Ask a mortician
Replies
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Truly interesting thread. How is the book coming along? Is that person still coughing when you're alone?0
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LittleHearseDriver wrote: »
The tackiest thing I've ever seen was a guy who showed up to his girlfriend's funeral drunk.He wasn't a pleasant one either. He went up to the casket and began making out with her. When the service was over and it was time to close the casket, he went into a rage and started calling us mother effers for closing it.
OH DEAR GOD....4 -
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I have read most of this so if this has already been asked I apologize for asking again.
How do you fit very large people who wish to be buried into a casket? Very obese or just very tall?
Are there special caskets that can be purchased? What about someone who is let's say close to 7' tall.0 -
gottennis_2 wrote: »I have read most of this so if this has already been asked I apologize for asking again.
How do you fit very large people who wish to be buried into a casket? Very obese or just very tall?
Are there special caskets that can be purchased? What about someone who is let's say close to 7' tall.
We have oversize caskets that are wider and longer for big individuals. The trick to help tall people fit is to bend their knees
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That would so be my luck to be shipped into the ever-lasting with compromised leg room...
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Apologies if it's been asked (I searched but may not have been up on the search terms), but how do you feel about the Order of the Good Death and/or the concept of home funerals? I'd love to get another perspective on this.
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Laurie6578 wrote: »That would so be my luck to be shipped into the ever-lasting with compromised leg room...
I hate the idea of being crammed into a box and buried under dirt.
Instead, throw my ashes into the breeze around Lake Tahoe.
Either that or mix my ashes into a powder and sell me at Neiman Marcus' cosmetic counter as the world's best foundation.8 -
Lake Tahoe works but I like the idea of the cosmetics counter better..lol0
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I started a reading a book called "Stiff: the curious lives of human cadavers" a while back by Mary Roach that deals with alot of what you have been sharing, but also goes into organ donation, donation to science and such. I have read through this whole thread and am impressed with your tactfulness and your thoughtful answers. I also think you should write that book...or at least start keeping notes so that you can write it later (you'd be amazed at what you can forget--even things you never thought you'd forget--over time).
And I just want to add--in the most un-creepy manner--I hope you realize how adorable you are!7 -
foxandflora wrote: »Apologies if it's been asked (I searched but may not have been up on the search terms), but how do you feel about the Order of the Good Death and/or the concept of home funerals? I'd love to get another perspective on this.
I follow Caitlin Doughty on Facebook. Last year I read her book When Smoke Gets in Your Eyes and I was disappointed with it. She is very anti-embalming and anti- funeral home. Don't get me wrong, there are a few individuals who are in the funeral business for the wrong reasons and they take advantage of families, but not all of us are like that. She claims her business "Undertaking L.A." is a non-profit organization, but on the website she has a price list. undertakingla.com/ For $996 she gathers the death certificate information and gives the family a class on how to bath and dress the deceased. I think I'd much rather spend my $996 else where, but that's me.
Ms. Doughty paints a picture of preparing the body as a magically experience. Its really full of dirty Depends and cleaning boogers out of their noses. Bathing and dressing a loved one who be too hard on a family. Who really wants to see their grandmother naked? In my opinion, there are numerous other ways to help the family feel included in the final send off. Its very common for a family member to fix the deceased's hair. They could even close the casket or put the first shovel full of dirt in the grave.7 -
Thank you @abrubru0
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I started a reading a book called "Stiff: the curious lives of human cadavers" a while back by Mary Roach that deals with alot of what you have been sharing, but also goes into organ donation, donation to science and such. I have read through this whole thread and am impressed with your tactfulness and your thoughtful answers. I also think you should write that book...or at least start keeping notes so that you can write it later (you'd be amazed at what you can forget--even things you never thought you'd forget--over time).
And I just want to add--in the most un-creepy manner--I hope you realize how adorable you are!
While we wait for what I'm sure will be an awesome book by the OP, here's another vote for Mary Roach's "Stiff" -- a very illuminating description about the process and business of death. She also does a great job covering the efforts to try and weigh the human soul. Highly recommended.2 -
"You've seen one ,you've seen them all" ...Ur Adorable ....2
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By law, is it necessary to have a concrete barrier surrounding the grave?
A.C.E. Certified Personal and Group Fitness Trainer
IDEA Fitness member
Kickboxing Certified Instructor
Been in fitness for 30 years and have studied kinesiology and nutrition
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By law, is it necessary to have a concrete barrier surrounding the grave?
A.C.E. Certified Personal and Group Fitness Trainer
IDEA Fitness member
Kickboxing Certified Instructor
Been in fitness for 30 years and have studied kinesiology and nutrition
In Tennessee, vaults are not required by law. Each cemetery has their own rules.Most city cemeteries require them and ones out in the rural areas do not.0 -
Are you typing and embalming at the same time right now?
A.C.E. Certified Personal and Group Fitness Trainer
IDEA Fitness member
Kickboxing Certified Instructor
Been in fitness for 30 years and have studied kinesiology and nutrition
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Have you seen this movie "Bernie" staring Jack Black? Its kinda funny, kinda creepy, and kinda true.
https://youtu.be/YJuhWKcY_6U 1 -
Yes and I loved it! He's out on parole now.1
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Oh wow. I didn't know that. And I'm glad. 0
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Why do you drain the blood exactly, to preserve the body I know...but why, would it not hold up,for the funeral? What happens to all the waste....etc...bio company comes, removes, burns? Is there a smell in the retort room? Do the ashes smell? People always say never bury the person with jewelry because people steal it..but do they really? Are you ever scared being alone in the funeral home. Do you believe In The Afterlife? Thank you.0
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Lol this thread though..How does this fit in with diet, excersise my fitness pal* Im so confused right now hahaha0
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Have you buried any one famous? Or anyone hated?
A.C.E. Certified Personal and Group Fitness Trainer
IDEA Fitness member
Kickboxing Certified Instructor
Been in fitness for 30 years and have studied kinesiology and nutrition
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Have you every dealt with someone who had Alopecia? What were your thoughts on that?0
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As a former animal euthanasia technician, I don't know why I haven't thought to ask, but
1.) Have you ever been asked to do a funeral for an animal? If not, would you?
2.) To go with #1 - could you embalm an animal or would you even be able too?
3.) If so, would it be the same as humans? If not, could you elaborate?
4.) Has anyone ever come in to where you work and asked about the previous two questions (#1 and #2)?
5.) Have you ever buried a pet (already deceased) with their owner...considering that the animal is cremated? If not, would you and can you (as in would you be allowed)?
6.) What are your thoughts on animals and the afterlife?
7.) How, if in any way, does or doesn't it play into your personal beliefs?
Have I mentioned how fascinating this thread is?2 -
Times like this make me wish I had kept my embalming text book so I could show y'all pictures. I'll put it on my Amazon wish list right now.Flyingwarrior1966 wrote: »Why do you drain the blood exactly, to preserve the body I know...but why, would it not hold up,for the funeral? What happens to all the waste....etc...bio company comes, removes, burns? Is there a smell in the retort room? Do the ashes smell? People always say never bury the person with jewelry because people steal it..but do they really? Are you ever scared being alone in the funeral home. Do you believe In The Afterlife? Thank you.
1)The reason we drain the blood is to slow down decomposition and to stop discoloration. After a few hours the blood will begin to settle at the lowest point like the pulp in orange juice and when it settles it leaves a big bruise which is called post mortem stain. If someone dies face down and lays there for too long, we cannot get all of the discoloration out through embalming. The good news is we can cover almost anything with make up if things don't go well.
2) A medical waste company picks up our hazardous waste once a month. They burn it at their facility.
3)Ashes and the retort don't have a smell. It is very dusty though.
4) I've never had the desire to steal from a dead person. It would be very obvious if you stole something because they family is normally standing there when the casket is closed.
5) It doesn't scare me a bit. I look forward to the quite days when we don't have anything going in. It's very peaceful and I'm not bothered.
6) I believe in Heaven and Hell and that our life choices determine where we end up.2 -
Have you buried any one famous? Or anyone hated?
A.C.E. Certified Personal and Group Fitness Trainer
IDEA Fitness member
Kickboxing Certified Instructor
Been in fitness for 30 years and have studied kinesiology and nutrition
No, I live in a small town. We don't have anyone famous here.Have you every dealt with someone who had Alopecia? What were your thoughts on that?
No, but I've taken care of several bald men. I think it would be very crappy to lose your hair.0 -
kellylynnshonting wrote: »As a former animal euthanasia technician, I don't know why I haven't thought to ask, but
1.) Have you ever been asked to do a funeral for an animal? If not, would you?
2.) To go with #1 - could you embalm an animal or would you even be able too?
3.) If so, would it be the same as humans? If not, could you elaborate?
4.) Has anyone ever come in to where you work and asked about the previous two questions (#1 and #2)?
5.) Have you ever buried a pet (already deceased) with their owner...considering that the animal is cremated? If not, would you and can you (as in would you be allowed)?
6.) What are your thoughts on animals and the afterlife?
7.) How, if in any way, does or doesn't it play into your personal beliefs?
Have I mentioned how fascinating this thread is?
I've never embalmed an animal. If I could find the carotid artery and the jugular vein, I could do it. No one has ever asked me to, but if they did I would say no. We bury people with their pets ashes all the time. You can put anything you want in the casket with them. In the Bible it mentions animals being in heaven so I believe we'll see our fur children again one day☺1 -
have you ever had to get someone ready for burial and thought "damn this ole boy should have been an organ donor?"0
Life has been a little hectic. I still hear the occasional cough.
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