Changing Funeral Industry

Dead?" AlterNet. In this article, Frankie Colmane looks into how dead bodies are treated in the United State even after Mitford's expose of the funeral industry was published. The article takes both a philosophical and scientific issue with the procedure of embalming sighting proven negative effects to human beings and the environment. Colmane shows that even though people are aware of the malfeasance and misappropriations of the funeral industry following pieces like Mitford's, very little has changed. Therefore problems that have been discussed in earlier works should not be forgotten. Rather they should be continually brought up until the issue is solved. During the 1800s, embalming became common practice because the dead family member would lie in state within the home for a period of days or weeks until it would be buried (Colmane 2010). The article shows the duplicity such as when "funeral directors were arguing forcefully against charges that their mediation between the living and the dead translated into social obstruction that barred the stricken from facing death with maturity, realism, and honest" (page 2). This article will be used to illustrate that things have not changed with funereal practices despite the publication of Mitford's essay.

Criticisms of American funeral practices have been made publicly aware since the 1920’s, and actually go back to ancient times in the scope of human’s ceremonies for the dead. Since the first published argument against modern funerals various authors joined the movement publishing their disparagements of customs for the deceased; that in essence contend the grandiosity and lavish displays are merely a social and psychological representation of the monetary opportunity of funerals (DeSpelder & Strickland, 2015, p. 306-307). Even further, regarding the encompassing funeral industry as exploiting grieving loved ones for their financial gains, while disregarding the actual needs of modern society (DeSpelder & Strickland, 2015, p. 307).

Most people contact funeral homes whenever a relative of theirs has passed. In most cases, the family gets good services and everything goes right, but there are also scenarios where things go totally wrong. The sad truth is, in many cases, many families do not find out the truth that happens inside the funeral homes. Bodies have been misplaced, cremations have been done wrong or not done in some cases, and body parts have been stolen (FUNERAL HOME & CEMETERY ABUSE). That is just some of the few things that have happened. Funeral homes are known for charging a lot for funerals and in many cases use their knowledge to convince people to buy more expensive things. Funeral homes have their ways where they outsmart people and they also in some

The article, “10 Burdens Funeral Directors Carry”, written by Caleb Wilde expresses the unique struggles of those working the funeral business. They face numerous challenges through trying to aid and support those mourning a loved one. This often over looked and underappreciated field offers a salient as well as specific

Being a funeral director takes having a strong stomach and skill dealing with grief. There are many different ways people mourn. Religions have different rites as well as celebration of someone’s life. Every culture and civilization has three common threads dealing with death and their final internment. There are three main steps when someone dies. First is the preparation of the body, then some type of ceremony, and finally internment.

Technological: Technology is playing a bigger role in the funeral industry. There a newer cremations system that are design to be better for the environment. There are cremations systems that equipped to cremate multiple pet animals at one time. Funeral homes are developing web casting where funerals can be viewed remotely if not able to attend the funeral service in person. Websites are created where people can purchase sympathy gifts for the mourning family. The obesity rate in America is higher and body lifts have been design to lift up to 1,000

Funerals Ami Richardson Missouri Southern State University Gerontology Ami Richardson March 18, 2014 Funerals It’s assumed that people have knowledge of what is appropriate planning for life after death, but nobody is ever prepared; and that is why preplanning is necessary. Death and dying is a part of life nobody likes to discuss, plain and simple, it makes us uncomfortable. This is a major contributor to why no one plans ahead. Nobody likes to think about death, it isn’t a pleasant thought to most of us. However, unfortunately, in our lifetime, avoiding a funeral is inevitable.

Sandy Hingston offers many intriguing views of a funeral service from the conventional method of a service in a church and the burial of the deceased to a service that more so relates to a party than a funeral. “The Death of the Funeral Business” also raises many questions to be pondered by the reader. Hingston says, “A societal changeover from burial to cremation is momentous for our culture. It signals a cataclysmic shift in how we think about our bodies and ourselves” (38). The questions that arise from this quote are what parallels may Hingston be trying to draw between the trend in cremation and the way we “think about our bodies and ourselves?” Why may she be trying to develop these connections? These are the questions I will be focusing on and how they relate to what I think the purpose of the article is. I believe the purpose of this article is to show how our generation is changing the way we view death and how the use of technology has greatly impacted the way funerals are done.

The living had returned home to their communities and the dead would be buried quickly and efficiently. The windfall of the monetary gain of embalming came to a quick end for the surgeons. It was not until the late 1890’s that embalming returned and this was when the role of an undertaker and embalmer merged into one entity. Companies were beginning to market the embalming fluid used during the procedures and would send their salesmen around the country to demonstrate and train the funeral home undertaker about the

1. Before reading this essay I did not know a lot of information about mortuary’s. I know that they are the ones who cleans and embalms the body and also does cosmetic makeup for a viewing. 2. The writer seems to be well informed

A mortician is when a person’s business is preparing dead bodies for burial or cremation and making arrangements for funerals. I would like to take place in this business because my father and my grandfather are in this particular profession. Even though this is just an idea I would like to carry down the profession and help families during their hard times. I like to help people and their families, so I believe that this would be a good job for me. My dad has taught me a couple of things in the profession, like how to embalm, one thing you use is formaldehyde which helps preserve the bodies. My personality fits this job because I am loyal, hardworking, and determined worker who will give the best in the business and try to make the best of

A funeral director is of best help to the relatives and friends of a deceased person, who assists in preparing the body, planning transport of the body to burial/cremation venue and in planning the ceremony. They must possess different positive traits like people management and administration skills, composure and willingness to work long, odd hours. He or she is also available on call 24 hours a day and 365 days a year.

In the article “The Death of a Funeral Business”, technology is a very prominent and recurring topic.  Throughout the whole text, Hingston discusses the impact of technology.  She states, “Facebook allows Timelines for the dead to stay open so messages can be sent across the great divide” (Hingston, 44).  By replacing regular traditional funeral activities to memorial websites for the deceased, technology has been shaping the way we go about funerals more throughout the years.

Being a Mortician The word mortician brings what images to mind? The career of a mortician is surprisingly different than it is portraied in movies and books. Being a mortician is a very rewarding job both personal as well as psychological to those with the temperament, training and discipline required to do the job properly. In this paper I'll be reporting the requirements to become a mortician, also called funeral director or undertaker, the duties the job requires of you, and the outlook of this career in the future of the United

Death is inevitable. Every human being will die eventually. Though burial is a common way to dispose of dead bodies, cremation is the most humane method of disposal. Cremation is environmentally friendly, financially manageable, and creates flexibility for families.