# Leave My Body Be **URL:** \ **Category:** Factual Questions\ **Created:** [August 24, 2013, 11:19am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/leave-my-body-be/667046 "2013-08-24T11:19:09Z")\ **Posts on this page:** 20\ **Page:** 1
**Author:** ![Jormungandr](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/j/a6a055/32.png) [@Jormungandr](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Jormungandr)\ **Post date:** [August 24, 2013, 11:19am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/leave-my-body-be/667046/1 "2013-08-24T11:19:09Z")
Recently, at a family gathering, funerals were discussed. I said I didn’t want a funeral or even a marked grave. In fact, they could just leave me at the coroner’s office to be buried some time in the future in a potter’s field. Some mentioned they would try to get me cremated and buried, to which I objected. So, is there a way to ensure I get what I want? I know I’d probably need a legal document for it eventually, but I would like to know if my scenario is even be possible before I approach an attorney. Dear Mod: I didn’t know exactly where to place this, so please move it to the forum you think appropriate. ---
**Author:** ![Broomstick](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/broomstick/32/246_2.png) [@Broomstick](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Broomstick)\ **Post date:** [August 24, 2013, 11:26am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/leave-my-body-be/667046/2 "2013-08-24T11:26:12Z")
There are places that allow “natural burial”, basically, they put you unembalmed in a hole in the ground. Marker optional. They aren’t too common so you’ll have to look for one but they are out there. Start with “natural burial” in google and go from there. Of course, if your relatives are truly determined it will be hard for you to prevent them having a lot of hoopla after you’re dead, but if you put it into a legal document you don’t want a funeral and just want to be chucked into earth unmodified they’re more likely to respect that. Remember, too, that a funeral isn’t for the dead, it’s for the living. Perhaps suggest the relatives have a memorial sans body, maybe a dinner get-together if they want to remember/memorialize you but keep the disposal of your earthly remains as simple as possible. I’m not sure just dropping you off at the local coroner’s is the way to go - Potter’s Field is intended for the indigent and by throwing yourself on that system you’re spending tax money. Find out ahead of time what you’re cost-effective options are and, if possible, pre-pay - the relatives are far more likely to respect your wishes if it doesn’t require money from them. ---
**Author:** ![Myglaren](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/m/f1d935/32.png) [@Myglaren](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Myglaren)\ **Post date:** [August 24, 2013, 12:41pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/leave-my-body-be/667046/3 "2013-08-24T12:41:59Z")
You could leave your body to science, as I intend to do. Recently poularised by such as Patricia Cornwell, [Body Farms](http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Body_farm). ---
**Author:** ![Hari\_Seldon](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/hari_seldon/32/5173_2.png) [@Hari\_Seldon](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Hari_Seldon)\ **Post date:** [August 24, 2013, 12:44pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/leave-my-body-be/667046/4 "2013-08-24T12:44:08Z")
In fact, leave it to a medical school for dissection. I think you should call them and make a formal contract. ---
**Author:** ![don\_t\_ask](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/d/e68b1a/32.png) [@don\_t\_ask](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/don_t_ask)\ **Post date:** [August 24, 2013, 12:45pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/leave-my-body-be/667046/5 "2013-08-24T12:45:40Z")
My parents donated their bodies to the local university. They have told us to just call the people who handle the pickup and forget all about it. ---
**Author:** ![shijinn](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/s/cc9497/32.png) [@shijinn](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/shijinn)\ **Post date:** [August 24, 2013, 1:32pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/leave-my-body-be/667046/6 "2013-08-24T13:32:46Z")
do you have to worry about your body if you’re listed as an organ donor? ---
**Author:** ![Reverend\_Meade](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/r/6a8cbe/32.png) [@Reverend\_Meade](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Reverend_Meade)\ **Post date:** [August 24, 2013, 1:41pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/leave-my-body-be/667046/7 "2013-08-24T13:41:46Z")
> [@shijinn](#): > > do you have to worry about your body if you’re listed as an organ donor? Yes. There’s quite a bit left after they’re done. ---
**Author:** ![racer72](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/racer72/32/3075_2.png) [@racer72](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/racer72)\ **Post date:** [August 24, 2013, 1:54pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/leave-my-body-be/667046/8 "2013-08-24T13:54:15Z")
> [@](#): > > they could just leave me at the coroner’s office to be buried some time in the future in a potter’s field. If you do that in my county any close relatives will receive a bill for disposal of your remains. Also, most folks that die do not end up at a coroner’s office, in most cases, the body goes from the place of death to a licensed funeral home. ---
**Author:** ![KneadToKnow](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/kneadtoknow/32/3999_2.png) [@KneadToKnow](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/KneadToKnow)\ **Post date:** [August 24, 2013, 1:57pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/leave-my-body-be/667046/9 "2013-08-24T13:57:49Z")
There is a [current thread](http://boards.straightdope.com/sdmb/showthread.php?t=699919) on this topic. ---
**Author:** ![shijinn](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/s/cc9497/32.png) [@shijinn](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/shijinn)\ **Post date:** [August 24, 2013, 2:25pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/leave-my-body-be/667046/10 "2013-08-24T14:25:21Z")
> [@Reverend\_Meade](#): > > Yes. There’s quite a bit left after they’re done. that’s not fair, leaving you to deal with an empty husk after grabbing up all the good parts. maybe i should reconsider my donor card… ---
**Author:** ![miss\_elizabeth](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/m/838e76/32.png) [@miss\_elizabeth](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/miss_elizabeth)\ **Post date:** [August 24, 2013, 2:50pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/leave-my-body-be/667046/11 "2013-08-24T14:50:37Z")
> [@shijinn](#): > > that’s not fair, leaving you to deal with an empty husk after grabbing up all the good parts. maybe i should reconsider my donor card… I hope you are joking. Most people who are organ donors _want_ to make sure their bodies are given to their families for a funeral. If you are the exception to this, you can speak to someone about donating the remainder of your body to science, or to a body farm as has been mentioned. Remember also, that just because you are an organ donor, it does not mean all (or most, or any) of your organs will actually be used. It’s my understanding that most deaths are not suitable for organ donation. So if having your body go to use after your death is important to you, take time now to ensure it. Simply signing your organ donation card won’t do it. ---
**Author:** ![nearwildheaven](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/n/90db22/32.png) [@nearwildheaven](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/nearwildheaven)\ **Post date:** [August 24, 2013, 3:15pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/leave-my-body-be/667046/12 "2013-08-24T15:15:58Z")
An organ donor’s whole body will not be available for dissection or research, but parts certainly can be. ---
**Author:** ![eschereal](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/eschereal/32/18939_2.png) [@eschereal](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/eschereal)\ **Post date:** [August 24, 2013, 3:51pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/leave-my-body-be/667046/13 "2013-08-24T15:51:52Z")
Set some money aside for a shipping crate and fare to Tibet so you can have a Tibetan Sky Burial (search it, I will not provide links). ---
**Author:** ![Morgenstern](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/m/f9ae1b/32.png) [@Morgenstern](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Morgenstern)\ **Post date:** [August 24, 2013, 4:00pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/leave-my-body-be/667046/14 "2013-08-24T16:00:29Z")
Warning, below link may be disturbing to some - decomposing bodies viewable The OP can get his wish. Donate your body to the [Body farm.](http://fac.utk.edu/) You can lay there in the sun and rot in the name of science. ---
**Author:** ![shijinn](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/s/cc9497/32.png) [@shijinn](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/shijinn)\ **Post date:** [August 27, 2013, 11:13am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/leave-my-body-be/667046/15 "2013-08-27T11:13:56Z")
> [@miss\_elizabeth](#): > > I hope you are joking. … i was, but the truth is i’ve never given the matter much thought. perhaps i should, eventually. ---
**Author:** ![Si\_Amigo](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/si_amigo/32/2877_2.png) [@Si\_Amigo](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Si_Amigo)\ **Post date:** [August 27, 2013, 12:28pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/leave-my-body-be/667046/16 "2013-08-27T12:28:34Z")
> [@Morgenstern](#): > > Warning, below link may be disturbing to some - decomposing bodies viewable > The OP can get his wish. Donate your body to the [Body farm.](http://fac.utk.edu/) You can lay there in the sun and rot in the name of science. Wow, now I know where I want to go. Please let me be laid out in the organic vegetable garden or if that is not acceptable then underneath a weeping willow tree. ---
**Author:** ![dracoi](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/d/90db22/32.png) [@dracoi](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/dracoi)\ **Post date:** [August 27, 2013, 4:11pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/leave-my-body-be/667046/17 "2013-08-27T16:11:34Z")
For what it’s worth, even donating your body to science will often end up with a cremation and an urn for the family. This is how it worked with my mother-in-law. They did whatever dissections and tests they wanted and then we got the ashes some months later. ---
**Author:** ![eschereal](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/eschereal/32/18939_2.png) [@eschereal](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/eschereal)\ **Post date:** [August 27, 2013, 7:07pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/leave-my-body-be/667046/18 "2013-08-27T19:07:50Z")
> [@Si\_Amigo](#): > > Wow, now I know where I want to go. Please let me be laid out in the organic vegetable garden or if that is not acceptable then underneath a weeping willow tree. What is that song called, the one about being buried beneath the willow? The one that goes _He put the bottle to his head and pulled the trigger And finally drank away her memory …_ ---
**Author:** ![KneadToKnow](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/kneadtoknow/32/3999_2.png) [@KneadToKnow](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/KneadToKnow)\ **Post date:** [August 27, 2013, 7:11pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/leave-my-body-be/667046/19 "2013-08-27T19:11:27Z")
> [@For You](#): > > What is that song called, the one about… I thought maybe you were going for _“Tan me hide when I’m dead, Fred. Tan me hide when I’m dead …” So we tanned his hide when he died, Clyde, And that’s it a-hangin’ on the shed._ ---
**Author:** ![rowrrbazzle](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/rowrrbazzle/32/414_2.png) [@rowrrbazzle](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/rowrrbazzle)\ **Post date:** [August 28, 2013, 4:40am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/leave-my-body-be/667046/20 "2013-08-28T04:40:56Z")
You can have a crematory dispose of all of the cremated remains. Here’s a crematory (their price list is a pdf accessed via a link on this page): [Pricing](http://www.illinoiscremationcenters.com/pricing.php) If I’m reading this right, this crematory charges $195 for the disposal (exact method not disclosed) in addition to the $555 direct cremation charge. [Next page](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/leave-my-body-be/667046.md?page=2)