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| Buyer's Guide For Coffins And Caskets | November 3, 2006, 11:03 am | visits: 389 | wordcount: 706
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By Derek Marsh
For thousands of years, civilizations have buried the dead in different ways. The Egyptians practiced mummification; the Romans burned the deceased while the traditional practice has been putting the person six feet under.
Regardless of the method, one thing remains the same. This is a time where friends and family get together to pay the last respects to someone who touched the lives of those who are still living. Some even consider this as confirmation to those who are in shock that this happened.
When someone in the family dies, the surviving members will usually go to the funeral home and pick a casket or a coffin for the deceased to be buried in. Owners of these places have a lot to offer made of different materials and designs that is one way of making money from the dead.
There are two types of coffins more commonly offered to customers. There are those made of wood and those made of metal.
1. Wood used for caskets are cheaper than those used in making furniture. This is available in pine, pecan, ash, maple, cherry, oak, walnut and mahogany. It can also come in various finishes that gives a great look even before people can come and see the deceased.
2. Caskets made from metal are usually produced from 4 materials. These are copper, steel, bronze and stainless steel. This can even have a protective or non- protective finish against air and water.
One of the features of steel coffins is that this usually comes with an identifying kit or a memorial tube that makes it easy to identify the body if this needs to be exhumed or transferred somewhere else.
Another factor that will determine the price of the coffin will be the material used inside the coffin that will play a factor in the layout of the body as well as things the family members would like to put inside.
A survey given to funeral homes show that many of the customers prefer the middle priced models. This is to avoid looking cheap to those attending the service and there isnt that much money available to get one of the more expensive ones.
If money is not an issue, the casket should reflect the lifestyle, religion, profession or even the organizational affiliation of the deceased. This is the last thing that people will want to remember despite the trials and triumphs one experienced in life.
Some choose a coffin that has space for people to add certain things that the dead will use in the after life that is very common in Asian cultures. The customer might have to add extra for an engraving inside or out before this is placed into the ground.
People who need to get one for a deceased member of the family should find some time to read certain rules regarding funerals from the Federal Trade Commissions. This will prevent those in the business from taking advantage of customers who are suffering in this time of grief.
Most coffins come with a single or 2 hinge door. This is ideal for friends and family to see the deceased one last time before being buried into the ground. The upper body can be shown or the entire thing itself.
The person should check the coffin for any cracks or scratches to get the moneys worth for this as the body is being carried to its resting place. If the person suffered burns or bullet holes, this doesnt matter since no one will look anymore at the body.
Not all caskets are designed for burial. Some families just rent this for the service especially if the request of that person is to be cremated after passing on. An urn should be purchased beforehand so the remains can be transferred there to be placed in the cemetery or brought home.
Despite the improvements made in medicine, everyone passes on to the next life. The person can make the necessary arrangements but it will undoubtedly be difficult to think objectively especially during this time of grief.
The grieving family members can choose the right casket in advance by checking on promos and rates offered in before something like this can happen.
About the Author: For more great casket related articles and resources check out http://weknowcoffins.info
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