Hourglass Urns on the Today's Show
Transcript of our cremation urns on the Today Show
Meredith Vieira: I am Meredith Vieira….Back now at 8:46 and that is the 1969 song, Spirit in the Sky, it’s actually one of the songs I’d like played at my funeral. I figure why not make my wishing know before it is too late and apparently I’m not along in that. According to a poll conducted by the National Funeral Directors Association, 62% of adults have or intend to pre-plan their funerals. Sue Bailey and Carmen Flowers are the co authors of Grave Expectations: Planning the End Like There’s No Tomorrow. Good Morning to you both. You know, I picked up this book sand I was a little nervous about it because no one really wants to think about death. But it s a wonderful book, it’s charming it’s informative, it’s funny. Why did you guys decide that you wanted to write this book?
Carmen Flowers: Because we have gone to several funerals that were just deadly. The food was bad and you thought, this wasn’t the person I knew.
Meredith Vieira: Often the eulogy doesn’t even relate to the person.
Carmen Flowers: Exactly, so we went home had a little champagne and we thought, we have to do something about this.
Sue Bailey: Yes and we wanted to bring laughter and joy into a service, because that’s what life is about and you are celebrating the person’s life.
Meredith Vieira: What’s the average funeral costs these days?
Carmen Flowers: It’s about $10,000.
Meredith Vieira: Now the trends that funeral are going green, to be cost effective.
Sue Bailey: absolutely
Meredith Vieira: Starting with the casket , what is this ?
Carmen Flowers: This is Ecopod, this is made of recycled news papers.
Meredith Vieira: really?
Carmen Flowers: Yes, this is green but take out any metal things when its to be buried. This is a card board, which has been painted.
Sue Bailey: This is one of my favorites, this is for $100.
Meredith Vieira: I can’t imagine, it’s also green, one can do anything one wants.
Meredith Vieira: this is interesting
Sue Bailey: This is called Vidstone, this costs about $1000. It records about 7 minutes of your life story
Meredith Vieira: I honestly haven’t decided whether I want to be buried or cremated and I know I have to make up my mind, but these are all very different looking urns. They’re not the traditional at all.
Sue Bailey: There are thousands and thousands of all sorts, millions may be
Carmen Flowers: This is for a Mets fan and this is for Harleys, this is sweet one for children who have lost their parents. The ashes go inside and they find great comfort with this.
Sue Bailey: This is one of my favorites.
Meredith Vieira: Wow! That’s the actually ashes. You really have to have a sense of humor for that. For those who don’t want to put their ashes in an urn, there are very interesting ways you can scatter them, right?
Carmen Flowers: absolutely, you can do through fireworks, orbit the moon or earth
Sue Bailey: You can make diamonds, you can make glassware and pottery.
Carmen Flowers: We believe in giving goodie bags.
Meredith Vieira: This is my goodie bag. I love squirrels, I love wine, clogs, photos… ladies thank you so much. I think this is a great thing to do. It helps you reevaluate your life and also for your loved ones. Ok Sue and Carmen thank you so much. Grave Expectations is the book.