Wake up, Pepaw!

My dad passed away in 2001, and my nephew, Brandt, was about 4 years old. He called my dad Pepaw, thought he hung the moon. He wanted to do everything Pepaw did. At the wake, my mother was sitting in a chair at the head of the casket and Brandt asked if he could get […]

Four Funerals And No Wedding

By Guest Contributor Barry Slocombe The life of a funeral celebrant is rewarding. It can also be highly challenging. Earlier this year, Celebrant Barry Slocombe found out just how challenging. He decided to share his experience with us so that we could get a peek behind the curtain and see just what life is like […]

Buddhist Service Story

I work at a mortuary and cemetery and had a Buddhist funeral and casket burial. they selected white-winged dove stationary (normally Christian) but that is what they wanted for their mom. In the arrangement, they decided they wanted to do a dove release at the graveside, but didn’t want to spend what we charge- so […]

My First Funeral

My first funeral was in 2015 when I lost my grandmother. Not only was this my first funeral it was also my first real loss of a family member. I had to travel the next day from my boarding school in MA to Boston and then onto Pittsburg where the funeral was being held. While […]

Are we right to complain on how our father was handled?

My Father passed away at the beginning of November, and his funeral was not held until this week. The Funeral home keep our Father stored in another home out of area, as their establishment was under refurbishments. He was too far away to for my mum to travel to. The Refurb was not completed until […]

Flower Sprays Usually seen on closed caskets

I just attended my Cousin’s service, which was held at a Lutheran Church where her husband used to be the Pastor before he retired. I was surprised/ shocked that no visible flowers were on her closed casket from her husband or two grown children; all of whom are successful business people. Was the absence of […]

2nd interment question

Recently my grandmother passed and the funeral and service went well. 5 years prior my father passed away and was cremated. Me and my siblings had not decided on his final location. So at the service for my grandmother we decided to lay him to rest with my grandmother. My grandfather agreed to have his […]

Anecdotes for Arrangements

My cousin and I helped my Aunt shop for an outfit for our Grandmother to be laid out in. We picked out a beautiful purple (Grandma’s favorite color) dress, and my Aunt wanted shoes to match. We found a very pretty matching pair of sandals, but my Aunt said, “The heel is too high. Grandmom […]

Infant boy funeral clothing 1960

I don’t know if anyone can answer this, but here goes: My baby brother was born alive in 1961 in Texas, but died a few moments after birth. My mom never saw him and wasn’t allowed to go to the funeral. We have 1 picture that my uncle took of him. I am restoring that […]

Ripped off by Funeral Home Bill.

Not sure if this is the right place to seek advise on my situation but I am sure many others fell the same way I do and can use help. I was pressured into signing a funeral contract in the excess of $10,000+ right after visiting my mother in the funeral home. Despite asking for […]