Burial of the deceased is still the most used tradition in body disposition. How many of us have been to funerals and to graveside services? People wore black, many cried and it was a somber occasion. It still is. However, there are options today and this column will highlight some of these options.

The most popular is burial, as stated. This means the whole body is put into a container and that container is placed underground. That is the traditional burial. But a slightly different "burial" is now being offered. It is above ground. In yesteryear royalty and the wealthy had fancy mausoleums built and the bodies were interred in crypts. With land becoming more precious today, mausoleums are being built at cemeteries and crypts (think of big drawers in a wall) are offered.

Cremation is the second most popular body disposition. The body is placed in a chamber that produces a very hot fire and the body disintegrates. The remains of an adult will fit in a container small enough to hold in one’s hands. The reasons for gaining popularity for cremation are varied. The cost may be cheaper than full burial. There is more flexibility after cremation. Cultures and religion prefer cremation. It can be easier to arrange from long distance than a full burial.

Less known is mummification. Yes, it is legal in the United States. Remember, as a kid, reading about the Egyptian pharaohs and how they were mummified. This ancient idea is back, albeit with modern overtones. Mummification is a way of preserving the body. Today it is done with chemicals and then placed in an airtight "Mummiform". The big question is--where are you going to put it?

A truly modern option is called Cryonics the flash freezing of the body or body part that is kept in this state until the time is right to defrost. It is very expensive and nobody has actually been brought back to a living state"..yet. But people are signing up for it. Optimism never dies!

The last option is medical donation. The full body or body parts are always needed. A person may arrange for medical donation before one’s own death. Otherwise, often after a person dies in a hospital, there may be a hospital staff person who will approach the person responsible for the deceased and ask if medical donation would be possible.

This is just an introduction to the varieties of body disposition. In future columns we will explore in depth these different options.