In the spring 2003 the Association of Parishes within the Church of Sweden published a new, more extensive version of their booklet, Who decides? What can you do yourself?, on what one may do on one's own when it comes to burials.
Enclosed as a supplement is a 12-page form, My wishes in conjunction with my death, in which ecological burial is also included as an alternative.
The goal of the Association of Parishes' effort with the publication is to make things easier for the loved ones left behind by, among other things, having given the deceased the opportunity to express his or her wishes as to how the burial should take place.
This 32-page factual booklet also provides information, in a clear and simple manner, on the rights, possibilities and obligations we ourselves and the deceased's family have in conjunction with arranging a burial. The booklet also contains numerous examples of wording from obituary notices published in the Swedish daily press, plus excerpts from applicable legislation. The booklet also covers law suits in which surviving relatives contest interpretation of the deceased's last will and testament, and the consequences this can entail.
"This is a very good initiative on the part of the Association of Parishes. When holding my lectures on ecological burial my listeners often ask me how they can inform their surviving relatives in a good way about how they, themselves, want their burial," says Susanne Wiigh-Mäsak.
"My wishes is the answer to that question, and it is an excellent aid in making things easier for surviving loved ones. At the same time it eliminates all doubt as to one's own will as regards ceremonies and burial. I also believe it is easier to both express and fill in one's wishes with the help of the form. This is a service also made available by funeral homes.
