Eco-friendly funeral/burial

[judy]

That is a wild story, Diana! Did his brother know he was not going to come back after his walk?

You should be buried in your own cemetery. I wrote to a local funeral home, and got this response:

"Thank you for inquiry. With respect for your question about cemetery- the closest "Green Cemetery" is located near Utica, NY and although we have not had the oportunity to have a burial- if you wish I can gather the information. Also there has been conversation that Rhinebeck Cemetery is going to open a "Green Section" or allow "Green Burials"- what the specifics are and fees associated with that are still unknown- that is in the works.
As for other local cemeteries- see next paragraph.

As for the cost of the "Green Burial" there are a number of different factors that go into determining that. One being...what type of "Green Burial" are we talking about: is it the one that is associated with the Green Burial Association-where the deceased is shrouded or placed in a bio-casket and it is a simple graveside service, or one that is a slight variation and is a more traditional service (i.e.: viewing...which can include formaldehyde free embalming, church or funeral service, and buried in a traditional plot). With that the question always arrives at - "how can it be a green burial when the cemetery requires a vault"? The short answer is that we have arrangements with some of the local cemeteries, where the concrete liner ( which still allows moisture to enter) is simple placed upside down over the bio-casket. Therefore meeting the cemetery requirement- which is essentially for maintenance purposes- while still allowing the burial to be "Green". So as you can see the idea of "green burials" is great, it is simply a bit harder to pinpoint a final cost without knowing all of the variables.

I hope this helps to clarify and not muddy up the waters- so to speak.

Let me know your thoughts and thank you once again for asking,"

[Janet]

Of course I haven't had a chance to check into it too much yet with everything else going on, but as soon as it quiets down and I can do more research that is what I'm planning to do. I don't want a vault of any shape or form, just one of the biodegradable weave type baskets. I just feel so comfortable about this.

[judy]

I have all of the papers for my will, dnr, ETC., ETC. I just hafve not wanted to sit down and do it! I also have to find out if I can transfer my house to Jessie, while still being able to have control over it. What if I want to sell it? I don't like the idea of anyone else having control over my stuff, but I will be 65. I am (Thank God!) very healthy, but everything has to be transferred 5 years before you end up with medical care bills. I'll only be 70 in 5 years, but yoou really never know. It's not like I'm only 55 anymore!

[Janet]

Why not just gift it to her in your will. Not sure about other states, but we can gift up to one hundred thousand dollars before having to pay inheritance tax. So my brothers nor I will have to pay a tax. I know it's crazy for us to wait, but once everything is settled with Mom's estate in April, Rick and I are going to do our Will. Our attorney does it all at once, Will, POA and Medical Power (forget exactly what it's called). It's very possible with our 3 houses it could add up to over the tax amount, so we would have to gift it to him a little at a time or save it so it can be used to pay our living expenses in a nursing home which aren't cheap and if there is any left, it can go to him.

[judy]

It's not the taxes as much as going to pay for nursing home care, or whatever. If I don't have anything in my name, Medicare will pay. If I do, they will take my money first, then go into Medicare. I would much rather Jessie got the house than the nursing home.

[gja1000]

Judy is right. If she has to go into a nursing home and doesnt have enough money to pay the monthly nursing home bill, Medicaid (not Medicare) will pay for it, if she doesn't have any other assets that could be sold to pay for nursing home care. If Judy still owned her home, then it would have to be sold and the money used to pay for the nursing home. When that money ran out, then Medicaid would pay. In order to keep the home, Judy would have to put the home in Jesse's name 5 years before money would be needed for a nursing home.

[Janet]

oh yes....I knew that...duh me. There has to be away around all that...there is for just about everything else it seems.