Is It Okay To Run In A Cemetary? (Read 2197 times)

The America's Finest City Half Marathon in San Diego runs down a road that splits the Fort Rosecrans Cemetary. Both of my Grandparent's ashes are in the wall that we run past. I always touch the wall as I pass and tell them that I love them. The last few years I have run it I have seen people stop for a moment at a grave site. I say, if it is okay with the people who work there: Run it, respect it and reflect on it. aim

Rental coffins. Or caskets? What's the difference between a casket and a coffin?

Coffins are barely ever used anymore (in the US, at least). Coffins are six-sided and anthropoid shaped (wide at shoulders, narrow at head and feet). This is why they used to say that undertakers would "size you up." Undertakers used to also (some still do) own furniture stores or cabinet making businesses. You would be measured and a coffin would be made by the undertaker to fit you and your proportions exactly, taking into account your height and the width of your shoulders. Caskets are the modern day generally more "mass-produced" version of a burial box...four sided rectangular wood, laminate, metal, steel, copper, or bronze. Some have gaskets and some don't. I just had someone work with me to make their own casket...it was the most incredible piece of functional artwork I have ever seen. So, the take-home message is: don't call a casket a coffin...they are different things! What's the next question? Here's your chance to ask 'em if you've got 'em...

See? So educational. Like PBS. But with more commercials. So if I get hit by a bus this afternoon I'll get stuck in a casket, but my scary hexagonal looking Halloween decorations are actually coffins. I always thought the words meant the same thing. Okay, easy question first: how'd you decide to go into mortuaryishness? (I assume that's the technical term). Or maybe since you're second generation, I should ask how your mom or dad went into it? Now a better but open-ended question: tell us some cool stories. You must have some great stories. Some strange things must happen in your line of work.

Remember, a funeral and/or celebrations after death are for the living. Consider the needs of those you leave behind. Some people need to view a body to accept the reality of a death...others would not need that. Cremation is just substitution for earth burial. So, if you think your family does not need to view you and you do not want to be viewed, you need to say "I want to be cremated with no viewing" or "I want to be cremated after viewing" or "I want to be shown in a rental casket or cremation casket and then cremated." Basically, be specific because otherwise you won't get what you want!)

Thats the truth. DH and I both want to be cremated. But he has already said that if his mom is still living then bury him.

Okay, easy question first: how'd you decide to go into mortuaryishness? (I assume that's the technical term). Or maybe since you're second generation, I should ask how your mom or dad went into it? Now a better but open-ended question: tell us some cool stories. You must have some great stories. Some strange things must happen in your line of work.

Long answer to first question: I avoided thinking about funeral service as a career...didn't want to do it because every time we got to do something fun as a family when I was a kid, the phone would ring, and Dad would have to go to work. "To help people," he always said. I didn't want that inconsistency and dissappointment for my future family. So, I got my bachelor's in biology with a double major in natural science/minor in chemistry. Then, I did a semester of grad school for a doctorate in pharmacy...hated it and decided to get out while I was ahead after just one semester. Then, I started thinking about working with dad, tried it, and loved it! I then went to mortuary school and did my apprenticeship and my internship. My dad is an expert embalmer and specializes in reconstruction of difficult cases, so I am so lucky to have learned from him! Answer to 2nd question: I've got some good ones. I will think about which ones to share and post soon...with names changed to protect the innocent. As a teaser, I had voices coming from a casket during a Catholic Mass once...

As a teaser, I had voices coming from a casket during a Catholic Mass once...

There really ARE zombies!!!

I look forward to the stories. If any are particularly inappropriate, you can always post them here: http://runningahead.com/groups/2000/Forum

Hmmm...

Why? Someone is likely to drive by you and probably faster than someone jogging through. Is someone driving by even more disrespectful than someone jogging by?

apples/oranges my friend