Chuckle of the day
A friend was in a minicab when he leaned over and gently tapped the driver on the shoulder. The cabbie screamed, lost control of the car, drove over the kerb and stopped inches from a large plate glass window. The driver said “I’m so sorry but you scared me”. My shaken friend apologised. The driver replied “It’s entirely […]
University of death
Hardly anyone buying a funeral pauses to consider whether or not an undertaker is formally trained. Consumers are trusting people. They suppose that he or she is. Well, it ain’t necessarily so. Training for funeral directors is presently in something of a dark, even unstable, place. The foundation degree course at the University of Bath […]
A very bad day at Age UK
Age UK (formerly Help the Aged) has issued a grovelling press release in the wake of the FSA investigation into HSBC and its subsidiary NHFA, which between 2005-10 missold bonds to cover long-term care costs. Clients, average age 83, were recommended to invest for 5 years — longer than they were expected to live. Under […]
Regrets of the dying
Over on Inspiration and Chai Bronnie Ware describes how, working in palliative care, she would often find herself listening to people’s regrets – all the things they wished they had done in their lives. Some common themes emerged. This is her top five: I wish I’d had the courage to live a life true […]
The best disinfectant part 1
There’s no beating around the bush here: funeral pricing must be more transparent. Most funeral directors are careful, honest and, often, painfully aware of the costs that people face when someone dies. They run businesses, but know that they are also offering a service that affects people’s well being at the deepest levels. For the […]
The extra-rational power of ritual
By Richard Rawlinson Our host has suggested I write a post on the ‘extra-rational power of ritual’ – extra-rational being the function of the brain termed our imagination as opposed to the function that’s purely rational; ritual being the act of sanctifying actions – even ordinary actions – so that they have meaning. To sanctify, […]
Monday morning smile
About ten years ago I had just introduced Father Thomas O’Hara, president of King’s College at the time, as speaker for the annual Our Lady of Mount Carmel Holy Name Society Smoker and took my seat at the head table next to Father Paul Mc Donnell. No sooner had Father O’Hara begun his talk when […]
The priestly calling of embalming
Say what you like about embalming, a lot of the people who do it feel like this about it. Bergeron had been in seminary four years when he lost his calling, drawn more to the prospect of marriage and having a family. He was 32, an aspiring poet and essayist as versed in the music […]
Quote of the day
“We should never think of the funeral as a business.” Buddhist priest, Japan.
Funeral cake
This is from the New York Times: SPECIAL occasions of every sort feature food and funerals are no exception. In many cultures, there are foods that are customarily served after a funeral. The funeral cakes that were traditional in some denominations in this country, mostly Protestant, were often meant not only to provide refreshment […]
