Matters of Life and Death
Crow feathers are believed to be good luck charms for traveling.
“Raku” translates to pleasure and happiness.
What a beautiful combination:
Our artist signed, one of a kind Raku urns are natural choice for families that want a beautiful organic work of art for their loved one.
Our continuing interview with Deena Pulaski of Lakeview Funeral Home and Crematory in La Porte, Indiana.
Deena says education of her client families has been a big aspect of the business. “We see more price shoppers now, many families are not aware of the options available, and it’s our job to educate them. They don’t realize that with cremation, they can have a viewing and visitation, and will often choose that type of service when offered.”
Trends: Many families are opting to keep the ashes in the home. When Deena asks the families if they’ve considered arrangements for guardianship later, the families often don’t know what they are going to do.
“We’re just trying to avoid future scenarios when the super bargain hunter arrives at the funeral home with an estate sale treasure….filled with ashes.”
Since La Porte is near many waterways, Deena fields requests from families that are interested in scattering the ashes over water. “I always recommend that they consider a water soluable urn. We’ve had several incidents of the plastic temporary urns that have been tossed over the side of the boat, later wash up on shore.”
The Westwood Village Memorial Park Cemetery in Westwood, California is full of dead celebrities, but surprisingly, several stars are buried in unmarked graves.
Frank Zappa died from prostate cancer in 1993 and is located in Westwood Memorial park Section D, plot #100. Zappa was innovative and provocative musician, who later in life was an outspoken critic in the 1980’s fight against labeling music recordings with warning stickers about the lyrics. He was very vocal about the implications of censorship.
George C. Scott, University of Missouri graduate, former marine, and brilliant actor died on September 22, 1999 at the age of 71 from a ruptured abdominal aortic aneurysm and is buried in an unmarked grave next to Walter Mattheau. Musing upon fame and death, Scott said, “Funny, isn’t it? One minute you’re standing in the wings. Next minute, you’re wearing them.”
Find a Grave has a good overview and images of George C. Scott’s plot.
It’s surprising that such a great actor would rest in an unmarked grave, but George was known to be unpredictable on set and declined appearances at the Academy Awards, which he referred to the ceremony as a “two hour meat parade.”
Roy Orbison died in 1988 from a heart attack at his mothers house, and is located at plot #97, unmarked, also in Westwood. Orbison was inducted into the Rock and Roll Hall of Fame, and in addition to his success, he also knew tragedy up close and personal. He was widowed early in his first marriage when his wife was killed in a motorcycle crash, and then two years later lost two of his sons, when they died in a house fire.
Pierce Brothers Westwood Cemetery is star studded for sure, Marilyn Monroe’s crypt is the most visited, but Don Knotts, Mel Torme, Farah Fawcett, Dean Martin, Hugh Heffner, Merv Griffin, and so many more. It’s tricky to find, tucked in and overshadowed by tall office buildings. From the Final Taxi blog:
We took I-10 to Wilshire Blvd. and went up two blocks to Glendon. After turning right and going about two blocks it dead ended and we thought we were lost but on going back we saw what looked like an alley between the overshadowing buildings. There was a small iron gate with the Pierce Brothers Memorial Park sign on it. Suddenly we were in a small park with beautiful trees and flowers. It was like finding a small oasis in the middle of the city.
Pierce Brothers is a small cemetery which is hidden between office buildings on one side, and housing on the other. It is rather small, about 2 acres in size, but don’t let that fool you. There are many plot, mausoleums, and memorial plaques inside that small area.
Florence Lawrence
Florence Lawrence, who appeared in almost 300 films and is considered to be Hollywood’s first movie star, rested in an unmarked grave at Hollywood Forever Cemetery for decades before actor Roddy McDowell purchased a marker for her grave. She was severely burned in a studio fire in 1915 while trying to rescue a fellow performer. After she recovered from her injuries, work was harder to find. Lawrence killed herself in 1938 by taking a dose of poison.
Carter Braxton a founding father of the United States of America. Braxton was 39 when he reluctantly signed the Declaration of Independence. He was a wealthy planter and businessman who straddled two sides of the conflict, as a sympathizer for Britian, and was entangled in business affairs with the British. However, Braxton didn’t care for the Crown picking his pockets. Not only was he were his fields fertile, he also had 18 children.
Eventually, other patriotic rebels twisted his arm and he signed the Declaration and even helped to fund supplies for American troops during the war. His business dealings with the Brits went up in smoke, his plantations were attacked (his home still stands) and the money that he loaned to the US Government was never repaid. He died a broke man and buried in an unmarked grave in Virgina.
It’s never too late to plant a tree or place a personalized garden stone in your loved one’s honor. Even if you are scattering ashes, adding a discreet memorial stone and creating a sacred space to remember can be beneficial for the survivors.
Thank you for letting us serve you.
Sources:
Find A Grave , George C Scott
Final Taxi, visit to Westwood Cemetery
Find A Grave, Roy Orbison
BEIJING (Reuters) – Misty May-Treanor had one worry when she came through customs on her way to the Beijing Olympics: what if they confiscated her mother’s ashes?
American May-Treanor sprinkled some of her mother Barbara’s ashes on the beach volleyball court in Athens when she and Kerri Walsh won the semi-final and the final and she was determined to do the same in Beijing.
After winning the semi on Tuesday, and finals last night, May-Treanor pulled out a camera film canister and sprinkled some more of the ashes on to the sand in the Chaoyang Park stadium.
“My Dad packed it for me and I was like ‘What if they take it in customs as I go in?’ but it was all fine,” May-Treanor said after the match. “We can’t leave her home alone.”
A little late to the party, but I just found this story regarding the supposed theft of Curt Cobain’s ashes at the first of June.
From Rolling Stone:
The majority of Cobain’s ashes were spread at a New York Buddhist temple and in Washington’s Wishkah River. Cobain’s widow, Courtney Love said she kept a small amount (as well as a lock of his hair) for herself and was storing the ashes in a pink bear-shaped handbag that was hidden in the wardrobe closet of her Hollywood home. She believes the bag was taken by a former friend.
This isn’t the first time Love has had something of her husband stolen: In March, Love alleged that thieves used Cobain’s social security number to steal several million dollars from his estate. In both cases, Love believes she knows who is responsible for the theft.