CREMATION UPDATE

There ARE NO cremation facilities in the DR. I checked with Funeraria Blandino in Santo Domingo and was told they would prepare the remains for shipment to Puerto Rico (the closest facility. Now, are you ready for this the cost of the prepartation etc is $29,500.00 Pesos and this is in addition to the cost of the actual service done by the Puerto Rican facility ($950.00 U.S. Dollars). We live on an island and it would seem that land is at a premium (no body is making anymore)and therefore a more efficient, cost effective way to dispose of remains should be explored. Of course, we could recycle and feed the sharks in the Mona Straits. I thought they were going to change the law and make cremation "legal" in this country...what happened?

Why cremate when you can buy land in the cemetary and build a little house for the dead.[Try doing that in NY,you'll need to be a millionair.] Freinds and family can visit.Death is a big event in DR.The dead are paraded through the streets [in the coffin]and big vigils are held.Its my opinion many dominicans wouldnt even give cremation a thought.

In response to KEITHNY and his "interesting" thoughts about cremation. I would only like to remind him that not all who live on this island are Dominicans and therefore not all of us ascribe to Dominican customs and rituals, especially when it comes to burial and last rites for the dead. It may come as a surprise to KEITHNY but there are many living on this island presently that their religion MANDATES cremation rather than burial. I was just trying to find a facility on the island and in lieu of that, what are the options. It seems Puerto Rico is the closest facility however, the cost can be overwhelming for some. Thank you for your time to answer.

I am a Dominican and I wish to be cremated upon my death. Not for religious reasons. I am a Catholic. The Catholic Church does not oppose cremation. Some time ago a Dominican bishop wrote an op-ed article in the Listin Diario explaining why. Another thing: there is a tendency to generalize about Dominicans which isn't as it should be. There are all kinds of Dominicans as there are all kinds of Americans, Canadians, etc.: good, bad, saints, thiefs, black, brown, white, Afro-Dominicans, Spanish-Dominicans, Jewish-Dominicans, Japanese-Dominicans, Haitian-Dominicans, poor and rich. We don't all think alike nor eat the same food nor like the same things.

Your right. So I dont want so come off insensitive, but maybe with some market research and law change there may exist a good business opportunity.