Traditionally, earth burials have been the most common way of disposing of dead human remains in the United States. Cremation, however, is growing rapidly in popularity, perhaps suggesting that the whole body for the resurrection is losing significance. With cremation, the place of final disposition of the body loses some of its significance. This article will explore the numerous options available today in the United States to dispose of dead human remains and to memorialize the dead. Data analysis will be from media sources and the Internet. Among recent “trends” in body disposition are numerous cremation options, varied casket choices, theme funerals, environmentally-correct disposition, and cemetery options. Other recent occurrences related to death include roadside memorials, automobile memorializations, and the changes brought on by the internet. Some of the questions addressed for the above shifts in the diversity in death include: (1) What sense can we make of today's personalized death trends? (2) Is the trend occurring toward individualization? (3) What are the social and cultural changes contributing to these dying and death shifts? (4) What impact does sheer cost have on today's involvement with dying, death, and bereavement? (5) Why is final body disposition being deinstitutionalized, if indeed it is? (6) Is death today being resurrected, following a period called the dying of death?