Page 20 avy n v y y avvyavvy S oravvy S ioreniioor io iori by Jim Miller How to Plan a Green Funeral Dear Savvy Senior, What can you tell me about green funeral options? At age 80, I would like to preplan my funeral and make it as natural as possible. Old Environmentalist Dear Environmentalist, Great question! Green funeral options are becoming increasingly popular in the United States as more and more Americans are looking for environmentally friendly alternatives to traditional funerals. Here’s what you should know about “green burial” and “green cremation” options, along with some tips to help you locate services in your area. Green Burial If you wish to be buried, a green/natural burial will minimize the environmental impact by forgoing the embalming chemicals (which is not required by law), traditional casket and concrete vault. Instead, you’ll be buried in either a biodegradable container or shroud with no vault, and you won’t be embalmed. This allows the body to decompose naturally and become part of the earth. If you want to temporarily preserve the body for viewing or a memorial service, instead of embalming, you can request dry ice or Techni ice, a refrigeration unit, or a nontoxic embalming agent. You’ll also be happy to know that green burials are much cheaper than traditional funerals, which average around $8,000 in 2023. By scrapping the coffi n, vault and embalming, which are expensive, you’ll save yourself several thousand dollars on your funeral costs. To fi nd green burial services in your area, a good fi rst step is to see if there’s a certifi ed green funeral home in your area and contact them. The Green Burial Council off ers an online directory of providers and other resources at GreenBurialCouncil.org. If there isn’t one nearby, your next step is to contact several traditional funeral homes to see if they off er green funeral service options – many do. You’ll also need to fi nd a green cemetery. There are nearly 100 green cemeteries throughout the U.S., along with more than 300 traditional (hybrid) cemeteries that off er green burials too. To fi nd them, the New Hampshire Funeral Resources, Education and Advocacy website has a list at NHfuneral.org. Or, if you own rural property, you may be able to have a home burial there, if your state and county allow it. If, however, there are no green cemeteries nearby you can still make your burial more environmentally friendly by not being embalmed. And, if the cemetery allows, using a biodegradable casket or shroud and skipping the vault. If a vault is required, ask to have holes drilled in the bottom, or use a concrete grave box with an open bottom so the body can return to the earth. Green Cremation If you would rather be cremated, you have some green choices here too. While cremation has always been touted as being more eco-friendly than a typical burial, a traditional cremation, which uses high heat to incinerate the body, does emit greenhouse gases into the air. A green cremation, however, uses water and potassium hydroxide to reduce a deceased body to its basic element of bone ash within a few hours. This green technique, which is known as alkaline hydrolysis, is a little more expensive than traditional cremation but, unfortunately, it’s not legal in every state. Contact some local funeral providers to fi nd out if this is available in your area, or Google “alkaline hydrolysis cremation” followed by your city and state. Another green consideration is deciding what to do with the remains. Instead of scattering, which can be harmful to the environment, there are a wide variety of biodegradable urns that dissolve into the earth or water over time, and memorial urns that will grow a plant or tree in combination with your ashes. Send your senior questions to: Savvy Senior, P.O. Box 5443, Norman, OK 73070, or visit SavvySenior.org. Jim Miller is a contributor to the NBC Today show and author of “The Savvy Senior” book. THE MALDEN ADVOCATE–Friday, August 11, 2023 MUSINGS | FROM PAGE 3 • Best song by a Maldonian of Irish descent: ‘I’ve Got The Rock And Rolls Again’ by Charlie Farren of the Joe Perry Project. • Best song by a Maldonian of Italian descent: “Hole Hearted” by Gary Cherone of Extreme. • Best song by Maldonians who grew up on Presley Street and were wicked good in hockey: “I Finally Found Her” by Boys Life’s John & David Surette. • Best song by a Maldonian that practically nobody has ever heard of written by a Cherone not named Gary: “Almighty Man” by Mark Cherone of the band Flesh. • Best guitar work by a Maldonian named Levine not related to me: Duke Levine of Peter Wolf’s (solo) band: “Nothing but the Wheel” from the record “Sleepless.” • Best song by a Maldonian in the fi rst (ever) interracial hiphop crew out of Malden: “Push It Past Red” by Jawn Preziosa of Top Choice Clique. • Best and sweetest tenor sax sound from a Maldonian working with a living legend: Marc “Son of Paul” Phaneuf on “The Lady Is a Tramp” – duet between Lady Gaga & Tony Bennett (“Duets II”). • Best and sweetest tenor sax sound from a (honorary) Maldonian working with a (deceased) legend: Neal Sugarman on “Rehab” from Amy Winehouse’s second release, “Back to Black.” • Best vocals by a Maldonian of Jewish descent who grew up in Suff olk Square: Ed Ames’ 1967 version of the Mike Rashkow/ Johnny Cymbal tune “Mary in the Morning.” • Best jazz riff on a Hammond organ by a Maldonian of Italian descent: Joe Bucci of the Joe Bucci Trio – “Patricia” from the Capitol Records release “Organs in Orbit.” • Best hardcore punk performance by a drummer from Malden: Mark McKay of Slapshot on “Step On It” from their debut 24-track album, “Step On It.” • Best guitar version of “Wichita Lineman” by an extraordinary guitarist born at Malden Hospital but not really a Maldonian – John Antonopoulos aka “Johnny A”: off the album “Sometime Tuesday Morning.” It is said in “Malden Musings”... • Former Chief of Police Kevin Molis brought to my attention the chandeliers that now hang in Faces Brewing Company at 50 Pleasant St. – a fi ne addition to a wonderful newcomer in Malden Square. Great beer, great food, great entertainment all under the same roof! Located in an historically important building, one of the few remaining in Malden (ask Barbara Tolstrup if you don’t believe me)! Google Frank Converse Malden, Mass., if you do not know the signifi cance of this location. • Travelling down Salem Street behind a JRM/Republic stink bucket on a hot and humid summer day is one of life’s more pleasant experiences...said no one! • Remembering Karen Anderson...Scott Lucey: “Karen had an amazing intellect, a brilliant and sharp wit, and unmatched institutional memory of Malden history and happenings. Like many others, I will miss her dearly.” • When I ran my Ferryway Green “If this tree could talk...” column a few weeks back, it struck a nerve with many Maldonians, for varied reasons, some personal, some nostalgic. This one particular comment came via Facebook from Lisa Sims Mclean and is as poignant and as heartfelt as I have ever read. I sincerely hope life has been good to you, Lisa. “If this tree could talk...It would tell you of my leaning against it telling it all my woes and concerns.” • Breaking news...on August 14, Massachusetts #1 and Massachusetts General Hospital #1 OBITUARIES Sandy L. (Pope) Moss A longtime resident of Malden, passed away on Saturday, August 5th in Melrose. Sandra was born in 1942, the daughter of Lester and Alma Pope. She was raised in Malden and attended the Pentucket Regional High School in Newburyport, graduating with the class of 1960. She went on to work at McFadden Manor in Malden, fi rst as a housekeeper before becoming a Nurse’s Aide until her retirement in 2008. In 1972 Sandy married her sweetheart, Donald T. Moss, and the two settled down in Malden to raise their family. They shared 43 years of marriage together until Donald’s passing in 2015. In her spare time Sandra enjoyed animals and reading. Sandy is Survived by her children Cherie Boncore of Tewksbury, Wendy Cardosi of Malden, Daniel T. Moss of Everett, her grandchildren Joseph, Isabella, Michelle, Kristen and Mark, and her great grandchildren Marcel and Elias. She was predeceased by her husband Donald T. Moss and her son Donald T. Moss Jr. Funeral from the Weir-MacCuish Golden Rule Funeral Home, Malden, on Thursday August 10th followed by a Mass of Christian Burial at St. Joseph’s Church in Malden. Interment followed in Puritan Lawn Memorial Park Peabody. Visitation was held at the funeral home on Wednesday Aug 9t. In lieu of fl owers please consider making a donation in Sandra’s name to the MSPCA. Physical Therapist, Tricia Larson, turns the Big 6 0. No signs of slowing down; she loves her patients too much to retire. As Peter Falk’s iconic TV character Columbo would say, “Just one more thing, sir” – one more time with feeling…Merle Haggard once sang “are the good times really over?” Hell no, they ain’t! Reason being that not only will this year’s San Rock Festa feature topnotch music, but it will also bring back one of the funniest people in the funny people business – the guy who if he were a pitcher and he was walking to the mound and “Eck” was announcing the game he would say “entering the game is that guy that never half steps and never has mediocre cheese!” This guy is always on! Yes, David “I’m not that kind of Indian” Russo will bring his Boston scally cap, distinct Malden swagger and immense comedic talent to Pearl Street once again. Dave is one funny hombre as most of you already are aware of. Dave knows Malden and knows the Edgeworth neighborhood. His good-natured ribbing of local “characters” and his self-deprecating humor will have you saying to your friends “Lenny who?!” So, no – the good times are defi nitely not over, especially if you spend some time on Pearl Street this weekend!! Postscript: Maldonians, this may be the best Saint Rocco Feast weekend, ever! Do not miss out on the fun! Friday, August 11, Beatlejuice performs; on Saturday the 12th, WildFire, and on Sunday the 13th big band sounds with Steve Savio and Seabreeze from 2 to 5, and Billy Joel tribute act Heart Attack Ack Ack Ack Ack Ack closing out the weekend from 6-9. —Peter is a longtime Malden resident and a regular contributor to The Malden Advocate. He can be reached at PeteL39@aol.com for comments, compliments or criticisms.
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