LifeGem ®: Gruesome or Goey?

[Weird Harold]

LifeGem...

The LifeGem ® is a certified, high-quality diamond created from the carbon of your loved one as a memorial to their unique life.​

This was mentioned in passing on a discovery channel program segment about artificial diamonds. This company takes all or some of the cremated remains of a loved one -- Spouse, Relative, Pet, favorite plant, et al -- and concentrates the carbon into a manufactured diamond.

Is this a ghoulish practice or gooey romanticism?

 

[rgraham666]

I suppose that depends on the point of view of the individual.

Personally, it's neither for me.

 

[oggbashan]

I visited one of our local funeral directors this morning to enquire about details of a friend's funeral.

They offer encasing the deceased's ashes in a glass cube - and have done for some years.

I feel that if someone remembers me, I need no other memorial.

Og

 

[Weird Harold]

I visited one of our local funeral directors this morning to enquire about details of a friend's funeral.

They offer encasing the deceased's ashes in a glass cube - and have done for some years.

I feel that if someone remembers me, I need no other memorial.

Og

I lean toward "Grusome" but I do fancy the idea of becoming a haunted family heirloom that can do extra duty as a buried tresaure as needed.

 

[oggbashan]

I lean toward "Grusome" but I do fancy the idea of becoming a haunted family heirloom that can do extra duty as a buried tresaure as needed.

First ask your local pawnbroker what a "certified high-quality diamond" would be worth and watch him chuckle...

Og

 

[Weird Harold]

First ask your local pawnbroker what a "certified high-quality diamond" would be worth and watch him chuckle...

Og

A good deal less than it costs to turn someone's ashes into one, I'd wager.

Still, no buried treasure is complete without a diamond and being haunted makes up for not being particularly "treasured."

 

[jomar]

You do get a price break for more than one. Though they had the good taste to not call it the family plan.

 

[Guest]

You do get a price break for more than one. Though they had the good taste to not call it the family plan.

Okay, bad me, I laughed.

Well, this reminds me of those people who get their favorite pets stuffed via taxidermist.

To each their own, I suppose.

It isn't for me.

 

[glynndah]

Definitely gruesome. I may sleep in the bed dear old Aunt Edith died in, but I really don't want to wear her on my finger or around my neck.

 

[tickledkitty]

Definitely gruesome. I may sleep in the bed dear old Aunt Edith died in, but I really don't want to wear her on my finger or around my neck.

Party pooper.

 

[voluptuary_manque]

Definitely gruesome. I may sleep in the bed dear old Aunt Edith died in, but I really don't want to wear her on my finger or around my neck.

I dunno about that. I think I'd be more inclined to the reverse.

Still, the best solution I've ever seen was a family in Alaska who run the last remaining gold mine in the Anchorage area. The father of the family came down with inoperable cancer and told the wife that he wanted his ashes turned into the family flower bed. When he died and she did, other relatives thought it was such a good idea that as they died they all had their ashes shipped to Anchorage for . . . uh . . . recycling? Anyway, now all during the growing season, Mom, kids and grand kids can all potter around the garden and feel totally embraced by family, clear down to the roots, if you will.

 

[glynndah]

I dunno about that. I think I'd be more inclined to the reverse.

Still, the best solution I've ever seen was a family in Alaska who run the last remaining gold mine in the Anchorage area. The father of the family came down with inoperable cancer and told the wife that he wanted his ashes turned into the family flower bed. When he died and she did, other relatives thought it was such a good idea that as they died they all had their ashes shipped to Anchorage for . . . uh . . . recycling? Anyway, now all during the growing season, Mom, kids and grand kids can all potter around the garden and feel totally embraced by family, clear down to the roots, if you will.

I like this idea. I did, however, pay very close attention to what kind of garden. A vegetable garden might be just a little too close to Soylent Green territory for some people.

 

[carsonshepherd]

I think it's cool. Beats being worm food

 

[voluptuary_manque]

I like this idea. I did, however, pay very close attention to what kind of garden. A vegetable garden might be just a little too close to Soylent Green territory for some people.

Yes! I distinctly recall the television program specifically stating that they turned the ashes into the flowers. There was not a single word about veggies.

 

[TE999]

Definitely gruesome. I may sleep in the bed dear old Aunt Edith died in, but I really don't want to wear her on my finger or around my neck.

Let us not forget the quaint Victorian fad of hair jewelry, wherein the pelt of the deceased was woven into rings, necklaces, bracelets, picture frames, ad nauseum.

Aunt Edith's silver locks would make a lovely bracelet.

Ewww.

 

[glynndah]

Let us not forget the quaint Victorian fad of hair jewelry, wherein the pelt of the deceased was woven into rings, necklaces, bracelets, picture frames, ad nauseum.

Aunt Edith's silver locks would make a lovely bracelet.

Ewww.

You obviously never saw my Aunt Edith.

 

[TE999]

You obviously never saw my Aunt Edith.

Did she retain her natural hair color or resemble a billiard ball?

 

[Liar]

Is this a ghoulish practice or gooey romanticism?

Gooey? Depends on how well they compressed it.

 

[glynndah]

Did she retain her natural hair color or resemble a billiard ball?

A badly done home permanent and oddly colored, too.

 

[impressive]

I think it's cool. Beats being worm food

I'd rather be a piece of jewelry than buried. Of course, I've already informed everyone in my life that if they spend money on a plot and a casket, I will haunt them forever. Current instructions are to burn me & plant a tree over my ashes.

I cannot stand the whole concept of cemeteries, and I've seen too many of them dug up to make room for a condo development or shopping plaza to expect any burial place to be "permanent." The land's more useful to the living. Give it up.

 

[TE999]

A badly done home permanent and oddly colored, too.

It's hard to braid them burnt orange curly hairs alrighty.

My Nana lost all her hair by the time she was in her early 60's. She had an impressive collection of wigs, many of which featured colors not found in nature. She'd sally forth in her Old's 98 wearing a shocking pink wig with matching shoes and caftan. Flamboyant didn't begin to describe her.

She also smoked Turkish cigarettes that smelled like tires burning.

 

[glynndah]

It's hard to braid them burnt orange curly hairs alrighty.

My Nana lost all her hair by the time she was in her early 60's. She had an impressive collection of wigs, many of which featured colors not found in nature. She'd sally forth in her Old's 98 wearing a shocking pink wig with matching shoes and caftan. Flamboyant didn't begin to describe her.

She also smoked Turkish cigarettes that smelled like tires burning.

She was actually my great aunt, one of my grandmother's sisters. I didn't see her that often and the only thing I do remember about her is her bragging about cracking walnuts with her teeth and then proving it. Her youngest sister is still alive and quite a feisty little thing.

 

[SlickTony]

I cannot stand the whole concept of cemeteries, and I've seen too many of them dug up to make room for a condo development or shopping plaza to expect any burial place to be "permanent." The land's more useful to the living. Give it up.

Personally, I think it's sweet. The being compressed into a gemstone idea.

If I were to be buried where my husband's people are buried, I wouldn't have to worry about the cemetery being converted to a condo development. I mean, Clarks, LA? Who would build a condo development there?

Only problem is, our family's available space is getting filled up. I don't think there's any room for an actual burial plot there anymore. I figure my body can just be cremated and stuck in a corner somewhere. Along with the 4 or so urns that my late cats are in, which are currently up on the mantelpiece.