It’s time to bury old-fashioned funerals, now it’s all diamonds and online shows

EVERYONE said she was a gem. Now, just eight ounces of cremated remains is all it takes to turn your mother into a diamond.

In fact, there’s enough carbon in those ashes to make about 20 gems. And there will still be several pounds of ashes left over to display on the mantelpiece.

So far, nobody’s ordered more than 11 diamonds, said Dean VandenBiesen, vice president of operations for LifeGem, which uses

super-hot ovens to transform ashes to graphite and then presses the stone into blue and yellow diamonds that retail for anywhere from €2,700 to €20,000.

“It’s not for everyone,” VandenBiesen admitted, adding that for those who do chose to immortalise their loved ones in jewellery, the experience is extremely positive.

“We have people that approach us who have just experienced a tragedy and they say I can’t wait, I’m so excited about this,” he said.

The success of LifeGem is just one example of a radical shift in the funeral industry, said Mark Musgrove, immediate past president of the National Funeral Directors Association.

Americans are moving away from traditional funerals and are seeking instead less sombre occasions that reflect the personality of the deceased.

While a decline in religiosity has contributed to the shift, Mr Musgrove said it’s mainly a reflection of a cultural phenomenon.

“Back in the 1960s the baby boomers were getting married in scuba gear,” he said. “They’re getting older and they have the same individualism.”

Jeff Barrette is leaning on a maroon motorcycle, his leather vest and scull and crossbones bandana a striking change from the dark suits of most of his customers.

The carrying cases for the Barrette urns are specially constructed to fit on the back of a bike in case “you want to take your buddy for a ride.”

Memorial videos and websites, however, are a bustling business, said Joe Joachim, president of funeralOne, who has signed up 1,500 funeral homes in the past five months.

“Our ultimate goal is creating the ultimate funeral experience,” Mr Joachim said. “We want to make this a celebration of life and take it to the next level.”