[DeedPatmeda]

My wife and I have become interested in our mortality lately and not to bypass the spiritual side of death, by are more interested in the practical side of what to do "when".

I have been reading on caskets from eco-friendly cardboard ones to 14k gold plated ones. Are caskets even necessary except to transport the body? I found two Orthodox suppliers. Has anyone heard of these? Or these?

In my mind, the coffin should be the least expensive item purchased since it is only going to be seen for 2-3 hours then buried. Who says you can't take it with you? I have read all about the rip offs the funeral homes do to greiving families. I guess we are trying to prepare for this. I have heard of people and one priest specifically who keep their coffins in their garages and this helps them remember death.

Cremation is not an option for Orthodox. I understand that. What about embalming? I was told that organ donations are ok, what donating your body to science? How then would it get buried if it were all cut up? I understood cadavers to all be cremated when they were done with them.

I hope my funeral is like my wedding. All our friends pitched in and start to finish only cost $1500 including the dress and honeymoon. Ok, so I'm cheap! So what. I envision being buried in a simple pine box at our local monastery. Service in the church, put my coffin in the back of the pickup and drive to the monastery, dig the hole and drop me in. Simple. Cheap!

What are the do's and don'ts from a modern Orthodox perspective on what I might have missed here? Oh, yeah. Ya'll are all invited.

Paul