dieing

Nomis21 · 17-12-2014 10:51pm #1

I know this is a morbid subject but I wanted to get some opinion.

I am over 60 years old, unemployed, on JA with no savings and I live alone with no relatives in Ireland.

What would happen if I die?

Would I get buried in the town I have lived in the last four years?

Would there be a funeral? (I don't follow any religion)

Who would pay for it?

The Strawman Argument · 17-12-2014 10:55pm

The old principal of my primary school has only one relative and was so distrustful of them that he decided to buy a plot and have the headstone installed in advance. It's been sitting in the local graveyard with no info on it for about 15 years now, he pops down every now and again to tidy it up, remove weeds, etc.

I've just realised this has damn near nothing to do with your predicament.

Nomis21 · 17-12-2014 10:59pm

The Strawman Argument wrote: »

The old principal of my primary school has only one relative and was so distrustful of them that he decided to buy a plot and have the headstone installed in advance. It's been sitting in the local graveyard with no info on it for about 15 years now, he pops down every now and again to tidy it up, remove weeds, etc.

I've just realised this has damn near nothing to do with your predicament.

Should I ask him if he has room for one more in there?

myshirt · 17-12-2014 11:06pm

OP, are you being genuine and serious? Are you ok?

If you are worried you will be forgotten about or treated without dignity, you won't. People care about you. Make known your wishes. Make known whatever you need to feel better about this, as someone cares. Genuinely and sincerely. I know that if I had this conversation with you in person, I'd care, and wish you many more years of healthy living.

biko · 17-12-2014 11:07pm

AH huh? You've come to the right place.

The state will care for your body and arrange everything.

antodeco · 17-12-2014 11:09pm

Sure you've another good few years left. A few decades! Who knows what will happen between then and now!

testicle · 17-12-2014 11:10pm

What colour are you going for?

Nomis21 · 17-12-2014 11:16pm

Yes, I'm serious and yes I'm OK.

The Community Welfare officer in town asked me if I'd arranged my plot in the local cemetery. That's what made me think about it. I don't have money for that.

No info online that I can find either.

To be honest I don't care that much. Just wondering what would happen, that's all.

Kevin McCloud · 17-12-2014 11:23pm

You could also buy your own coffin as a neighbour of my cousins did years ago, it was in his sitting room for the last 22 years of his life.

Ethel · 17-12-2014 11:33pm

Nomis21 wrote: »

I know this is a morbid subject but I wanted to get some opinion.

I am over 60 years old, unemployed, on JA with no savings and I live alone with no relatives in Ireland.

What would happen if I die?

Would I get buried in the town I have lived in the last four years?

Would there be a funeral? (I don't follow any religion)

Who would pay for it?

You've stirred up a couple of questions of my own, which I hope you don't mind my asking. This I ask first purely because I'm placing myself in your shoes; would you not rather be buried in your home country where people know you and can take care of things for you?

Secondly, do you have friends here or at least one you could talk to about your wishes after your death? Have you had your will arranged?

Im not entirely sure what would be the out come. But I know that there used to be some kind of a grant offered to a member of family if there were no arrangents made. I don't think that grant even exists anymore.

myshirt · 17-12-2014 11:33pm

It is a responsible thing to arrange for the costs around that time of all our lives. People do it.

But don't stress yourself.
You are where you are in your life. If you don't have the money, you don't have the money. You will be treated with dignity in death in this country in line with the principles and values of your beliefs. There are no paupers funerals.

If you like, you can have a conversation with a funeral director who would answer all your queries on all options, religious, non religious, and funding etc. Nothing morbid at all, these guys are all good and honest men and are having these conversations day in day out.

Cantremember · 17-12-2014 11:36pm

I hope I get the time to manage my exit. Like anything in life it has to be planned and it's no business of religious nut jobs about how I manage it.

Mr_Muffin · 17-12-2014 11:39pm

Start a Kick starter campaign.

Try and raise say 20k and build a mini pyramid or something like that.

steveblack572 · 17-12-2014 11:42pm

Why care , when your dead it wont be your problem.
Live you life now and try enjoy it, let someone else worry about disposing of your dead body. It wont be your problem so dont worry about it.

Gael23 · 17-12-2014 11:44pm

You would be stuffed in a black bag and put out with the rubbish.

Kristopherus · 17-12-2014 11:49pm

myshirt wrote: »

It is a responsible thing to arrange for the costs around that time of all our lives. People do it.

But don't stress yourself.
You are where you are in your life. If you don't have the money, you don't have the money. You will be treated with dignity in death in this country in line with the principles and values of your beliefs. There are no paupers funerals.

If you like, you can have a conversation with a funeral director who would answer all your queries on all options, religious, non religious, and funding etc. Nothing morbid at all, these guys are all good and honest men and are having these conversations day in day out.

And they well know how to charge for their services. And if its the State thats picking up the tab, they'll add a couple of hundred extra.

Wibbs · 17-12-2014 11:49pm

Jesus, nice one on the plain old human sympathy folks.

IIRC Nomis21 I'd reckon you'd be buried locally in some fashion. If this is something that really worries you, maybe speak to your local social security person and ask them what you could do now to ensure the sendoff and resting place you'd be happy with. I'm sure there are options.

Kevin McCloud · 17-12-2014 11:55pm

Cremation is another option, you could request where you would like your ashes scattered.

steveblack572 · 17-12-2014 11:59pm

Wibbs wrote: »

speak to your local social security person and ask them what you could do now to ensure the sendoff and resting place you'd be happy with. I'm sure there are options.

And when your dead they will disregard your wishes and pick whatever is the cheapest way to dispose of your body.

Stop worrying about it and enjoy your life now.

Victor · 18-12-2014 12:02am

Nomis21 wrote: »

Would I get buried in the town I have lived in the last four years?

This would be likely, but it would depend on the logistics of the matter.

Would there be a funeral? (I don't follow any religion)

There would likely be some sort of basic, but decent ceremony.

Who would pay for it?

Ultimately, if you had no assets, it would be the council, as sanitary authority. Most likely via the local cemetery committee.

Grimreaper666 · 18-12-2014 12:04am

If you donate your body to medical science they'll bury you for free. Also there's still a death grant available albeit a reduced one, and if you have money in the Credit Union, a hundred or two I think, they'll pay the cost of your funeral too.

The Backwards Man · 18-12-2014 12:08am

Grimreaper666 wrote: »

If you donate your body to medical science they'll bury you for free. Also there's still a death grant available albeit a reduced one, and if you have money in the Credit Union, a hundred or two I think, they'll pay the cost of your funeral too.

You should know!

Nekarsulm · 18-12-2014 12:17am

Depends where you live. If you are in a rural area, neighbours will dig the grave, and refill it. Even if they never spoke to/knew you. Local church will probably donate a plot. If nobody knows of any particular religious persuasion you had during life, then I don't know which of the mainstream denominations would be approached? Don't know if Council run cemeteries are able to accommodate such cases without payment from somewhere?
What kind of happy, cheery Community welfare visitor did you meet?

I hope they never volunteer with "The Samaritans"

Menas · 18-12-2014 11:04am

Average cost for a funeral in ireland is €4500.
There used to be a bereavement grant available for funeral costs, €850, but that was discontinued from january this year.

If someone dies and no one comes forward to pay for a funeral then the state will bury you in what used to be called a 'paupers funeral'.
This is a very basic process with no frills and no customisation etc.

Canis Lupus · 18-12-2014 11:21am

Victor wrote: »

This would be likely, but it would depend on the logistics of the matter.

There would likely be some sort of basic, but decent ceremony.

Ultimately, if you had no assets, it would be the council, as sanitary authority. Most likely via the local cemetery committee.

See OP, after you die you'll just be rubbish removal

Ask a mate to leave you on the footpath, the council will get rid of you eventually like they do with sofas etc.

Mr. CooL ICE · 18-12-2014 11:22am

Ever watch Little Miss Sunshine? That's how you want to go out. With a bang and a legacy.

conorhal · 18-12-2014 11:32am

What will happen is largely up to you. The good news is that you're not dead yet so there's still plenty of time for you to find a partner or form close friendships and involve yourself with your community so that you build the kind of support network that will mean you have sombody there to hold your hand as you go and bury you afterwards. It might also be prudent to plan for that event, sure me 'ol granny's favorite pass time it seemed was 'savin' and plannin' for her funeral', she was adament that there had to be money to bury her in a fashion that the neighbours would admire. I guess it was like a really morbid hobby for her...

Akrasia · 18-12-2014 11:52am

As an atheist, donate your body to medical science, they'll bury you in accordance with your wishes when they're finished

http://www.irishcentral.com/news/irish-medical-schools-plead-for-corpses-142239305-237434611.html

Polo_Mint · 18-12-2014 3:24pm

Lads and Ladies

If you ever hear im Dead.

Make sure im cremated, Put in a firework and blasted over a nice beach.

Cheers

Polo Mint

Polo_Mint · 18-12-2014 3:25pm

Lads and Ladies

If you ever hear im Dead.

Make sure im cremated, Put in a firework and blasted over a nice beach.

Cheers

Polo Mint

Edit: Not in the Summer time, I don't want to land in someone's Ice Cream

5starpool · 18-12-2014 3:37pm

Chances are when I die (many years from now hopefully) I'll be buried/cremated in the manner that most people are.

However, since I'll be dead I really wouldn't care. I know it's important to a lot of people and that's very understandable, but I wouldn't worry about what will happen to my physical body once I'm dead while I'm alive. I'd rather concentrate on living my life and if I'm lucky enough to have those that care about me at that time, concentrate on making sure I do as much as possible for those that will e left after I'm gone.

They can put my head on a spike Westeros style if they want, which would actually be pretty cool. I probably won't have that as a dying wish though.

ScumLord · 18-12-2014 4:13pm

Grimreaper666 wrote: »

If you donate your body to medical science they'll bury you for free. Also there's still a death grant available albeit a reduced one, and if you have money in the Credit Union, a hundred or two I think, they'll pay the cost of your funeral too.

that's what I was thinking, let science take care of it.

I just want to be put in the black bin.

strobe · 18-12-2014 4:17pm

Polo_Mint wrote: »

Lads and Ladies

If you ever hear im Dead.

Make sure im cremated, Put in a firework and blasted over a nice beach.

Cheers

Polo Mint

I'm on it.

Highflyer13 · 18-12-2014 4:21pm

Trigger Happy wrote: »

Average cost for a funeral in ireland is €4500.
There used to be a bereavement grant available for funeral costs, €850, but that was discontinued from january this year.

If someone dies and no one comes forward to pay for a funeral then the state will bury you in what used to be called a 'paupers funeral'.
This is a very basic process with no frills and no customisation etc.

Id settle for that. I dont want to worry about my funeral costs when im alive or have may family fork out a ridiculous sum of money when im gone. They can chuck my body at sea for all I care. Not like I'll give a sh!t then. When your gone, your gone.

strobe · 18-12-2014 4:22pm

There was actually a thing about this on the radio a few weeks ago there. They were interviewing some guy that had an 'alternative natural burial' business of some sort. Started in Donegal but I'm sketchy on the other details. Think it was the Ray D'Arcy show on today FM, maybe. If anyone else remembers details. They podcast a lot of their interviews so someone might be able to link it.

This came up. They asked him what happens if people make no arrangements and no one else does for them. Apparently the state have a place. They'll bury you up good with others in a similar situation. I'm a bit odd but I thought that was kinda nice.

Sorry about the sketchiness. Best I can do memory wise.

ScumLord · 18-12-2014 4:26pm

strobe wrote: »

This came up. They asked him what happens if people make no arrangements and no one else does for them. Apparently the state have a place. They'll bury you up good with others in a similar situation. I'm a bit odd but I thought that was kinda nice.

The bottom line is the body has to be disposed of, a rotting human corpse is a biohazard for other humans and it's in everyone's best interests that it be buried or burned.

I would have thought it would be much cheaper for the state to burn the bodies of people that have no arrangements or family.

DeadHand · 18-12-2014 4:27pm

Nomis21 wrote: »

The Community Welfare officer in town asked me if I'd arranged my plot in the local cemetery

Does this strike anybody else as an outrageous question to ask?

Micky Dolenz · 18-12-2014 4:40pm

Try not to stress about it Nomis. Knowledge is power so lets arm up.

The Citizens Information Board would be my first call of port. If they can't answer you effectively, they know who can.

See here for some information, it's not exactly what you are looking for but on the same site you will find local offices that will help you with your query.

They can also be called on this number 0761 07 4000, Monday to Friday, 9am to 8pm.

If you are feeling a little lonely, check out my sig for many organsations that can lend an ear. Most if not all are free and you don't have to be on the brink to use them. They are open to everyone.

Nekarsulm · 18-12-2014 10:47pm

Also, in a rural area, a funeral will cost a lot less. Figure on about 2200 Euro for Oak Coffin, Hearse, Notices on local Radio and on RIP.ie,few Wreaths, church, hymn sheets printed etc. That's with neighbours opening and closing the grave, etc, and a plot in a local graveyard already provided. Local hotel with soup, sandwiches nibbles tea coffee etc for approx. 60 people, another 450 or thereabouts. That's with you waked in your own home, no idea what charges are if you are laid out in the Funeral home. Relax, its probably 25 years away yet.......:)

Grimreaper666 · 18-12-2014 10:50pm

The Backwards Man wrote: »

You should know!

Oh I do...........

mark_jmc · 18-12-2014 10:52pm

Buy cats, lots of em. Those f****** won't leave much behind

Gael23 · 18-12-2014 11:16pm

Or just get a friend to dig a hole in your back garden discreetly.....

ardinn · 19-12-2014 12:32am

Polo_Mint wrote: »

Lads and Ladies

If you ever hear im Dead.

Make sure im cremated, Put in a firework and blasted over a nice beach.

Cheers

Polo Mint

This is now how I want to be disposed of!!!

Richard Hillman · 19-12-2014 1:27am

DeadHand wrote: »

Does this strike anybody else as an outrageous question to ask?

Sometimes people have to ask morbid/awkward questions. Considering the advice that the OP has gotten so far, I think it was a good bit of advice to query about.

evo2000 · 19-12-2014 1:37am

Nomis21 wrote: »

I know this is a morbid subject but I wanted to get some opinion.

I am over 60 years old, unemployed, on JA with no savings and I live alone with no relatives in Ireland.

What would happen if I die?

Would I get buried in the town I have lived in the last four years?

Would there be a funeral? (I don't follow any religion)

Who would pay for it?

Seen a thing on crime call about a german lad that was found dead in a forrest no way to id him or nothing no next of kin, the locals picked out a nice spot for him and the local stonemason made a nice headstone, theres some good in ireland yet! and it seems community's really rally around when things like this happen in most cases

Autonomous Cowherd · 19-12-2014 6:46am

Was thinking about the OPs initial query and funny enough a realisation dawned on me yesterday that if things went totally wrong I do not have close friends nearer than 20 miles away. (And yes, thank Goodness, I do have very close friends, before anyone worries

)This means if I needed someone to mind me for a few hours in the event of tragedy till the family and beloved ones could get there i would be a bit stuck.
It was a funny realisation. Rural area, different outlooks, nice people and all that etc etc...but not all of us slot in nice and handy on the ''local'' scene. So I can understand how OP might have arrived at a place where he lives somewhere but is not totally perhaps ''integrated'' in the community at hand.
And yeah, when it comes to death then questions arise. Where would i be buried? Here, where i have lived for a long time but am not integrated? My beloved ones are the types who would not be stuck to this place...so why be buried here? Why bury any of us here? I came to the conclusion that cremation saves a lot of questions :P