death and funeral history
Timeless Urn Idea
One fella came up with a particularly clever way to hold his grandmother’s cremated remains: A DIY hourglass, as depicted above. If you follow this link, you will find a step-by-step image guide on imgur. This is definitely one of the most clever urns I’ve seen yet. Kudos!
What’s The Difference Between A Coffin and a Casket?
Great question! The answer is: Not much at the end of the day, as they are both boxes designed to hold and transport the dead. Really, the primary difference comes down to shape. The word coffin dates back to about the 16th century. It typically has six or eight sides, tapering down toward the feet.[…]
Death Doula Diary – The Up-sell
Today I will share with you a scenario from one specific funeral I provided support through, but unfortunately, it is similar to a scene I’ve seen played out many times before. This funeral was for a young man in his early 20s who had died of a suspected suicide. His parents were, as[…]
Mourning Jewelry Artifact – Mr. & Mrs. Washington
Another lovely piece of mourning jewelry, this contains a lock of George Washington’s hair, as well as one of Martha Washington’s hair. Again, such a fascinating custom, and one I am so surprised to see has fallen out of fashion. It sometimes seems that anything that connects us with death, that doesn’t just[…]
Why I Became a Mourning Doula
The following was posted as a guest post over at “Confessions of a Funeral Director”: I’ve been around death A LOT. When I was 4 one of my playmates, a 5 y/o, died of an asthma attack. They buried her and planted a tree at school in her memory. I couldn’t wrap my[…]
Cardboard Coffins
Yes folks, cardboard coffins. This isn’t some kind of joke, nor is it meant as any kind of insult to the dead. Don’t think it is necessarily for the poor, either – in fact, the opposite can be true. Those who are educated and thinking about the end are more increasingly opting for natural,[…]
Natural Burial Map – Providers & Cemeteries
You can click here to find a map of providers & cemeteries that have signed a pledge to support Natural Burial.
Is Exploding Casket Syndrome For Real?
I’ve been asked on a number of occasions if caskets can really explode, or if this is just an urban legend. Actually – and not so astonishingly when you think about it – it is true. Be forewarned, a somewhat graphic description follows. If you have a weak stomach, or don’t want to think about[…]
Lovely Mourning Brooch
Mourning Jewelry is jewelry worn after the loss of a loved one. At one point it was given out by wealthier families after a death. Mourning Jewelry is typically made of jet, ebony, onyx, or bog oak. In many instances hair is woven into it, or there is a compartment to hold a lock[…]