Boreal

FAREWELL POSTINGS

Funeral Arrangements and Grave Markers

November 26, 2024

Having already paid for my grave when I purchased Lucette’s, I was a bit surprised at the cost when I went to make my funeral arrangements: more than nine thousand dollars for a simple graveside ceremony, no embalming and an actual pine box. It’s not that I could not afford it having sold the house, but I did balk, to no avail, at paying $500 for them hosing my body. I may have put on some weight but I doubt it would take more than a few minutes. I also did not think it was necessary with a closed casket.

I should have negotiated my own funeral arrangements when I agreed to hers. That would have avoided what may have been non-negotiable extras added knowing that I would pay anything to be buried next to her. Beechwood Cemetery is a national treasure operated by a non-profit foundation; if the money will go to its upkeep, who I am to complain?

To the left is a picture of me sitting in the shade a few days after Lucette's burial having planted the first of many flowers and shrubs (even a tree) before and after the installation of our tombstone.

To get Lucette a grave near a large shady tree I had to buy three graves, instead of two—one for her and one for me. This was a short time before she died.

At first she said I was wasting my money. She changed her mind when I said it meant I would visit with her on even the hottest of days and sit under the shade of her tree while we talked.

I visited with her every week except for when that idiotic COVID restriction went into effect that forced Beechwood to close the cemetery to visitors.

While waiting to install a proper tombstone, Beechwood gave me to following plaque to mark Lucette's resting place.

Her grave last summer:

Her tombstone in winter fronted by a small plastic XMAS tree that used to decorate her apartment at Christmas time when we dated.