About Puerto Rico . . . Death/TITLE> <link rel="stylesheet" type="text/css" href="default.css"> <META NAME="keywords" CONTENT="Puerto Rico,Death, dying, causes of death, "><META NAME="description" CONTENT="Information about Death in Puerto Rico."> </head> <BODY bgcolor="#ff0000" /> <table height="100" width="100%"><tbody><tr><td width="30%"> <span style="background-color:000000;"><font face="Georgia, Times New Roman, Times, serif" size="3"><font face="Georgia, Times New Roman, Times, serif" size="3"> <a href="http://www.dollarman.com"target="_top">www.dollarman.com</a></font></font></span><br /><font color=#333300 size=+1>About Puerto Rico: <br /><h1>Death</h1></font> <br /> </td> <td width="70%"align="right"> <script language="JavaScript" src="http://www.dollarman.com/rotablead.js"> </script> <noscript><b>This article will only display in JavaScript enabled browsers.</b></noscript>  </td></tr></tbody></table> <TABLE BORDER="0" CELLPADDING=0 CELLSPACING=0 width="800" align="center"> <TR><TD valign="top" colspan="3"> <p align="left"> <script language="JavaScript" src="date.js"></script></p> <br /><br />  <script language="JavaScript" src="menu.js"> </script> <noscript><b>This article will only display in JavaScript enabled browsers.</b></noscript>  <br /><br /> </TD></TR> <TR><TD valign="top">  <TABLE BORDER="0" CELLPADDING=0 CELLSPACING=0 width="800"> <TR><TD colspan="3"> <TR><TD bgcolor="#ffffff"> <br /><br /> <P class="textdark"> The principal causes of death in Puerto Rico are heart and cardiovascular diseases. Many such deaths are attributed to smoking and to high cholesterol levels due to insufficient exercise, overweight and unhealthy diets. Cancer also accounts for many deaths. Violent deaths are mostly related to drug traffic. Crimes of passion are quite prevalent. Traffic accidents also account for many deaths each year. </p> <p class="textdark"> On the other hand, Puerto Rico has one of the highest longevity expectancy rates in the world.</p> <p class="textdark"> <table border="2" bgcolor="#000000"><tr><td><p class="light">Related Puerto Rican traditions (now almost forgotten):<br> Baquiné - wake or vigil ceremony upon the death of a child, with African guaguancó songs and music.<br><br>Luto (mourning) - upon the death of a loved one, close relatives would dress in black (luto) for one year, black and white (medio luto) for another year and a third year in white. People paying their respects at the wake and burial would also dress in black or dark colors.<br><br>In small towns around the island, it was customary for the church bells to be rung while a Catholic was arriving in his coffin for the last rites in church. Local businessmen would show their respect by closing their store doors and standing in front while the burial procession was passing by.<br><br> El Baquiné de Angelitos Negros - 1977 song by Willie Colón, popular singer </td></tr></table></p> <p class="textdark"> In case of any death outside a hospital institution, the Puerto Rico Police Department must be notified. The Police Department will request that a representative from the State Prosecutor's Office be present at the scene of death and order removal of the corpse. An autopsy will be required in most instances where the cause of death is not certified by a medical doctor licensed to practice in Puerto Rico. </p> <p class="textdark"> Among the choices available to the survivors of anyone who dies in Puerto Rico are:<br><br> burial in a cemetery in Puerto Rico. All the municipalities operate cemeteries which permit burial at affordable fees. There are also private cemeteries at major cities. Veterans of any of the Armed Forces of the United States of America may be buried at a Veteran's cemetery in the Greater San Juan Metropolitan Area.<br><br> embalming in Puerto Rico and air shipment of the corpse to any other destination for burial <br><br> cremation in Puerto Rico (the ashes may remain in Puerto Rico or may be sent to any destination). <br><br> The best source of information on any of these options is a funeral director. Funeral parlors are listed under <i>Funerarias</i> in the Yellow Pages. <br><br> The Inheritance Laws of Puerto Rico would apply in most cases of the death of a resident of Puerto Rico. The best source of information on the subject would be an attorney or <A class="light"HREF="accounting"target="_blank"> accountant</A> who specializes in this subject. <br /> <br /> To request a death certificate by mail, download the required form from:<br /> <a href="http://www.salud.gov.pr/RD/Hoja%20Defuncion%20Ingl.htm">Registro Demográfico</a>.The principal causes of death in Puerto Rico are heart and cardiovascular diseases. Many such deaths are attributed to smoking and to high cholesterol levels due to insufficient exercise, overweight and unhealthy diets. Cancer also accounts for many deaths. Violent deaths are mostly related to drug traffic. Crimes of passion are quite prevalent. Traffic accidents also account for many deaths each year. </p> <p class="textdark"> On the other hand, Puerto Rico has one of the highest longevity expectancy rates in the world..</p> <p class="textdark"> <table border="2" bgcolor="#000000"><tr><td><p class="light">Related Puerto Rican traditions (now almost forgotten):<br> Baquiné - wake or vigil ceremony upon the death of a child, with African guaguancó songs and music.<br><br>Luto (mourning) - upon the death of a loved one, close relatives would dress in black (luto) for one year, black and white (medio luto) for another year and a third year in white. People paying their respects at the wake and burial would also dress in black or dark colors.<br><br>In small towns around the island, it was customary for the church bells to be rung while a Catholic was arriving in his coffin for the last rites in church. Local businessmen would show their respect by closing their store doors and standing in front while the burial procession was passing by.<br><br> El Baquiné de Angelitos Negros - 1977 song by Willie Colón, popular singer </td></tr></table></p> <p class="textdark"> In case of any death outside a hospital institution, the Puerto Rico Police Department must be notified. The Police Department will request that a representative from the State Prosecutors Office be present at the scene of death and order removal of the corpse. An autopsy will be required in most instances where the cause of death is not certified by a medical doctor licensed to practice in Puerto Rico. </p> <p class="textdark"> Among the choices available to the survivors of anyone who dies in Puerto Rico are:<br><br> burial in a cemetery in Puerto Rico. All the municipalities operate cemeteries which permit burial at affordable fees. There are also private cemeteries at major cities. Veterans of any of the Armed Forces of the United States of America may be buried at a Veteran's cemetery in the Greater San Juan Metropolitan Area.<br><br> embalming in Puerto Rico and air shipment of the corpse to any other destination for burial <br><br> cremation in Puerto Rico (the ashes may remain in Puerto Rico or may be sent to any destination). <br><br> The best source of information on any of these options is a funeral director. Funeral parlors are listed under <i>Funerarias</i> in the Yellow Pages. <br><br> The Inheritance Laws of Puerto Rico would apply in most cases of the death of a resident of Puerto Rico. The best source of information on the subject would be an attorney or <A class="light"HREF="accounting"target="_blank"> accountant</A> who specializes in this subject. <br /> <br /> To request a death certificate by mail, download the required form from:<br /> <a href="http://www.salud.gov.pr/RD/Hoja%20Defuncion%20Ingl.htm">Registro Demográfico</a>. </p> <br /><br /> <p class="textdark">If you cannot find the information you need, <a class="light" HREF="http://www.dollarman.com/mail.shtml"target="_blank">CONTACT US</A> and we will try to help you find it.</p>  </td> <TD valign=top>  <TABLE BORDER=0 CELLPADDING=0 CELLSPACING=0 width="208"> <br /> <TR> <br /> <p align="center"> <IFRAME SRC="http://www.dollarman.com/textad.html" WIDTH=160 HEIGHT=600> </iframe> </p> </TD></tr></TABLE>   <TABLE BORDER=0 CELLPADDING=0 CELLSPACING=0 width="208"> <TD bgcolor="#ffffff"> <br /> <p align="center"> <table border=2 bordercolor=red><tr><td>  <script language="JavaScript" src="leftrotableprad.js"> </script> <noscript><b>This section will only display in JavaScript enabled browsers.</b></noscript>  </td></tr></table> </p> <p class="textdark"> </TD></TR></TABLE> </td></tr></table> <p><hr /></p> <table width="80%" align="center"bgcolor="#ffffff"><tr><td>  <script language="JavaScript" src="mainchannels_pr.js"> </script> <noscript><b>This article will only display in JavaScript enabled browsers.</b></noscript>  </td></tr></table> </BODY> </HTML>