Choose Your End Story On Your Own Terms

Two years back a legal fight broke out between the coffin making monks of a Christian monastery and the powerful funeral industry of Louisiana.

The issue was the law of the state of Louisiana - which states that funeral merchandize can only be sold by a licensed funeral director.

In the lawsuit the monastery defended with the argument that the law violates the monks’ right to earn an honest living.

The dispute started when the monastery commenced making simple pine caskets carved from the cypress grown in the monastery’s large property.

They offered caskets for sale at prices far lower than funeral houses.

According to the monks the caskets were of just two types, “simple and simpler” and meant for people who identified with the monastic ideal of minimalism and craftsmanship.

Coffins and caskets are two words often used interchangeably. But there is a difference.

A typical coffin has a broader shoulder and tapers as it goes down towards the feet. A casket on the other hand is a rectangular container of the same width from the bottom to the top.

The decision whether to have a coffin or a casket is purely a personal one.

If you decide to choose a casket the price will depend on the following:

• Material of construction
• Style
• The method of crafting

Commonly used materials of construction for caskets include metal, wood, and artificial laminates like fiberglass.

Many people prefer handcrafted solid wood coffins or caskets. Simple pine caskets or coffins are required by some religions including Orthodox Judaism.

The choice is yours.

Funeral expenses can be among the most expensive purchases a person makes. You can help relieve your family to make decisions – by designating your own funeral preference.