Attention Walmart Shoppers
See Today’s Special On Aisle 13
Well, are you sitting down? I was completely shocked three days ago when I ran across information that led me to believe that Walmart was selling ‘caskets’. Yep….you heard me right! CASKETS!
I immediately proceeded to the Walmart website, typed in “caskets” in the sites ’search’ window block and walla, there they were! All fourteen of them. And not only that but they also sell cremation urns for both pets and people, not to mention a few necklaces for keeping sample remains of your loved one to boot. Below is a webpage sampling.
(Click on image to enlarge)
Now do you believe me? Still don’t huh? Okay, then go to the Walmart website by clicking “here“, locate the ’search’ window near the top of the website page, type in either ‘casket’ or ‘funeral’ and see what comes up. Then you’ll have to believe me unless you think I have put a ‘Walmart Casket Virus’ into your computer somehow! 
Pet Urn – Adult Urn
(Click to enlarge)
At first I thought maybe this was all a hoax. You know, someone in Walmart upper management taking this Halloween thing just a little too serious but I’m slowly but surely beginning to think otherwise. I couldn’t resist doing a search for tombstones but all I got with that search for returns was movie titles. But I no longer put it out of the realm of possibility!
In closing I have to say in all seriousness…. “Did you see the prices on those caskets? Those are some seriously good prices if you’ve ever done any serious planning for one’s final internment, including the prices on those cremation urns!”
Although I have visited a couple of funeral homes in the past year or so getting some ideas on funeral costs, I have yet to commit to anything. I just may go ahead and order one of those Walmart caskets and just use it as an extra guest bed in my spare bedroom until I need it! 
Betty said,
October 28, 2009 at 3:35 pm
Well, I’m speechless! I wish I had known this before I posted my blog.
Rain said,
October 28, 2009 at 7:16 pm
They truly do sell everything! For me, I plan on cremation and definitely no urns.. ick… more like toss the ashes somewhere meaningful except I have no idea where that would be at the moment. We even own lots at a cemetery where our parents are buried but it doesn’t appeal to me to moulder in the ground. The fire seems such a clean way to dispose of what is no longer useful to the world.
A friend who worked in a mortuary tried to talk me out of it. Evidently it’s not exactly appealing to those who work there; but they won’t allow us to put bodies on platforms and set them on fire; so seems our options are limited.
The neatest cremation I heard of was a naturalist, explorer type who died in Africa and his body was set fire on such a platform on the edge of the Rift Valley. Totally cool idea but not practical for the rest of us.
Tina Steele Lindsey said,
October 28, 2009 at 9:26 pm
I am all too familiar with both processes. I will leave it at that.
BTW – have you begun to ration your Puffed Wheat?
Alan G said,
October 29, 2009 at 7:38 am
Rain….
Your comment reminded me of the movie titled “Rocket Gibraltar” which was released in 1988 and starred Burt Lancaster along with McCauley Caulkin. You might really enjoy it if you haven’t seen it at sometime in the past.
“Burt portrayed a loving father and grandfather who has had time to reflect on his life, and as a result, has expressed to his grandchildren his admiration for the Viking tradition of saying goodbye to their loved one as they pass on to Valhalla. His grandchildren take the time to understand his respect for this rich tradition, while their parents are too busy planning a birthday for the patriarch. McCauley Caulkin is wonderful as the youngest grandson. Burt quietly passes on the day of his birthday alone in his room. The children find him and unbeknownst to the grownups, take measures to ensure his wishes are fulfilled.”
That Viking tradition referred to above involved placing the body in a boat, setting it adrift on the sea and then as it drifts away from the shore, shooting flaming arrows at the boat setting it afire.
Indeed, as you eluded to, some of those rich, romantic traditions are lost in a modern world.
Tina….
Nope! Kroger remains quiet and elusive on the puffed wheat crisis.
Joy said,
October 29, 2009 at 10:44 am
Holy Guacamole! Caskets? What section are they in…..bedding? I’m afraid that’s a little too ‘oogie’ for me. I haven’t even gone there yet Alan. I don’t mean Walmart….I mean THERE. It was hard enough picking out an urn for my husband when he was cremated four years ago. I’m not sure I want to know I have that option when I walk into Walmart where I’ve bought toys for my grandkids. ‘Oogie.’
Alan G said,
October 30, 2009 at 5:21 am
Joy….
Well, I was just as curious as you were with regard to what section they had them listed under. According to the webpage on which they appear, they are currently listed under “For the Home”! 
Holy Guacamole…?
joared said,
November 1, 2009 at 3:17 am
Walmart leaves no stone unturned so look for tombstones next. Not much of anything they do anymore surprises me.
I think the burning that Rain describes is or has been quite prevalent elsewhere.
ellouise schoettler said,
November 4, 2009 at 10:02 am
Venerable storyteller Kathryn Windham (age 91) has a handmade coffin in her garage in Selma, Ala. She has not needed it since she had it made nearly 20 years ago so she stores her china in it. I recently heard her tell a funny and touching story about it to a standing room only tent of 1500 people at the National Storytelling Festival in Jonesborough, TN. She puts our modern consumer practices for burial in perspective. I once looked on the web for simple pine boxes ( made by monks somewhere in the US) but did not think it would last on my car port. Great post and responses Alan.