The O'Connell Blog
Blogs about life and death and how we can help.

Ask The Funeral Director:Do We Need Pants If the Casket Only Shows the Upper Torso?
The answer is a resounding YES! At O’Connell’s, we uphold the highest level of integrity when it comes to caring for the deceased. I have

Ask The Funeral Director: Vaults, Liability, and Lawn Mowers—What You Need to Know
Is It a State Law? That’s the question I hear most often when discussing vaults in cemeteries. Vaults encase a casket or an urn for

Ask The Funeral Director: Why “Well, At Least You Have Closure” Hurts
This week’s article comes from the perspective of a funeral director, but also through the eyes of a man deeply hurt by the loss of

Ask The Funeral Director: Why Saying Goodbye Matters
The purpose of embalming is to temporarily preserve a body, allowing loved ones time to say goodbye. While the practice of preserving bodies has evolved

Ask The Funeral Director: The Changing Landscape of Funeral Homes
Funeral homes, as we know them, are disappearing right before our eyes. The funeral industry, once steeped in tradition, is undergoing rapid and significant transformation.

Ask The Funeral Director: There’s no such thing as closure
The Problem with the Concept of “Closure” in Grief The definition of closure refers to closing something—a sense of resolution or conclusion. It implies a

Ask the Funeral Director – The History of Embalming
A Modern Practice with Ancient Roots Today, embalming is considered a temporary way to preserve a deceased loved one, giving family and friends time to

Ask the Funeral Director – Who Decides if an Autopsy is Performed and Why?
An autopsy is a medical examination conducted to determine the cause of death. Unlike the polished portrayals on TV shows like CSI, real-life autopsies are

Why Are Bodies So Hard, Cold, and Darker Looking in a Casket?
The answer lies in a mix of facts and perception, often influenced by myths and fears we’ve picked up over time. First off, embalming is

Ask The Funeral Director- What Are Bodies Capable of After They Die
What Are Bodies Capable of After They Die? Do bodies move or make noise after they die? That’s probably the most popular question I’ve been

To Give or Not to Give: The Importance of Blood Donation
O’Connell’s has been a preferred partner of the Red Cross for many years. How does a funeral home become a chosen companion of the Red

The Truth About Ordering Flowers for Funerals: Why Local Florists Matter
WAIT, hold the phone and don’t press ‘complete order’! With the vast World Wide Web and E-commerce websites, ordering flowers for gatherings has never been