There has been much discussion in the industry lately about the process of dissolving bodies with lye as an alternative to cremation.

To be honest, I can't say I agree with the idea. I guess it is my personal opinion, I could not see using a chemical to dissolve any of my loved ones and then have them washed down the drain.

I am all for traditional burial (casket, vault, ground).

I would love to hear your thoughts on this alternative to cremation.

Posted by:

Ryan Thogmartin (Huppstiverson)
Connecting Directors, Co-Founder

I just see doing this to one of my loved ones either. that said, I do think it is encouraging to see the funeral industry moving forward with new ideas.

But I am like Ryan, I am going to stick with the good old traditonal burial.

I personally would not do this with any of my loved ones.

Place me in a polished cherry casket and bury me at a local Catholic cemetery, and I'll smile down on you.

It seems that the government is taking a long hard look at the resomation process in which the body is essentially dissolved in a hot, pressurized steel container. Some liken it to the cremation process and in Scotland it is referred to as a water based cremation unit. Truthfully tho, it isn't a cremation process despite the end results being nearly the same. One incinertes and the other dissolves. I suspect New Hampshire which is the only state considering licensing at this point is going to run the gauntlet. Then again, when cremation was first introduced, many people opposed that as an alternative to traditional burial. Look at the cremation rates today! I think we need a lot more information before we begin to offer this as an alternative to burial. As for me, give me the good old fashioned burial. I have all of eternity, there is no rush to dissolution.