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Grave Exodus: Tending to Our Dead in the Twenty-First Century
Looks at the growing trend of cremation to examine the bizarre practices and beliefs of Americans surrounding death. Traces the history of cremation from ancient times to the modern crematory, and discusses the latest methods by funeral directors to cash in on the vulnerable. Includes b&w photos. For general readers. Annotation c. by Book News, Inc., Portland, Or.
256 pages, Hardcover
First published September 1, 1996
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July 24, 2012
When this was written, Xavier Cronin was editor of American Funeral Director and American Cemetery magazines. He was in a privileged position to make predictions about the way cemeteries would change and the new options people would require for final disposition of their loved ones.
For instance, he predicted that by 2010, one American in 3 would choose to be cremated. In 2010, the Cremation Association of North America put the actual figure closer to 40%, but that varies wildly across the US. In some of the Western States, the figure approaches 70% - two people of 3.
Even so, the book is full of fascinating tidbits of information: Great Britain "ran out" of burial space after WWII, which accounts for their high percentage of cremation (73% in 2010). In addition to that, British law says that a used grave can be reused for a new burial after 75 years, as long as the descendants of the original occupant don't object or can't be found. The first occupant can't be disturbed in any way. Apparently "double-depth burial" was being used in American cemeteries in 1996. Cronin predicted the practice would spread.
Cronin also reported that no one knew the number of burial grounds "scattered" across America, but that the common estimate was 100,000. Of those, one-fourth were known. The other 75,000 were family plots, abandoned village graveyards, forgotten war dead. There's no national consensus on who should care for these graves -- even in cities which built over historic burial grounds that simply disappeared from their maps.
Cronin doesn't draw a connection between the modern dead who have their ashes scattered and vanish without leaving a monument behind and these forgotten souls from the past. Instead he writes at length about mausolea, where the dead can be warehoused and cemeteries can find easy income. Clearly, that's not the way most Americans are choosing to go.
The book gave me plenty of food for thought, despite its age.
For instance, he predicted that by 2010, one American in 3 would choose to be cremated. In 2010, the Cremation Association of North America put the actual figure closer to 40%, but that varies wildly across the US. In some of the Western States, the figure approaches 70% - two people of 3.
Even so, the book is full of fascinating tidbits of information: Great Britain "ran out" of burial space after WWII, which accounts for their high percentage of cremation (73% in 2010). In addition to that, British law says that a used grave can be reused for a new burial after 75 years, as long as the descendants of the original occupant don't object or can't be found. The first occupant can't be disturbed in any way. Apparently "double-depth burial" was being used in American cemeteries in 1996. Cronin predicted the practice would spread.
Cronin also reported that no one knew the number of burial grounds "scattered" across America, but that the common estimate was 100,000. Of those, one-fourth were known. The other 75,000 were family plots, abandoned village graveyards, forgotten war dead. There's no national consensus on who should care for these graves -- even in cities which built over historic burial grounds that simply disappeared from their maps.
Cronin doesn't draw a connection between the modern dead who have their ashes scattered and vanish without leaving a monument behind and these forgotten souls from the past. Instead he writes at length about mausolea, where the dead can be warehoused and cemeteries can find easy income. Clearly, that's not the way most Americans are choosing to go.
The book gave me plenty of food for thought, despite its age.
Displaying 1 of 1 review