The wife wasn't ware of the the Royal Mountie Cemetary at the time of his death and burial - that's stated in the article towards the end. She says she would have buried him there had she known about it.

Here's the key fact:

>>>Leo Johnston died without leaving a will, but his wife is the administrator of his estate.<<<

Anyone here who doesn't have a will duly executed and who anticipates their family possibly not honoring their wishes or the wishes of their spouse should get right on this and have one drawn up or buy one of those do-it-yourself kits and get one done.

I know that my family might not approve of my wishes to be cremated immediately without embalming. I've tried to explain to them that I feel embalming is an invasive and demeaning practice that i'd rather not have but they don't agree. They feel that if I predecease them, they have a "right" to have me embalmed so they can see "me" one last time. It's nuts, really.

To prevent any such conflict - I have a will AND I have filled out a "Pre-Need" form with a funeral home that spells out exactly what I want and don't want. I didn't have to pay anything to do this - it's merely a document that stays on file with them and a copy stays with my important papers so that when i die, the family knows who to call to come pick up the body. Then - the director will see to my wishes and my husband will pay for it. I can really cicnh this all up by shelling out for the funeral myself in advance but I'm not sure that will be necessary since my parents are far more likely to predecease me. Ah well - more stuff to think about.

Anyway - make a will and in it, include your wishes for your final needs. If you know what funeral home you will be using, ask them if they have a "Pre-Need" form. it has spaces to fill in who you want to officiate (clergy), whether you want a wake, Preferences for open or closed casket and even whether you want a casket at all. Did you know you don't actually have to have one if you're being cremated? They'll try and tell you that you have to at least have a wooden casket by law but that's BS - You can have them lay you out in a rented coffin and then toss you on the fire in a reinforced cardboard box. That's how I'm going! If they'd sew me in a sack and toss me on the fire that way I'd be even happier but apparently the cardboard box is as downscale as it goes! it permits some sense of decorum if family wish to attend the cremation and push the button that starts the fire. (lovely thought, eh?)