Stories of a Funeral Director- Story 2

vfunerals • November 11, 2016

I believe strongly in the power of laughter.  I have been through a lot in my life, like most of us, but it has been my sense of humor that has kept me sane.  

When meeting with a family it is my goal to get the family to discuss funny stories of their loved one.  Sometimes the funny stories are about me and what I did at another service.  This story has not come up in a while but here it is for you to enjoy.

I had a meeting with a very talented woman at her house to make her funeral arrangements.  It was a sad situation, as you would expect.   This woman had written books and done a lot of things that people didn’t know about, such as using a pen name for her books.  It was a good meeting.

A few weeks later she passed away. I met with her next of kin to discuss what they wanted for her funeral.  We talked about the songs to play at her service.  The family said she liked, “Me and Bobby McGee” by Janis Joplin.  Kind of an unusual song for a funeral but it was good for them and personal to her.  I have played many songs for funerals that are out of the norm.  Whatever the family wants and the minister agrees with, we can make happen.

The day of service I had everything ready at the church and was just waiting for the family to arrive to park their cars. I had placed the memorial folders for the service to have them readily available for everyone.  The minister came by, picked up a folder, and then said, “Jamie, I have never heard of a song called “Me and Boobie McGee”.   In horror, I said, “No Way!!”  Sure enough, there it was — the song title, “Me and Boobie McGee”.  The family would be arriving in a few minutes and I did not have time to reprint all the folders.  We compromised and took our black pens out of our pockets and started correcting the “O” and making it into a “B”.  The minister found it quite funny, and of course she told the family.  Thank goodness the family had a great sense of humor.

No matter how perfect we (especially I) want things to go, there are things that happen. If you can grin or even sometimes laugh about it, it will turn out the way it was supposed to be in end. Usually with a little help from a Higher Power than us.

   

A close up of a person 's hands out.

Religion/Faith/Beliefs: The Decline in Funeral Services

By vfunerals • November 30, 2016
I do believe that every person has a right to whatever is best for them concerning religion, faith or beliefs. Or, whatever keeps them moving forward through this life. I hope not to offend anyone with topic. Keep reading and you will know why I thought about this subject.
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Holiday Grief

By vfunerals • November 28, 2016
Grief and any feelings of loss about someone we love is the toughest during the holiday season. Grief and the grieving process are different for every individual. Here are some helpful suggestions that may just help you get through the holidays and may help you move forward in the grieving process of Denial, Anger, Bargaining, Depression, and Acceptance.
A man is running down a wet road at sunset.

Model T to Lamborghini: Today’s way of dodging emotions 

By vfunerals • November 16, 2016
Emotions and feelings -some wear them on their sleeves and communicate how they are feeling while others run as fast they can away from any type of uncomfortable feelings or from communicating about it.
A group of people are standing in a church hugging each other.

CHANGE: Personalized or Old Fashioned Service  

By vfunerals • November 16, 2016
Some funerals are just the typical “old fashioned” service – nothing fancy. Many times families are not offered different options or ways of making a service memorable or the funeral home just does not want to change the way they typically handle services. Sometimes during the service we are attending we don’t hear personal stories about who we are there to respect.
A cemetery with graves in the grass in front of a building.

The Shell of a Life

By vfunerals • November 10, 2016
The Ancient Romans held that the soul of man, although separated at death from the body, hovered around the place of burial for its continued peace and happiness, and required constant attention from the descendants in the form of offerings of food and drink. Should the offerings be discontinued, the Romans thought that the soul would cease to be happy, and even become a spirit of evil to bring harm upon those who had neglected the proper rites. This is from the book, “The History Of American Funeral Directing”.
A close up of an american flag waving in the wind

HOW TO FOLD AND MEANING OF FOLDS OF AMERICAN FLAG

By vfunerals • November 7, 2016
I believe the American Flag is absolutely beautiful.
A urn is sitting on a table next to candles.

Cremation and Families Options 

By vfunerals • November 1, 2016
Cremation has been on the rise for many years. Some families choose cremation because of cost and some because family can not get together to have a service for their loved one right away due to living in another state or country. Cremation can take place and then the family chooses a time to get together for a service and burial at a later date.
A pen is sitting on top of a notebook on a wooden table.

Stories of Funeral Director- Story 1

By vfunerals • October 25, 2016
There are so many stories and things that have happened at funerals. Some are funny and inspirational and others sad and depressing. But, let start story #1 with a funny story.
A trumpet is sitting on top of an american flag.

HONORING A VETERAN- THE STORY of TAPS

By vfunerals • October 25, 2016
It is still amazing to me even after 20 years of conducting funerals for veterans how the playing of TAPS still gets me choked up. How can a song have such a effect to honor a deceased veteran? As TAPS is played at Veteran’s funeral, if you don’t get choked up, then that is very sad. I have seen medals received by veteran’s that the families bring to funeral home, sometimes if medal is still in the box, there is a description of why and how this medal was earned. Absolute amazement what some Veterans did and survived for their fellow comrades and the country.
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Death, Grief and a Funeral Director

By vfunerals • October 21, 2016
Death and grief can be traumatic and life altering. Death of a loved one and how we cope with it is important. The grief process can only start with viewing and being able to face the reality that a person we loved is not coming back to us. Every single person handles grief in a different way. I strive for a individual or a family to a have a chance to see a loved one and start the process of moving forward after a death by saying “goodbye” and facing the reality that the death has happened. As a funeral director, I believe my three main goals are: to use as much time as it takes to make a viewing of their deceased loved one the best it can be; to make the service as personalized in rememberance of the deceased and for the family; and to get a family or an individual moving forward in the grieving process.
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