Body Donation: An Option to Burial and Cremation

I’ve always had an irrational fear of premature burial. You know – being buried alive. I’m sure this stems from a Vincent Price horror movie I saw as a child. This fear was probably exacerbated by all the years I taught British lit and the black plague. Lots of people were buried alive then. Yes, my rational mind knows that premature burial in this day and age, with embalmment, is impossible, but I’d probably wind up with an ex-student doing the embalming. It would likely be one who failed my class, and he’d figure he’d get even with me by not performing the task. Then I’d wake up in a few hours and find myself trapped in a coffin, with no way to escape. What a terrible way to die!

I’m 53 years old now, and I have the sneaking suspicion that I might actually die one day. When I do, I don’t want to be buried. For years, I thought cremation was the best option. When I was doing my funeral planning, I even asked the local funeral director if my family could rent a casket for the viewing, and he said yes. That way, my family could still have a traditional funeral with a viewing before my body was sent to the crematory. I wasn’t wild about the idea of being burned in a kiln, but I thought it was better than being buried. Last year, I discovered the perfect option for my body. I’m donating it to the Body Farm.

My body is going to be sent to the Forensic Anthropology Center at the University of Tennessee in Knoxville. Often referred to as the “Body Farm,” the center uses donated bodies to help solve crimes. The folks there study decomposing bodies. Donors can state whether they want their body to be in water or not. From what I’ve read, you can still donate your organs if you’ve decided to have your body sent to the Body Farm. You won’t be embalmed, however. The University of Tennessee will pay for the body to be transported if it’s within 200 miles of Knoxville.

Why do I think body donation is a great idea? I have several reasons as to why I prefer body donation to burial and cremation. I like the idea of lying out in the woods or in a field, decomposing naturally. I also like the idea of my death serving some useful purpose. I like my flesh being returned to the earth in a natural process, providing food for other creatures like worms and beetles. My husband has decided on body donation, too, so maybe they’ll put us near each other.

I contacted the center, and they sent me some papers to fill out. When the papers are completed and returned, the Body Farm will create a file for me. My family is aware of my wishes, and I have them written down in my funeral plans, along with the contact number for the Body Farm. My kids think the idea is rather strange, but they’re more than willing to honor my wishes.

Another reason I’ve made this decision is because of funeral costs. The most expensive items included in funeral costs are usually the casket and the burial plot. My family won’t have to worry about either of these. They can still have a funeral ceremony, but it will be a heck of a lot cheaper than a traditional funeral. When you’re thinking about funeral planning, you might want to consider body donation as an alternative to burial or cremation. Getting this decision out of the way has lifted a burden from my shoulders – no more worrying about being buried alive!