Where do they bury someone that is totally broke, with no relatives?

Question

This old man, George, next door, passed on a few days ago.
We found out he was flat broke when he died, and actually owed
money. He was a really friendly guy. Used to say hi when he'd see me reading on my porch, and say, "Go out and do something!
Stop reading and start living"! Regardless, he passed on, and now
I am worried about burials for people like that. The web, everywhere I look, says that someone broke with no relatives gets
buried in a pine box, in a potter's field at that.

The following description of a potter's field is beyond sad, and the saddest thing is they bury the bodies in one giant grave, stacked
like products at Wal-Mart. Some potters cemetaries dont even
use pine boxes, and dump the bodies enmasse off the backs
of sanitation trucks, like the holocaust.
I don't want George's body to be treated like this....what should I do? Can I get hima decent burial for a few grand? I don't have much, but I can cough just about that up. Suggestions appreciated.

http://www.correctionhistory.org/html/chronicl/hart/html/hartbook2.html

George was jewish, so out of respect for that, I can't cremate him. thanks for the advice anyway..........

I have bad news...I called, and they are indeed burying him today in the local
paupers field.
Thanks to everyone anyway for the very grand and beautiful sentiments. I'll just say something quick about life, and move on here. This if for you, wherever you are, George:

Oh, for a heart that pours out love..
To the poor, who haev nothing...
the unnoticed, and to those more "broken"
than us,
but oh, what would we do for the heart that pours out love to those who hate us, mistreat us, to those that delight in evil,
and literally bankrupt our dreams?
What would we do for a love so rare?

Oh, for a peace that never shatters,
that remains night and day,
that gives the heart a cheerful lift and a smile on one's face?
But, when the storms rage, when the heart breaks, when black and white melt back to grey, and one has no friend to call ones one
own, who is there to call on?

Oh, for a hope that never dies,
that sees children grow to be good,
that adds more flowers to the blooming wood,
But, when we fall through the darkness,
with no escape, as the clouds darken and
all light is wiped away,
who is there to call on?

Oh, for a faith that never ebbs,
when we can see what we believe,
when all is sunshine and sweetness,
but, when we are alone, when we hurt,
when we are mistreated and aged,
and things grow dim,
know, my sweet friend, that though I
was not kin or blood,
your presence, kindness, and humour
made a difference in my life,
and I will not forget that.
Peace and eternal rest, my lonely and
beloved neighbor....................

Answer 1

Some end up in medical school dissection classes. When the dissection is finished. The medical school disposes of the body like all other medical waste.

Answer 2

To be buried in one giant grave with others, is not allowed. So you can get that idea out of your head. There is a law in each state that prevents that from happening. You see a pine box as just a box. You might be highly surprised to find that it isn't just a box. It is engraved and actually a very beautiful box. Even this box has to go inside of a vault. The trend is going back to wood and there is a new option. Cardboard. It isn't like a box you see at Wal-Mart either. And it is way stronger. As for cost...normally if they have no family or have nothing...the city will cover it. Around here what can happen is that the cemetery will donate the plot and the marker then funeral home will donate the services (embalming and casket). Some funeral homes will choose to cremate instead because it is cheaper. The body is then put into a type of urn and then taken to the cemetery. Now how to find him, look in the paper see if there is any info there. Contact the local cemeteries. Do you know if he was in the service somewhere in his life? If so, this again will change things. The military will cover the services. And he will be in a military plot. If he hasn't been buried yet, you can contact the funeral home and see if they can work something out for you.
When my dad passed away we didn't do the elaborate funeral, it isn't what he would of wanted...but between the funeral and cemetery it was around $14,000.

Answer 3

You are a very kind and sweet person to look out for George. I would call the funeral home or the coroner's office and find out the starus of the body. I dont know where you live, but in the US, you can get a decent funeral for a few thousand dollars and if you explain the situation, there might be some charities to help you with the expenses. Good Luck and God Bless

Answer 4

I know that this is important to you, but you have to remember that he is no longer in his body. His body is nothing more than an empty shell now. If you feel terribly strong about this then maybe have him cremated and do what you wish with the ashes. Also, check with local funeral homes and make sure that they go to a potters field. In my area they are cremated. You could still have a memorial service for him if you wanted to.

Answer 5

The potter's field thing is true. Sometimes the body can be donated to a medical school, for
students to learn how to operate.

Why not call your favorite tv station and as to speak to a reporter who might share your concern. Perhaps they could have a special donation fund set up to bury him properly.

Also, you may want to call a clergyman to see if
his church can get involved in a similiar endeavor.

Answer 6

Hey well i know in Australia,
That people who are too poor for families to afford their burial, are burried in a cheap wooden box, in an unmarked grave,
Sadly, Many poor people are burried on top of each others caskets.

I know some of my words sound a little brutal, but i do not mean it in that way, I actually feel deep sadness for these people.

Answer 7

mmm,i think there is an association about funeral burials,they do offer free or a small amount of money to give a proper burial for sumone like him.

or u could plea and write a touching letter to sum asscoiation n see whether they offer to subside u a bit.Gd luck

Answer 8

talk to a funeral director about getting George cremated at a good price explain the situation.. if he agrees you can spread his ashes out on a lake or something where you think would be a place he would like....
Bless your soul for caring about a man obviously no one cared about..

Answer 9

Talk to your local funeral home about burial service. You can do a burial without doing a full funeral service. Ask them about it. That's very kind of you.

Answer 10

Donate the body to a medical university.