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Health & Fitness

Digital Twist On An Old Tradition

In today's world, digital is king. In surprising ways it has managed to reign supreme in almost every facet of life, including birth and death. The digital thumbprint can be seen in many birth and death traditions: from pre-natal sonograms to legacy storage sites for the dearly departed.

Even though funeral rites are as old as mankind, they are changing. People have and always will find appropriate ways to care for their loved ones who have passed. Today's choices now include digital options.

I recently learned that there is now a digital option for people interested in handling their own cremation arrangements in Sonoma County and neighboring communities. This Alternative Cremation Service is supposed to simplify the cremation process for people who prefer to make their own arrangements online from the quiet comfort of their own home or office.

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Cremation just a click away? Really??? I was skeptical. So I did some research and found that all of the necessary legal forms are on the site. They can be filled out, downloaded and then faxed directly into the Northern Sonoma County office. Transportation services are included and scheduling a date to pick up the remains can be conveniently handled.

When I called, the funeral director who oversees the service told me that it's a great fit for people who don't need the full services of a funeral home.

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This is a no-frills option for sure. It doesn't include memorial service arrangements, but it does let you spend more of your time and your money on other aspects of saying goodbye to loved ones.

Maybe in today's digital world that's a good thing because then we can focus more on our connections to those we care about.

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