Death is a thank you
From the New Zealand Herald: Greytown’s Mary Wait likes to be prepared for her adventures – death included. The 85-year-old has hand-painted her own coffin. Mary bought the coffin from a funeral director and painted it in 1994, although she was not expecting to die any time soon. “I think a funeral is a way of […]
No smoke without…
Hastings District Council has closed the chapel at the crematorium due to concerns over its earthquake strength. More here In Germany, a van carrying 12 coffins to a crematorium was stolen while the drivers enjoyed a comfort break. Here.
The kindness of strangers, UK vs US
Alexandra Frean is The Times’ bureau chief in Washington. She is British. When her husband died suddenly, one of my first thoughts was: “We’re all alone in a strange place.” But I was wrong. We were not alone. News of our plight spread around our neighbourhood within hours because the woman next door, unaware of […]
Gamble on the future
The GFG sends its congratulations and very best wishes to Stroud funeral director Michael Gamble, his wife Clare and all of the team as they prepare for tomorrow’s ceremonial opening of their lovely new funeral home. There to do the honours and snip the tape will be… our own Richard Honeysett.
Call it quits
From the Oxford Times: The former owner of Oxford’s last independent funeral directors has spoken of the difficult decision she made in selling the business. S & R Childs, which has four branches in the city, is now part of Dignity, the UK’s biggest provider of funeral services. Sandra Homewood was one of the founders […]
Thoughts of a funeral-goer
Posted by Lyra Mollington After last week’s trials and tribulations, I was looking forward to a week of rest and reflection. Mr M suggested a short break. Unfortunately, at our age, the stress of packing and travelling cancels out any benefits of getting away from it all. In any case, ‘it all’ is a centrally-heated […]
Outraged tweet
Michael Sadgrove (@Sadgrovem) 18/10/2012 18:38 At funeral undertakers push coffin in & out of Cathedral in procession on a trolley. Don’t deceased deserve dignity of pallbearers any more? Michael Sadgrove is the Dean of Durham Cathedral. Hat-tip: Tony Piper
Bring on the best
The US version of the NAFD is the NFDA. The NFDA has a Pursuit of Excellence Program. Here’s what they say about it: Pursuit of Excellence is the premiere recognition program for funeral service, setting standards of excellence that motivate funeral home staff, inspire innovation and sustain consumer confidence in the funeral profession. NFDA’s Pursuit […]
Looking out for your own
Bradford undertaker David Birch, who died last weekend aged 74, will be borne into church by six undertakers at his funeral tomorrow. It’s a touching tribute to a man who was described as a ‘perfectionist’. The Bradford Telegraph and Argus adds: Although Mr Birch had retired in his sixties, he never let go of the […]
What to say at the really difficult ones?
It was an extraordinary business. You may have read about it. Back in May of this year, a grandmother shot dead her 17 year-old grandson in leafy suburb of Detroit. She’s in prison now, awaiting trial. Goodness knows what really went on. She looks harmless enough, and her grandson, Jonathan, doesn’t necessarily seem to have […]
