Funeral Alternatives

Saying Goodbye with Grace, Not Guilt 

Funerals for the Future 

Let’s face it:  

Talking about funerals isn’t exactly everyone’s idea of fun. But here we are, diving headfirst into the last hurrah, and you might be surprised at how fascinating (and even humorous) the topic can be. 

Ancient Send-Offs: Religious Roots and Monumental Tombs 

Long before funeral brochures and biodegradable caskets, ancient civilizations were setting the gold standard for grand goodbyes. The Egyptians had a flair for flair. Pyramids, gold masks, embalming rituals – all in the hope of securing a smooth ride to the afterlife. Greeks believed in crossing the River Styx, so they buried their dead with coins. And in Asia, ancestral veneration meant tombs could be elaborate resting places and spiritual communication hubs. These rituals weren’t just cultural quirks; they were rooted in deep religious significance — funerals were, after all, the final farewell. Regardless of your religion, losing a loved one to death cant go by unmarked.  

Why Do We Even Have Funerals? 

Well, we don’t throw these farewell shindigs for the dead alone. Funerals are really for us — the living. They give us space to cry, laugh, remember, and slowly accept that our favourite grumpy uncle or that sweet grandmother with the peppermint stash won’t be at Sunday lunch anymore. It’s closure with a capital C. We honour the life lived, share the joy they brought us, and try to make peace with the loss. The ritual helps bind communities and gives structure to grief — because let’s be honest, grief is messy, and humans love a little structure when we’re emotionally untethered. 

The Modern-Day Funeral: From Black Suits to Biodegradable Balloons 

These days, funerals are evolving faster than you can say “memorial slideshow.” While many people still opt for traditional services in churches or chapels, there’s been a significant rise in personalized farewells. Think beachfront scatterings, garden gatherings, tree-planting ceremonies, and even drive-thru goodbyes (You can really get anything in the good ‘ole US of A!) 

Technology has joined the party, too — live-streamed funerals, QR codes on headstones, and digital memorial pages are now commonplace. Grandma’s final send-off might come with a Spotify playlist, biodegradable confetti, and a slideshow of her finest Sunday roasts. 

The Elephant in the Room: Are Traditional Funerals Bad for the Planet? 

Short answer: kind of. Between embalming fluids (hello, formaldehyde), concrete vaults, non-biodegradable caskets, and all those kilometres travelled by mourners in petrol-guzzling cars and airplanes, traditional funerals have a surprisingly large carbon footprint. Cemeteries also take up precious land, often in cities where green space is already scarce. 

Then there’s cremation — more energy-efficient, sure, but still not exactly eco-friendly. One cremation uses as much energy as an 800km car journey and emits greenhouse gases and pollutants into the air. 

Green Goodbyes: Planning a Planet-Friendly Funeral 

If you want to exit the world with a little less planetary guilt, there are some inspiring alternatives: 

Natural burials in woodland cemeteries or conservation areas, using biodegradable caskets and no embalming. 

Aquamation (alkaline hydrolysis), which uses water and lye to break down the body with less environmental impact than fire. 

Reef memorials where ashes are mixed with concrete and placed in ocean reefs to support marine life. 

Mushroom suits and biodegradable urns that grow trees or feed fungi, returning you to the earth in a very poetic circle-of-life kind of way. 

Goodbye, Couture Coffin: How to Honour Without Waste 

Not every farewell needs to cost the same as a new car. In fact, many families are rethinking the extravagance of traditional funerals. The key is to focus on meaning over materials: 

Here are our favourite ways to remember a loved one without breaking the bank (and killing the planet)  

• Share stories, photos, or music that mattered to the person. 

• Cook their favourite meal for a gathering at home. 

• Donate to a charity in their honour instead of buying elaborate wreaths. 

• Create a memory book or video tribute with contributions from family and friends. 

Saying farewell doesn’t need to mean bankrupting the living. A sincere, heartfelt goodbye beats velvet-lined caskets and Thousands or rands in flowers and booze every time. 

So, What Should a Funeral Be? 

A funeral should be a reflection of the person who has passed — their quirks, values, humour, and heart. It should bring comfort to the grieving and honour the life lived, no matter how grand or humble. Ultimately, it’s not about how many people attended, how posh the flowers were, or whether the post-service snacks were artisanal. It’s about connection, closure, and love. 

Maya Angelou once said, “People will forget what you said, forget what you did, but never forget how you made them feel.” A good funeral simply honours that. 

Macabre Travel Checklist: Resting Places Worth the Visit 

For the adventurous souls who like their sightseeing with a side of the spooky, here’s a globe-trotting graveyard bucket list: 

• Père Lachaise Cemetery – Paris, France Home to Oscar Wilde, Edith Piaf, and Jim Morrison — wander through this leafy necropolis with a fresh croissant in hand. 

• Valley of the Kings – Luxor, Egypt Tombs of pharaohs? Check. Ancient curses? Possibly. Pure historical awe? Definitely. 

• Sedlec Ossuary – Kutná Hora, Czech Republic Also known as the “Bone Church,” it features chandeliers and décor made entirely of human bones. Macabre yet mesmerizing. 

• Highgate Cemetery – London, UK Overgrown Victorian gothic splendour with famous residents like Karl Marx. Great for literary spirits and cemetery aesthetes. 

• Green-Wood Cemetery – Brooklyn, New York, USA A National Historic Landmark filled with statues, Civil War generals, and stunning views of the Manhattan skyline. 

• La Recoleta Cemetery – Buenos Aires, Argentina Eva Perón’s final resting place — a city of ornate mausoleums and hauntingly beautiful architecture. 

• Wadi-us-Salaam – Najaf, Iraq The largest cemetery in the world, spanning over 6 million bodies. Revered in Shia Islam and deeply sacred. 

• Capuchin Crypt – Rome, Italy “What you are, we once were. What we are, you will be.” That’s the welcome sign above the entrance to these bone chambers. 

So, when you next find yourself with a suitcase, a map, and a slightly ghoulish curiosity, why not pay your respects to history’s most fascinating final addresses? 

In the end, (pun intended) 

Funerals are less about death and more about life — the one that was lived and the ones that continue. Whether you’re planning a green goodbye, attending a livestreamed tribute, or simply lighting a candle in memory, what matters is the love shared and the stories kept alive. The rest? Just details. 

Also read our article on saying goodbye to a beloved pet.