Kilted For All Eternity

[Zardoz]

Interesting that this comes up today. I have been thinking about this subject since I learned last night that an elderly family friend passed in her sleep Monday, and I will be a pall bearer for her this weekend.

Having been in on the making of funeral arrangments several times, I often see that because these plans are by nature "last minute" and often emotional, the folks burdened with them sometimes have trouble making decisions that are always agreeable to the survivors, or even the deceased.

A unfortunate example of this was the funeral of my wife's paternal grandmother. My wife was very close to her, and Granny had stated some specific ideas about the funeral to us, but not in writing, nor did we pre-arrange anything. My wife's uncle kind of took over the arrangements and basically ignored most of these wishes. Without going into detail, this was so divisive that it culminated with several of us actually standing outside the chapel during the service.

To aviod just this kind of thing, I am one of those folks who has taken the precaution of planning for this eventuality in advance. Call me a control freak, but I see it as part of one's 'final wishes' just like my will. I recently amended my plans to include dressing my remains in my kilt. Most likely my favorite Ireland's National, but that may change over time too. We don't have any kids, and none are planned, and few relatives, so most of my material goods will be packed off to friends who might want them, contributed to various organisations, or sold. Honestly, if I go anytime soon, the instructions are for most of the kilt stuff I don't take with me to be sold or given away here on this forum. Hopefully I'll live another 100 years or so though, so don't get greedy!

I would recommend to everyone to take an interest in your final wishes, you never know what might happen! I know it's something no one wants to think about, but dying without a legal will is a real hassle to your surviors, and funeral preplanning if nothing else, takes a big burden off your family and friends.

[piperdbh]

I agree with Zardoz.
My grandmother's funeral was 11 years ago today, and she had it planned out several years in advance. It went smoothly, no one got upset (any more than they do under normal conditions) and attenders remarked about the beauty and even joy expressed in the service.

I don't want to be buried in my kilt, but I do want a piece of tartan to drape the coffin, similar to (but not in imitation of) the way flags cover the coffins of service members. My half-plaid would be about the right size.

[Old Hippie]

Do you wish to be buried in a kilt? Which one? What do you want in your sporran for the long journey to the great unknown?

I came into the world naked, wet and hungry. I hope not to go out the same way.

Beyond that, if my son is at all interested in my kilts, or my daughters for that matter for THEIR sons if any, I'd love to see them stay in the family. My kilts are for ME, though, to enjoy now. I plan to have many kilts and enjoy them all.

Everyone knows I want cremation, with my ashes scattered over my favourite spot in the Cascade Mountains of Oregon. I would not want to incinerate a kilt.

Failing any interest from the family, I have left instructions that all kilts and such should be sold through a specialist auction. I have a largish collection of antique lighting, which will go to another such auction as that is the only way to insure that they don't just get knocked down as "lot 5, an old lamp."

I'm not sure what services are available for specialist kilt auctions outside of "The Great Internet Bizarre Bazaar" but in other collector communities they're quite common.

:ootd:

[JolyStNicholas]

I too plan to be cremated, and I guess I will be as I came into this world.
Only i want a small portion spread over you all know where.

[sathor]

not being disrespectful... really....

one might consider being buried in their best full mask sporran, let the sporran pass along with the wearer, so to speak.

[Riverkilt]

Hey Dan,

I hope you specified to your wife to WAIT until after you're dead to chop you up!!

And great idea about scattering in the homeland seas.

So many silly regs about transporting human remains...course, a lot of folks just quietly ignore them...fine at a personal level...but for a business could mean serious consequences. A great idea though!

Ron

[Colonel MacNeal]

Neat idea, but I am sure this service, like all other funeral related servioces, would be expensive and I wish to not add that to the large burden already place on my family. I told my wife to chop me up in little pieces and throw me to the fish haha.

Maybe science donation will work!

Actually cremation is pretty cheap compared to most mortuary services. The only thing expensive in my plan is transporting my ash to Scotland, and that might never happen.

[Wolfhawk]

I am LDS so I will be buried in my Temple Clothes, as my wife was. I have been a biker for many years so my 'cuts' (vests) will be on display and my Texas Blue Bonnets plait will be draped across the end of my coffin. At most biker funerals, the viewing will bring about lots of 'extras' to the coffin (bottle of whiskey, cigars, letters). I will bequest the best bottle be poured on my grave and the others be given to the pall bearers. The cigars will go to the pall bearers, also. My Father's coffin had a 'mail slot' built into it so people could leave letters to him there; I like that idea.

All my stuff (kilts and cuts) will be passed to my daughter, more than likely.