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Funeral directing has changed a lot since it first emerged as a profession over two hundred years ago. For a long time, funerals were arranged by people who just did it part time alongside their day job, who often did it just because it had become their family’s traditional role within the community. They arranged for someone to prepare the body (often referred to as ‘the layer out’) and organized the coffin maker and grave digger. Finally, the funeral service would be conducted in a churchyard by a minister.
There was a strong sense of community and the ‘layers out’ were very often the same people who acted as midwives. Now, the role of the undertaker has evolved into a profession in itself and the majority of those involved in every aspect of a funeral work for companies. Rather than being your typical impersonal companies though, they are typically small family ones with a long established history.
Coffins used to be made at the home of the undertaker and each coffin was made by hand from solid oak, elm or mahogany. A generous supply of wood shavings was then spread over the inside of it to form a mattress and pillow and it was then lined with a bed sheet.
Once completed, the coffin would be taken back to the house of the deceased by the undertaker and his men. If the doorway was too narrow, as it often was in those days, the undertaker’s carpenter had to remove windows and then replace them after the coffin had been taken inside. This process then had to be repeated when the coffin was later removed for the funeral.
The family of the deceased chose the front room or parlor as the final resting place for their loved one, who would be wearing their best clothes and left there until the day of the funeral. During this time relatives and family members would come to pay their respects. The Chapels of Rest that are used to to temporarily hold the bodies of deceased people today did not come into use until the late 1950s.
With the coffin placed on trestles in the parlor, candles would be arranged either side and a small altar set up at the foot. As embalming in those days was too expensive for most families, the undertaker would need to make regular visits to the house to ensure that the body remained in a bearable condition. It was common practice for families to place fragrant flowers around the room to absorb any unpleasant odors.
On the day of the funeral, which usually took place three or four days after death, the friends and family lined up outside their homes. Curtains would be drawn as a mark of respect, and they would stand silently as the cortege passed. If the deceased had to be carried beyond parish boundaries at any stage, be it during removal or in the course of the funeral itself, a fee had to be paid. This made it quite expensive if someone died away from home.
Today, all this is taken care of by the highly-trained funeral director, whose services can range from pre-paid funeral plans to jewelry made from the cremated remains of the deceased.
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With origins dating back to 1853, E.F. Box are one of the oldest funeral directors within the UK. They offer a range of funeral director services across a variety of faiths, beliefs and ways of celebrating life.
Tags: culture, Death, family, funerals, society
Posted in Dying · March 2nd, 2010 · Comments (0)
Today, more than ever before, the role of funeral directors has to evolve in order to keep up continual changes in cultural expectations. The profession has come a long way since its beginnings, way back in the eighteenth century. Gone are the days of heavy mourning, the black-plumed horses and somber ceremony.
Over the past couple of decades, society has started to think about death differently, and the role of the funeral director has adapted to meet these new needs. As it stands now, funeral homes are seen as much more of a ‘one stop shop’, offering services that range from lasting keepsakes to floral tributes.
For an increasing amount of people, whilst grief is obviously still at its core, the funeral of a loved one has become an opportunity to celebrate their life, rather than focus on mourning. Strictly black attire and solemn hymns have begun to give way to subtle introductions of color and pop songs liked by the deceased. Funeral directors have needed to adapt to this cultural drift and offer a broader range of services.
Since the idea of pre-payment was introduced around thirty years ago, pre-paid funeral plans have steadily been on the increase. A growing number of people also go beyond this, not only paying for their own funeral in advance, but planning the actual ceremony, so the family approaches the funeral director knowing the full wishes of their loved one.
To deal as efficiently as they can with a death, funeral directors also need to know about the shifting business of life. In addition to dealing first-hand with grief and loss, they can offer counseling, legal assistance and financial guidance, and signpost families to support groups and aftercare services. Rather than the ‘body-centered’ service of earlier years, today the profession is significantly more knowledge-based.
As we moved into the twenty-first century, so we saw a rise in the number of dispersed families. When faced with the death of a family member, many people therefore appreciate convenience. The funeral director’s role has evolved in response to this, using the Internet and other technology to streamline its services and make them more accessible and efficient.
From a financial point of view, funeral directors have seen profit margins reduce quite significantly. This has given rise to many expanding their range of services and products, including online obituaries and creative keepsakes such as necklaces made from the cremated remains.
Funeral directors will have to persist with adapting their services for many years to come. However, whatever changes the future may bring, their role will remain sensitive, practical and comforting.
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With origins dating back to 1853, E.F. Box are one of the oldest funeral directors within the UK. They offer a range of funeral services across a variety of faiths, beliefs and ways of celebrating life.
Tags: Death, family, funeral directors, funerals, society
Posted in Dying · February 8th, 2010 · Comments (0)