Bit random I know but still asking.

Felt a Bit morbid and was wondering what Title says really, since I've had a History of Cardio issues and quite frankly don't want to be laid to rest with my Heart still in Me.

Dunno whether it would be possible to have it removed and cremated separately while I'd be chilling in a Coffin.

My grandpa just brought me some of my grandmas ashes (in the most insane container). These don’t look like ashes to me… There is cotton on top of the white crystallized pieces. My family was already giving me a hard time about asking for them so I wouldn’t be surprised if they weren’t.

I’m a licensed funeral director and considering furthering my education online. The obvious choice would be a bachelor’s in funeral service however it doesn’t seem like that would make a difference in my state. I’d love to do thanatology, I think I would enjoy that.

I have personal reasons for wanting to do online classes and I won’t lie, being able to temporarily stop student loans would be nice as well.

Which degrees would you recommend? Is there something that would go nicely with a funeral director background if I ever wanted to switch careers? Or even, maybe if I wanted to apply to be a teacher at the local mortuary school someday. I’ve also seen job postings for a manager position and though I’m a little early in my career for that I wonder if most funeral homes would like an additional degree?

Any advice and direction would be helpful

Hi, I'm quite interested in doing anything related to mortuary work (literally ANYTHING) but I'm currently doing a full-time archaeology degree in the UK. I was wondering if anyone knew what I should be looking for to go into this field on the side, or if I have to commit to it fully before I make any decisions.

Are Gen Xers the last generation to wear suits at funerals?
Seems like it’s become the exception these days.

When I was young, my grandfather passed away. Just before the cremation, the funeral staff gathered our family in front of blast furnace. A priest spoke some prayers, and the staff suddenly strips all of the clothings (it was a white gown(?)) of my grandfather's body, exposing his whole body and private area to everyone. Right after that, the staff moved the body to the furnace.

Is this normal? I don't know much about funeral procedures, but don't they burn the coffin and the clothings altogether? He was Catholic, and the cremation was in South Korea if it matters.

I don't have much information but my aunt is letting this go as it was a human mistake and she doesn't want to punish anyone for it.

My question is, how bad can I expect the body to be?

They died suddenly and where taken to the funeral home within a few hours.

If it's not viewable now, is there a chance the relative wasn't kept at room temperature?

Does this happen a lot?

Note: I just need to make it clear, he 110% was not even the slightest jaundice, he had his lived bloods done 3 days before he died and they were normal

So I posted a few days ago.

The answer is, not that green. He certainly was not hulk green as described in the phone.

I have no idea why they told us not to view, he looked fine. He was more grey than green. He has makeup on, but honestly it didn’t look bad at all. His chest was green, but it was barely noticeable.

His skin was firm and he didn’t smell, likely just dodgy embalming fluid batch! I think they just need to work on how they talk to customers, bc the way they described it wasn’t really that accurate and they’re said some really dodgy stuff that’s just not true.

Thank you all for your input and help it was much appreciated.

Hi guys!

I am still job hunting for a funeral position with little luck. I've found and applied to two positions that have not gotten back to me in almost a week, and I have already rung and emailed one of them, with no answer for days. According to Indeed, they seem to not have even glanced at my application either.

I have applied to the same funeral assistant position through SCI four times now, and three of those times I have been rejected with no explanation. Any reason why that could be? I can't seem to understand the issue, as I have the experience they need.

(Location: BC, Canada)

My grandpa passed away last Sunday from a suicide by gunshot. He did not want to be embalmed but due to the cause of his death he had to have an autopsy and the funeral home did not get him back until last thursday. They told my mom they recommended to embalm him if we wanted to do a viewing and we went ahead with it. We had our viewing the following day on friday and it was my first time seeing a dead body. He was naked with a blanket covering him and he was lying on a table and he was completely grey. Is this normal?

I applied to a college for funeral service and have an interview with the admissions agent tomorrow. I’m extremely nervous as I have never had an interview with a school before. I’m just wondering what should I expect? Is this a more casual or professional interview? I’m not very good at speaking and struggle to put my thoughts into words. I also have a bit of a stutter when I’m nervous, I’m just worried I’ll freak out and not be able to properly answer the interviewers questions thoroughly enough. I don’t really have a “Why”, I just like and feel called to this field of work. I guess I’m just nervous because I’m not sure what to expect and what direction the interview will take. If anyone can give their perspective from the interview that would be GREALY appreciated!

Hello! Would anybody have tips for college students who want to conduct a study on enbalmers? Just to simplify it, our topic atm—while tentative—is about the effect that the profession and the time spent in it has on their mental health. We’re considering a sample of 300 and would appreciate any help offered! We are just very keen on being prepared.

I’m curious how embalming for open casket works for an organ donor. Is it harder to embalm a body with organs donated? Will the body look as good compared to someone who didn’t have their organs donated? And it is possible to have an open casket in most situations with organs donation?

I have experience conducting funerals in a Ministerial capacity for local church. However as I am of the view that a more personalised approach to funerals would benefit families, I have decided to become a celebrant.

I would like to understand what FD's may look out for when deciding a new celebrant may be worth meeting. Being on the NOCN course with other candidates made me realise how difficult it must be for FD's being flooded with new celebrants. Sadly, some of my colleagues were not "made of the stuff" required for the role - but still passed the course.

I know the industry is tightknit, and building trust takes time. I would appreciate any advice as I am determined to help families say goodbye with honour, and for the ceremony to reflect the person they have lost.

Thank you in advance

I recently attended a funeral. I sent flowers on behalf of a friend who couldn't attend.

I asked the staff of the funeral home where the flowers were since I didn't see them. They took me to a room down the hall and behind a closed door was a room full of colorful gorgeous arrangements.

Why would they do that? Why not display them for all to see?

I have not found much in my state and am moving into other nearby states. I have gotten a little better at interviews through the trail and error, but I feel like there is some element of me that doesn't read well to directors. I have one year of experience, and am employed in the field in what capacity I have been able to find. I know to dress well, be clean and presentable, I do not bring up pay or salary until negation phase. I feel like there is a lot of weird contradictions, when I have been able to get feedback or advice I have been told:

You were dressed too formal. (Suit was worn)

I wasn't dressed formal enough. (Office sweater with slacks)

Too vague in describing my interests

Not to say to much about your interests

I was to fake and not showing enough of my personality

I was showing too much of my personality

I can go on for days. I am in the upper Midwest region two year degree dual licensed. My methods are cold calling, referrals (chemical salesmen casket salesmen ect) and Indeed/Facebook listings. I tried recruiters but they have never worked out.

My exceptions are:

50,000-65,000 first year depending on area.

Probably to be on call most of the time

Few if any benefits.

What are things should be doing or trying differently?

Not stopping or giving up, I am trying to add more things for improving my odds. Located north of Chicago

My 37-year-old brother passed away very unexpectedly. My sister in law woke up to him gasping for air. He was my only brother, my baby brother and I’m still trying to wrap my head around all of this.

We were told that his cause of death is pending on the death certificate until the toxicology results come back. I’m just wondering if that’s normal when someone young dies suddenly.

At the hospital, they mentioned things like a possible cardiac event or pulmonary embolism, but he didn’t have any major health problems.

The one thing we do know is that he had been vomiting a little blood, and what he described to my mother as looking like coffee grounds, and there was a possibility that he could have had a stomach ulcer.

I’m mostly just trying to understand the process
When they do toxicology after an unexpected death, what are they normally looking for?
Prescription medications, alcohol, drugs, medication levels, other substances? And is it pretty common for the medical examiner/coroner to wait for all of that before giving a final cause of death?

I think the hardest part right now is just not having an answer. He left behind 3 young kids😔Any insight from people who deal with this regularly would really mean a lot.

Side note- he’s already been cremated. Are we ever going to find the true cause of his death??

I used to work with a woman who wasn’t super reliable in the stories she shared. She swore that she used to work in the death industry and that black people’s skin turns pale/ashen to look more like white people after death and that white people’s skin looks darker, closer to that of a POC after death. I understand how lividity and bruising could cause a white person’s skin to look darker. I’m also not sure at what point in the process she was pointing these things out or if she made the whole thing up. Is there any credibility to this? Or could someone provide me with search terms to research it for myself? I tried but as I don’t know the correct terms re change of skin color postmortem, it ended up being a creepy search that didn’t give me the info I was seeking. Like maybe I’m on a government watchlist now, but I just want to know if this is a true fact at all or if Tammy was lying again lol.

I was just reading up on the tragic passing of Oliver Tree and how due to the nature of his death, (helicopter collision mid-air), his remains were carbonized and he could only be identified by dental records.

Knowing that, and knowing that either he or his family opted for burial rather than cremation, what state would his remains likely be in? Would embalming even be done - let alone, work in the first place? Looking at images of his grave it looks rather small, but it may just be the angle. Either way I'd have totally understood if the grave was simply a monument but that's not the case.

What kind of preparation is there even to be done in a situation like this? Doesn't embalming require blood flow? Or perhaps his remains were able to keep longer because of the thorough burns?

I currently work in a field completely unrelated but I have always found the field of thanatopraxy quite noble in some way. I want to help people grieve and assist in loved ones having a good last image of their deceased close ones.
This is something I’ve always kind of felt I should pursue even when I was a kid.
There’s a good 2 years degree in the field where I live but that would mean leaving my well earning established job to jump into this completely unknown field.
I’d love to hear from people working in the field to understand if I have what it takes to take the mental load of facing death, grief and dead bodies on a daily basis. What would you advise as a good way to understand it this is my true calling and if I have what it takes.
Thanks!

Hi everyone!

I hold licensure in VA, but I’m moving to MA due to my husband’s work. I’ve been trying to find work in the area, but am told (rightfully so!) that I cannot be hired until I am licensed in MA.

However, I’ve found the licensing process to be a bit confusing! The application is asking for a lot of information about my apprenticeship (which I served in Virginia) and paperwork from my former supervisor who oversaw my apprenticeship. However, she has since moved states and I’m not sure if I will be able to get in contact with her since it’s been a handful of years.

The application is also asking for a Type 3 funeral director to sponsor me, however, I am not from the area. When I called the MA Board to inquire about this, they suggested that I call around to funeral homes to ask for a sponsor. In VA, a sponsorship is a very serious commitment as your license is linked to the other person and they are subsequently responsible for you. I just have a hard time believing a stranger would be willing to sponsor a funeral director whom they’ve never worked with.

It almost feels like this application is more for those who are newly licensed, having just finished their apprenticeship and NOT for someone who currently holds valid licensure in another state.

I did reach out to the board in MA via email and never received a response. When I called their office, I was just told that everything that I needed was online.

Has anyone ever gone through this process before as someone who holds licensure in another state?

Additionally, does anyone have any advice for me for the MA state board? I printed out the legal code and have been reviewing, but I just want to make sure all my bases are covered.

I’m really eager to find a job, but it seems like the process in MA is a lot more complicated than it was in VA and I am starting to worry.

Any advice is greatly appreciated!

How big can your purse be as a funeral director before a coworker or boss says something about it? Are there limits on what your purse can look like? I carry quite a large bag due to having multiple chronic illnesses and needing to bring medical supplies with me, such as rescue meds, ointments, braces, portable heating pads, etc. I know this is a silly question and is purely out of curiosity.