| SwampYankee |
01-04-2011 09:49 AM |
I'm a traditionalist, but have been considering alternative burial methods to the standard calling hours & viewing>funeral>burial process lately. I'm not entirely sure how I want to go out. Probably more keg party than pity party.
On a related matter, I present my uncle's obit from this past March. I hope when I'm done, mine is at least half as interesting. His death, how he approached it and how he wanted things to play out kind of spurred me to get away from tradition a bit. He donated his body to the University of New England Med School for research. Once they're finished with it, he will be cremated and the remains will be buried in our family plot.
Quote:
Thomas Turner ****, of Newport, Maine passed away March 15, 2010 after a long battle with cancer. Tom led an interesting and varied life. He was Navy Jet Carrier Pilot, Army Mash Unit Helicopter Pilot, Mechanical Engineer, Inventor, and Land Developer. He was particularly attracted to toys and owned at one time or another a motor cycle, Corvette, backhoe, bulldozer, two fire trucks, road grader, numerous boats, kayaks and a Submarine he built himself. And he used his toys. He set out to ride every road in central Maine on his motorcycle, circumnavigated South Florida through the Okeechobee waterway and drove his boat from Bangor, Me to Wethersfield, CT in less than 24 hours.
In addition to his flying jobs he served his community Newport in various capacities including Policeman, Volunteer Fireman, Selectman, and President of the Lake Association. He was very concerned with the health and well-being of Lake Sebasticook which was his front yard. He voluntarily designed and built a hydraulically controlled flash board for the dam in Newport to more easily control the height of the lake.
Tom loved to travel. In addition to his all expense paid trip to the Mediterranean courtesy of the US Navy, Tom sought out warmer climates to escape the Maine Winters. For several seasons he lived aboard one of his boats which he trailered from Maine to Cross Key Florida. He also wintered on Lake Havasu in Arizona. His favorite place was Australia. He made multiple trips there where he crisscrossed the country by plane, train and drove across the outback by automobile.
<snip>
The family also thanks the Doctors, Nurses and Staff who worked diligently to try to keep Tom comfortable in the Hospice Unit at Togus VA Hospital. Tom's wish to help future medical professionals was realized as his body was accepted by the University of New England School of Medicine for medical research and teaching.
<snip>
We quote the following from Tom's Statement of Interment, Cremation and Wishes: "My further wishes and directives are as follows: There is to be no funeral of any kind, nor the sending of flowers or cards. Instead, use the money to have a beer for me. If you want closure – put the cap back on the bottle. This request shall be printed in all obituary notices."
Here's to Tom, fly high, sail fast and rest in peace.
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His stone. He had this made up two years ago. The end date has since been filled in. It now sits on a pallet in our warehouse awaiting the return of his body.
http://i195.photobucket.com/albums/z...nkee/TTH-1.jpg |
