Death & Dying in Colombia

kenblanquito says on Jul 2, 2009, 11:41:

I think this is an excellent post and something that I had considered too. OK, my wife and I are only separated by 6 months in age but I feel pretty certain that I will go first because she has generally lived a healthier life. One never knows though; the way people drive here among other things, one's number could be up in 1 minute! Especially if we da papaya!
I shall follow this thread with interest and thanks for starting it Rikito.

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theflatline says on Jul 2, 2009, 11:42:

Well, my grandmother in Manizales died last week, and since i am an only son of an only son I have to go over his wishes.

The easiest solution would be cremation.

Legaleez for Complete Morons - A book for gringos in Colombia for who think they understand the nature of the law in a country where they cannot speak the language.

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excavator59 says on Jul 2, 2009, 12:00:

First sarcastic comment sorry can't resist lay in the road let the Gallinasos feed on you plus it's eco friendly .

Life is like a Pubic Hair on a Toilet Seat (Sooner or Later you get Pissed Off)

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Desideria (Moderator) (Trustee board) says on Jul 2, 2009, 12:00:

Make a will and have it notarized and perfectly legal. Colombian families tend to fall apart and turn into wolves when somebody dies. Mine did, people are still not talking to each other and it's been five years since the old people passed away (bless their souls, I still miss them).

A fronte praecipitium a tergo lupi

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Simon says on Jul 2, 2009, 12:12:

I'm sorry to hear about your 'abuelita', Flatline. Que descanse en paz.

"Just an honest, decent Colombian trying to do the right thing."--Simon

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Rikito says on Jul 2, 2009, 12:21:

a will i have, but for those of you who do not know this...your will from the U.S. isn't worth toilet papaer here...same as the thing you sign to prevent anyone from trying to kee you alive.

Cremation? Good choice, but the papaer work is still the same. Then you have the smoking and non smoking room. Lay on the raod? Great, but what if the cops give us a ticket?

...and so it goes

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dwmte7 says on Jul 2, 2009, 12:30:

is there smoke at cremations? hmmmmm

i told you in the other thread, "it's a good day to die" and since no one gets outta here alive, if you repent now, you can avoid the rush on doomsday.

and a little last week reflection....folks are checkin outta here life flies. who knows who's next? me? you? both of us? ALL OF US? and have we been practicing the 'bardo thodol'? far more important than the will. far more important than what we do when we're outta here, is how we prepare for our return. (food for thought).

d

patriarch

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quantum says on Jul 2, 2009, 12:40:

"Avoid the rush on doomsday" hahahaha.......feelin the way I do about crowds and lines, thats not a bad idea Douglas. But pray tell, what in tarnation is "baro thodol"? I cant even pronounce it!

quantum

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barrumundi says on Jul 2, 2009, 14:01:

I don't know if this will help in your situation Rikito......but I once met a very sad and very old man who was concerned about the huge cost of burying his recently departed and dearly loved wife. This is a true story! He was then worried about his children paying for his funeral. He told his children to throw him over the back fence when he died. I asked him ..."What is over the back fence?" (remember this is a true story) and he said A LION PARK!!!!

Sorry to hear of your loss Flatliner.

http://poorbuthappy.com/yourthing/post/uploading-photos-for-dummies/

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barrumundi says on Jul 2, 2009, 14:03:

Johnny2008. You can ask your friends and family to have you cremated and then sprinkle your ashes from a high mountain............maybe the wind will take you back to England. This is no cost!

http://poorbuthappy.com/yourthing/post/uploading-photos-for-dummies/

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kenblanquito says on Jul 2, 2009, 14:22:

johnny 2008
Ever seen the film "Last Orders", starring Michael Caine and Helen Mirren. His ashes were strewn from Margate harbour in Kent after his friends and son (Ray Winston) had given him a good boozy send-off. I quite fancy that sort of thing, but Broadstairs harbour please because it is more peaceful there. Ashes easier than a coffin to transport by plane.

Now, are we to get back to the topic or what? This is a serious matter and important for all foreign residents!

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dwmte7 says on Jul 2, 2009, 15:55:

quantum....it's the "BARDO THODOL".....it's one of the tibetan sutras dealing with the after death state (bardo) wherein the adept is able to not only choose the point (family)where he will reincarnate, but when and in his chosen economic/spiritual clime. (thodol)

johnny.....i don't know who "frankly" is, but why wont he "give a hoot"? and what's the deal with a zink lined casket? i thought the "in crowd" chose silk. i think the lion over the fence is a cool idea. beats wasting food for critters by cremation. the tibetans and parsis use what they call the 'body breakers'. the corpses are dismembered and laid out so that the vultures/gallinaso consume them. then the bones are made into (tibet) flutes, eating utinsels, etc. the parsis put the bodies--intact--in what they call the towers of silence.....again the vultures come and consume all the flesh. i don't know what they do with the skeletal remains. i saw those tower in yazd, in iran. that's the birthplace of zoroaster....founder of the parsi beliefs...the prophet.

d

patriarch

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Vadoom says on Jul 2, 2009, 17:12:

Just remembered I have kind of insurance at this case paid off by the company. It covers funeral. Do not remember though whether it cover sending to home. Check it out when HR admin come back from vacation.

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barrumundi says on Jul 2, 2009, 17:15:

Back on topic Rikito....about wills...... do you think it might be possible to have two wills? I don't have any idea about the legal implications but I am thinking for example if you have property and family in USA and also property and family in Colombia you could leave assets etc within Colobia to your Colombian side of your family and the other property/assets in USA to your other side of the family who live in the USA????? The only thing they would need to argue about then is who wants your remains! If you get cremated they can have half each!!!

http://poorbuthappy.com/yourthing/post/uploading-photos-for-dummies/

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kenblanquito says on Jul 2, 2009, 18:56:

johnny2008
I even watched the film again here on a cable channel; made a change to hear some real cockneys!
Don't do movies! What is that? Cheer up man!

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kenblanquito says on Jul 2, 2009, 19:01:

Azu
"Put my ashes into cement"
The famous Kray brothers used to put the whole bodies of their victims into concrete, which later was incorporated into certain East London fly-overs, underpasses and other such structures. They may find them one day but at the time, to remove a multi-million pound structure based on possible evidence/rumour was not deemed economical.

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kenblanquito says on Jul 2, 2009, 19:37:

Incredible. I think I would like my ashes to be distributed as follows:
A percentage appropriate to my life spent in Colombia to fertilize a plant in our garden.
Of the rest:
In the sea from the harbour in Broadstairs, Kent, UK
In the beer garden of my first local pub in the same town
The sites of the Rainbow Theatre, Hammersmith Palais, Town and Country Club, Putney Half Moon, Fulham Greyhound, Star and Garter, Herne Hill Half Moon, Marquee Club, 100 Club, Borderline, and lots of other great London music venues past and present that I have frequented over the years, Chelsea Football Club, Limerick in Ireland, Stonehenge, Wales, Victoria Falls, Amsterdam, Table Mountain South Africa. That will give my wife an entertaining trip and I hope there are enough funds to do it in style!

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wcarmack says on Jul 2, 2009, 19:58:

Rikito stated: "I can get a free burial in a small town near where I live and I am eligible for "special" death benefits given to highly decorated U.S. military personnel regardless of where they die."

I would be interested in what you think those "special| death benefits might be. I have worked with disabled Veterans for many years and most of the cases were for people who lived outside the United States. There have been more than enough funerals held and grieving widows looked after over the years but outside of a burial flag issued (and you best have a DD214 handy) and a modest amount of money for burial expenses (maybe) there isn't much to be had.

If you are a disabled Vet in receipt of compensation for a service connected disability there are DIC payments for the widow and perhaps your minor children. Or if your estate is of modest means and your service was during a time of war there might be a modest pension for your widow.

But "special" benefits for a highly decorated person are unknown to me.

What do you mean by highly decorated?

Woody

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barrumundi says on Jul 2, 2009, 20:07:

kenblanquito......you must be a big man! Your widow is going all the rest of her life just disposing of your remains!!!

http://poorbuthappy.com/yourthing/post/uploading-photos-for-dummies/

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miamimike says on Jul 2, 2009, 21:40:

Veteran's Burial Benefits per VA Regs:

Burial Benefits Available from the National Cemetery Administration

Requests for burial in a Department of Veterans Affairs (VA) national cemetery cannot be made via the Internet.

The VA does not make funeral arrangements or perform cremations. Families should make these arrangements with a funeral provider or cremation office. Any item or service obtained from a funeral home or cremation office will be at the families expense.

For Burial in a National Cemetery
Burial benefits available include a gravesite in any of our 130 national cemeteries with available space, opening and closing of the grave, perpetual care, a Government headstone or marker, a burial flag, and a Presidential Memorial Certificate, at no cost to the family. Some veterans may also be eligible for Burial Allowances. Cremated remains are buried or inurned in national cemeteries in the same manner and with the same honors as casketed remains.

Burial benefits available for spouses and dependents buried in a national cemetery include burial with the veteran, perpetual care, and the spouse or dependents name and date of birth and death will be inscribed on the veteran’s headstone, at no cost to the family. Eligible spouses and dependents may be buried, even if they predecease the veteran.

For Burial in a Private Cemetery
Burial benefits available for veterans buried in a private cemetery include a Government headstone or marker, a burial flag, and a Presidential Memorial Certificate, at no cost to the family. Some veterans may also be eligible for Burial Allowances. There are not any benefits available to spouses and dependents buried in a private cemetery.
http://www.cem.va.gov/bbene/bbene.asp

No hay Peor Ciego que el que no quiere Ver o Sordo que el que no quiera Oir--Soy Yo, Sarah Palin, Wasilla Alaska.

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quantum says on Jul 2, 2009, 22:26:

Sounds like we could be recruiting some newbies here pretty soon on PBH the way u guyz are talkin......comeon now...start thinkin positive.....whole lot of life to be lived yet.......Im just gettin to know y'all. Dont be checkin out just yet......

quantum

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dwmte7 says on Jul 3, 2009, 04:40:

johnny......from the corner.....i turned around while you weren't watching and i saw the check out counter.

patriarch

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thepieman says on Jul 3, 2009, 05:36:

Ken.. when were you in Herne Hill? I lived there for 2 years and used to play cricket in the park there every sunday with my mates.. another connection along with the Thanet one! small world!
Stradella road i think it was

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kenblanquito says on Jul 3, 2009, 06:19:

Just visited the Half Moon pub between 79-81 mainly because it was a good music venue at that time. Also, my Colombian wife was living close to there when I first met her. She used to go to Brockwell Park regularly with her Tai Chi group.

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Vadoom says on Jul 3, 2009, 07:26:

Remember Australian died in Kazakstan. His insurance company (dont know the name, something "A...") shipped his body back to Australia. It took a while because the company does not work in Kazakstan directly so they went through a bunch of insurers to find a way.

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Rikito says on Jul 3, 2009, 09:10:

yes...special benefits and more beneficial to my wife than me actually. that's all I want to say. I do get the body sent where I want; my wife gets a stipend and some other things. It has nothing to do with disabled veterans. More in line with the military and the NSA combo tours.

But, your comments have all been great so far. Even the funny ones. And especially the Lion Park. It reminds me of the story about two guys in Africa running away from a charging lion. One guy says to the other, "why aren't you running faster, you are much better than me? The slower guy says, "I only have to outrun you!"

...and so it goes

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Lowell says on Jul 3, 2009, 09:22:

Issues like SSA for my child, death benifts from my retirement and SSA, my bank account in the States, life insureance policy will all be a major problem for my wife. I´ve set up a friend/contact who speaks Spanish and can handle things Stateside. Put me in a cript, grave or cremate me. I don´t care.

Alfred E. Newman. "What. Me Worry?"

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dwmte7 says on Jul 3, 2009, 10:35:

well, lowell, since you don't really care, there's always those lions on the other side of the fence. and they're always hungry.

patriarch

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Lowell says on Jul 3, 2009, 11:40:

This old body? May make them sick and ruin their teeth trying to chew very tough meat.

Alfred E. Newman. "What. Me Worry?"

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Desideria (Moderator) (Trustee board) says on Jul 3, 2009, 11:43:

The bones might, however, be easy to crack.

A fronte praecipitium a tergo lupi

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lpdiver says on Jul 3, 2009, 11:43:

Reminds me of the joke about the biker couple that got separated at bike week. The old man washed up on shore covered in crabs. The ol lady told them to sell the crabs and send her the money and reset the bait.


ts

Remember what the monkey says, "Fuck money it's free"

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barrumundi says on Jul 3, 2009, 14:10:

Great Post!.......I say "What is the point of living......... if you cant joke about dying"!

http://poorbuthappy.com/yourthing/post/uploading-photos-for-dummies/

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Vadoom says on Jul 3, 2009, 17:02:

Ok, I found a carnet eventually.
Can someone explain what is this about?

http://www.mapfre.com.co/default.asp?contentID=35

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Lisa Zee says on Jul 3, 2009, 17:10:

♪ Cuando me muera no quiero que lloren, quiero que canten en ves de llorar♫

Vive la vida y deja vivir!.

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Rikito says on Jul 4, 2009, 09:28:

Not sure if it was mentioned in here yet, but in Colombia, the rules for a Will are very different from the US or other countries. Some of the more knowledgeable folks in here can give some better thoughts on this. For example, when it comes to money and possessions you do not need to stipulate anything in your Colombian Will because it is already addressed in the laws as to who gets what and how much.

Also, the document of the Living Will (I think) which says that doctors may not keep you alive on life support to let your die a normal death. The Colombian laws do not have such a thing.

And I will bet you all a jelly donut that any document will have to notarized, apostilled, put in Spanish, signed in donkey pee, with photos, etc. before it is legal. I am going to use an attorney to draft the Will for me and put in as much as I can. And again, if it is already in the Law you need not put it in your Will.

I would really appreciate it if someone knows of a Colombian web site that I can go to to get some "official" information.

Again, thanks for your responses.

...and so it goes

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dwmte7 says on Jul 4, 2009, 10:45:

if you're in medallo, rikito, pm me i have a good friend of many years who's an attorney and who's brother is a judge. i'll give you his name and tel number.
d

patriarch

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SonnyH says on Jul 4, 2009, 13:46:

Rikito

I post this type of question about a year ago and got all the nasties you can get. The bottom line is that cremation is the best. I priced it around $390.00 USD at the time. Read between the lines here and you will get the information you desire

On PBH since 2004 not a newbie

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Vadoom says on Jul 4, 2009, 18:14:

Rikito,

I posted the link above http://www.mapfre.com.co/default.asp?contentID=35. This is Spain insurance (real insurance, not medical organisation like EPS) company working in Latin America as well. I would ask someone Spanish speaking to translate the terms.

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