Tag Archives: Cremation

“Cremation (Ashes to Ashes)” by Lou Reed

The late singer of the Velvet Underground grieves on the album “Magic and Loss"

Lou Reed’s signature lyrical style – a mixture of stark realism with dreamy symbolism – is why fans consider him as much a poet as a songwriter. It also happens to be a moving and effective way that many of … Continue reading

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Hindu Cremations at Nepal’s Pashupatinath Temple

Family members complete nearly two weeks of traditional Hindu mourning rituals

Pashupatinath temple in Kathmandu, Nepal is one of the region’s most significant Hindu pilgrimage destinations. Located on the banks of the sacred Bagmati river, the sprawling temple complex includes hundreds of Shiva “lingams,” or symbols representing Lord Shiva, and overflows … Continue reading

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Toyo Ito’s Meiso No Mori Funeral Hall

Japanese architect Toyo Ito's beautiful crematorium provides a place for quiet reflection

Japanese architect Toyo Ito, known for his conceptual architecture, designed the Meiso No Mori (Forest of Meditation) Crematorium in a garden cemetery in Kakamigahara, a town with a population of 150,000 in the Gifu Prefecture of Japan. Completed in 2006, Meiso … Continue reading

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“Body Brokers: Inside America’s Underground Trade in Human Remains,” by Annie Cheney

A 2006 book that by all rights should have caused a sensation

It’s hard to imagine subject matter more cringe-worthy than the for-profit tissue and body business. Perhaps this explains the relative obscurity of Annie Cheney’s “Body Brokers: Inside America’s Underground Trade in Human Remains,” a muckraking exposé on this for-profit, shockingly … Continue reading

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A Bold, Playful Take on the Traditional Funerary Urn

Two Mexico City-based designers are redefining what an urn should be

Early last year, Carrie Fisher’s brother, Todd, surprised her fans by showing up to her mom Debbie Reynolds’ funeral with Fisher’s ashes in an urn shaped like a giant Prozac pill. Fisher had owned the pill for many years, and … Continue reading

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How Can Families Save Money With Home Funerals?

An interview with Shawnte Hardin, a funeral guide who helps families navigate the funeral process, Part Two

Today SevenPonds concludes our conversation with Shawnte Hardin, a funeral guide based in Akron, Ohio. Through his company, Celebration of Life Memorial Chapels, he helps families save money throughout the funeral process. From the initial handling of their loved one’s … Continue reading

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