Thinking about non-elites and mortuary pattern led me to consider how the unfortunate homeless are treated at death. The information is a little scant, unless discussing US homeless veterans, but here in Canada we'll look at Ontario as an example... because that's what popped up first.
When a homeless person passes away, and there is no family to contact, it is the municipality's responsibility under the Anatomy Act to properly bury the deceased person. The city coroner issues an "Order to Bury" and the city pays the bill for the bare minimum in services. As well, there is cooperation with the free press, who have agreed to print a death notice for one day (cited).
Interestingly, although there seems to be a sense of humanity, there is very much a sense of legality. According to an article by Cory Habermehl on the New Media Journalism website, "unclaimed bodies" receive a funerary service as well, in order to prevent future legal problems.
Apparently, "family or friends who show up after the burial has taken place can claim they were not given the proper chance to say goodbye, and a lawsuit could potentially be filed" writes Habermehl.
Why a family who has no connection to a particular family member, to the point where they were completely unaware of their death, would sue a funeral home for not giving that person a "proper burial" is sort of beyond me. But, I guess that is because of my mainly secular upbringing. Everyone in my family that had passed away during my lifetime has been cremated, and I have only been to one interment of ashes. For me, it is not about all this ritual to make peace, but it is up to an individual to do so for themselves.
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