www.byzcath.org Forums General Discussions Town Hall Is this disturbing?

I never realized that some caskets are imported. I thought every casket bought in America was American made.

Etnick:

Actually they can be rather good knock-offs of American caskets. It's in the finish--some finishes have come that are not smooth: something like your car having a "sandy feel" finish rather than smooth. Or the cover not quite fitting tightly on a casket is supposed to be a gasket-sealed unit. Now I don't sell anything based on any promise of what a maker might warrant--the FTC Rule forbids that--but people ought to get what they pay for and what they want. It's up to me to know my merchandise and provide the best I can find at every price bracket to those who trust me. I have a personal rule: I won't sell anything to you I wouldn't use for my own mother, regardless of the price bracket--no exceptions.

I make it my business to know the goods, to know my suppliers, and to be tough when it comes to shortcuts I see. They don't groan, "Oh man, here he comes," for nothing.

BOB

VA refused to provide even a cardboard box for a friend of mine who died in January, an honorably discharged wartime veteran. (i've seen his dd-214.)

"Earth to earth, ashes to ashes, dust to dust"....decomposition is slow oxidation, cremation is rapid oxidation. The end result is the same, just takes many more decades to be reached.

While doing some genealogical research I came across a report of the exhumation of the old Shoops' Church cemetery near Harrisburg, Pennsylania, during the construction of the "Eisenhower Interchange".

The report stated that in most of the 19th century graves all that was found was about a 1/8 to 1/4 layer of gray powder--basically the same "stuff" as cremains.

May I suggest Jessica Mitford's excellent book The American Way of Death.

When the time comes, please provide my mortal remains with an inexpensive wooden coffin.

Fr. Serge

From how he put it, I was confused by the setup there. I can understand that.

I do wonder now about the quality of the caskets. If my family ever asks, I won't be too picky.

Terry

aramis:

The VA doesn't provide any casket for anyone. That's not among VA benefits for vets with an honorable DD-214. VA benefits were severely restricted under the Reagan budget cuts in 1981--in fact, they kicked in on the day my father died; another honorably discharged vet.

Terry:

As far as quality goes, it's all about what a family decides. The problem for me gets down to liability exposure if there is a disinterment and the family believes they did not receive what they thought they did. It isn't all that simple anymore with our litigious society. I've supervised several such moves and things can get really nasty in one hurry.

BOB

Father Serge:

Father bless!!

They are certainly available. What most people don't understand is that this particular piece of merchandise is < to about 19% of what a traditonal funeral costs.

BOB

If you like parody, then "The Loved One" by Evelyn Waugh is the book for you.

What disturbs me is the notion held by many people that lavish expenditures on funeral/"death care" merchandise is a suitable response to a death. Lotsa flowers; a spiffy air-tight, water-proof, soil-proof casket with a gasket. Forget Masses for the soul of the deceased. Forget about memorial donations to pro-life causes, struggling monasteries and poor missionaries.

Re. alternative sources for coffins, visit:
stmarksworkshop.com
abbeycaskets.com
trappistcaskets.com

I like our Funeral Director's method

He stocks one variety of coffin - no others - it's nice, plain, unfussy and can be used for either interment or Cremation

When it comes to funeralizing people, the Orthodox Jews have us gentiles put to shame.
Their method is quick, no viewing, earth burial in a wooden coffin deliberately designed for rapid decomposition, and NO FLOWERS. From my Eastern Christian perspective, ttheir funerals are a bit bleak but to the point.

Anyone care to start a discussion about veneration of saints' relics and incorruption of the bodies of saints?

"Forget about memorial donations to pro-life causes, struggling monasteries and poor missionaries."

Those are good ideas.

Terry

I've been in funeral service for 43+ years. I've seen the full panorama of emotions and reactions and beliefs and purchases made.

I've been asked what I would do for myself and it shocks some of my colleagues. I have selected a very plain wodden casket with a flat-topped lid. I have a large icon of the Crucifixion I made with a print on a panel of wood I obtained from my grandfather's estate (he was a cabinetmaker). I want it screwed onto the flat lid. I want to be buried with the casket touching the ground and the caveproff container required by our cemetery turned upside down--so I comply with their requirement that graves do not settle--but that there will be no lid to keep anything out. (They don't allow a canvas sack under the concrete container so that's out.)

Actually if I could be buried like some of the monks--just put me in the grave and fill over me, I'd do it but the cemetery rules get in the way.

I'm not that important that I should have some thought of preservation. If the Good Lord should see fit to make sure I'm incorruptible, so be it. If not, His Will be done.

BOB

Father Edward Doherty - Memory Eternal - was buried in a very plain box (even the handles were made of rope) in the parish cemetery adjacent to Madonna House in Combermere. He had not wanted one of those revolting plush "caskets", and his wife also vetoed the idea. When she died several years later, she was buried in the same way.

Fr. Serge

The same Walmart that puts RFID chips into their products. I would rather go to a monastery that makes caskets.

Ray