Planning My Death Ritual

          When I die, which will hopefully be many many years from now, I hope to go peacefully; without any pain. I know there will be crying and sorrow throughout my family, or at least I hope so, but I hope that they would soon be able to get back to their regular lives.
          The people in my family that have passed have had regular, peaceful and nice funerals and wakes. I hope to have the same. I wish to have an open casket wake where my family and friends can say their goodbyes to me. I wish to have hundreds of photographs of my life on at the wake so people can smile, laugh and remember the good things about me. Many people would not want this but to me it is a norm because everyone that has passed in my family has had this done.
          I next wish to be cremated and have a stone put in the ground in my memory. What my family decides to do with my cremated body after that is up to them. My Grandfather who passed in 2009 at 69 was cremated but not put in the ground where his stone is. My Grandmother has held onto his ashes since. Also, my Nana who passed when I was younger was cremated but not put in the ground. One of my uncles held onto her ashes. I'm not sure why my family holds onto the ashes of our loved ones but I see no problem in it and I would not mind it. I would think it would be easier to move on if my ashes were put in the ground but I would want whatever my family is comfortable with.
          Years after I have been gone I would hope that people would come see my grave. I visit my Grandfathers grave stone whenever I pass the cemetery. He is not buried there but I know that he knows I am thinking about him and missing him. I am not sure what cemetery I would want my stone to be at. Two houses day and across the street of my house is a cemetery, Oak hill Cemetery, in Rehoboth Ma. It is a very old, well kept cemetery. I would not mind having my stone being put here because it is the area I grew up in and I love Rehoboth. Although, I am sure my preference in cemeteries may change over the years.
          Hopefully it is not something that happens anytime soon but when I pass I hope that it is handled like any other passing I have experienced, calmly and quickly. I hope people do not mourn for a very long time and that they could soon get back to their lives.