Embalmer of the day
“I had to rebuild it in nine hours. I used everything: duct tape, masking tape, tissue builder, wound filler … I put, like, coat hangers and caulk in there and put him into a little baby outfit … He looked awesome.” US embalmer Troy Schoeller on reconstructing the body of a baby. More on this story […]
Your caring undertaker knows best
From the current price list of a ‘family owned’ UK funeral director: “As the natural processes of decomposition begins immediately after death, any clients wishing to visit their deceased relative or friend in the Private Chapel of Rest must agree to the necessary preservation treatment being provided”. Discuss
Thought for the day
“I’ve always thought death would be like dreaming, but without the possibility of waking up. And in those dreams, as in our dreams in life, everyone will get what they want to some degree. For the atheists convinced everything will go blank, maybe it will.” Rogue scientist Rupert Sheldrake, author of The Science Delusion.
Take him, earth, for cherishing
Tony Piper, a very good friend of the GFG, whose wise and gentle counsel we value incredibly highly, sang these words the other night at a concert London. As he did so he wondered “What would be the most moving and powerful words of committal we could find, courtesy the GFG blog?” The words are from […]
Let’s make the case for funerals
Guest post by Rupert Callender, owner of The Green Funeral Company. Often this blog can trot nicely along with the usual suspects commenting dryly from the sidelines, a good natured conversation amongst friends. It’s easy to forget it has a wide, international readership, easy that is, until a seemingly innocuous post unleashes a Bay of […]
Time It’s Time
Nobody knows how long Rustling leaves unrhyme Lullaby breeze unsung Babel of dreams unwinds in memory As bad as bad becomes It’s not a part of you And love is only sleeping Wrapped in neglect Time it’s time to live, Time it’s time to live through the pain Time it’s time to live now that […]
Wind beneath our wings — but our art will go on
As of tomorrow, Tuesday, the good ship GFG is going to acquire a Marie Celeste ambience. Its bloggertariat, the opinionated and infuriating Charles, and his fellow scribbler, the judicious and even-handed Vale, are escaping for a few days. There will be a deathly hush in the blog — maybe the occasional curt utterance, nothing more. […]
Brass is best
Lawrence Ferlinghetti wrote a poem about them. Novelist Amy Tan’s mother was serenaded by them as she lay in state. Muckraker Jessica Mitford’s memorial procession was led by them. And more than 300 Chinese families a year hire the Green Street Mortuary Band to give their loved ones a proper and musical send-off through the […]
Fact of the day
Just over three-quarters of public health funerals conducted in 2010/11 were for men. Stat generated by the Chartered Institute of Environmental Health. More here.
A case of miserable mismatch
Spare a thought this morning for Lynda Hannah, owner of Living Legacies, a green funeral company in New Zealand with an alternative, less than rigidly formal approach to funerals. Ms Hannah likes to empower families to play their part, do what they can, take ownership. There are funeral directors of her ilk in the UK. Perhaps, after […]
