34 SEPTEMBER 3, 2020 RIDGEWOOD TIMES WWW.QNS.COM
Baby Boomers plan unique yet traditional funerals
Funerals have been held since
the dawn of time to honor and
remember a departed loved one.
There is always a common thread --
the importance of memorialization.
Now, however, with the Baby
Boomer generation, a new element
has been added to the traditional
funeral.
Calling hours and other traditional
rites are still an important
part of remembrance. But many Baby
Boomer funerals are taking on a
whole new look. They are becoming
very personalized remembrances
-- reflecting the individual and his
or her interests in life.
We know that the ancient Egyptians
buried artifacts to help the
departed spirit in the afterlife.
Excavated tombs have yielded
myriad items including games and
tools that the spirit might want.
It is interesting to note that this
practice is popular once more as
Baby Boomers request their favorite
sports equipment such as golf clubs,
tennis balls and team jerseys be
placed in the casket.
Mountain bikes and canoes have
been displayed during calling
hours. Even the casket can become
a reminder of the Baby Boomers’
interest in sports.
A New York City funeral director
said that a departed football fan was
laid to rest in a casket featuring a
Notre Dame logo and team colors on
panels and the corner caps.
In Upstate New York, one funeral
featured a jazz band playing on the
porch of the funeral home.
Another funeral highlighted the
departed’s interest in handicapping
horse races by simulating his kitchen
- complete with tip sheets and race
results broadcast from a radio.
Baby Boomers are also known
for their interest in preserving the
environment.
At several sites in New York State,
as well as in other parts of the
country, “green” cemeteries and
natural burial plots are available.
There are no underground vaults,
no mausoleums and minimal landscaping
so the cemetery grounds are
kept in a more natural state.
Some families have asked funeral
directors to have a tree planted in
memory of the departed loved one,
thus helping to renew forest life.
There are companies that blend
cremated remains with concrete
to form reef structures then place
them in selected ocean sites to form
undersea “memorial reefs.”
These reefs are ecologically beneficial
because they form a natural
habitat for undersea creatures.
Today’s funeral director is likely
to be a Baby Boomer and more than
happy to arrange a funeral for you
that will be truly memorable and a
celebration of your life.
So when you start to preplan your
funeral, be sure to discuss your desires
with your family and your neighborhood
funeral director so that you,
too, can have a truly personalized
funeral.
Courtesy of NYS Funeral Directors
Association
COPING WITH DEATH
49
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718-366-1900
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494 Seneca Avenue,
Ridgewood, NY 11385
Hess-Miller Funeral Home
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ANTHONY J. MARTINO, Lic. Mgr.
DAVID L. MARTINO, Director
Owned By Martino F.H., Inc. Since 1982
1-718-821-6660 or 1-800-479-6419
Serving Ridgewood, Maspeth,
Middle Village & Glendale
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64-19 Metropolitan Ave., Middle Village, N.Y.
www.hessmillerfuneralhome.com
129
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