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 burial within a cemetery. While most people understand the need for a vault for a casket, some don’t see the necessity of interfering with the natural process of “dust to […]
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 his brother. As I’ve written in the past, the general public often doesn’t know what to say to those struggling with grief. When awkward silence strikes, euphemisms like “Well, at […]
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 over centuries, its modern goal is to help those left behind process the loss more personally. The History of Saying GoodbyeDecades ago, some psychiatrists believed that seeing the body of […]
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. Unlike previous generations, many families today are opting out of traditional services. About 25 years ago, the cremation rate hovered around 25%. At that time, even some conservative churches refused […]
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 satisfying sense of finality. On the surface, these words seem clear and straightforward. However, when applied to the grieving process, “closure” becomes far more complicated. Consider this: telling someone who […]
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 say their goodbyes without worrying about disease, body odor, or other… let’s call them “unexpected surprises.” It’s a modern practice, but its roots go way, way back—around 6000 BC—to the […]
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 often far from serene. Deceased individuals arrive directly from their place of death—whether it be a home, highway, workplace, or remote area—with disheveled appearances, open eyes, or unclosed mouths. Describing […]
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 meant to temporarily preserve the body, giving loved ones and the community time to say goodbye in a safe way. But embalming is also an art—some funeral directors are like […]
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 asked throughout my career. So, let’s put aside the myths and give you the facts from my point of view. First question: Do bodies sit up after they die? The […]
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 Cross? By being a civic-minded leader who is always geared towards giving back to the greater community. So, I ask you to challenge yourself: Would you give of yourself to […]
How Positive Affirmations Can Help The Grieving Process
Losing a loved one is one of the most significant and stressful life events that all humans must experience. Navigating grief will be different for each person but it can be really helpful to validate the sadness before trying to move through it. Affirmations are a helpful tool for dealing with intense feelings of grief […]
Should I donate my body to science? – new podcast
Listen to our latest Good Grief podcast, where we talk about the specifics of body donation, such as the different types of body donation, how the process unfolds, if we can choose where our body is going to be used for, etc. Please share this with a friend that you think would benefit from it.
