I check the obituaries daily in the newspaper albeit most of the people I’ve known in my life are now dead.
But there are other reasons of interest.
First to note how few people these days are into mysticism and superstition, specifically the rarity nowadays of church funerals.
Instead, the current vogue is to announce a death up to a week or more after the event and record that a small private family gathering had been held to celebrate the deceased’s life.
All of this I find healthy.
An added bonus are the funeral directors adverts. I was amazed to learn a few years back that no qualification is required for this trade.
My favorite current such advert is shown below with its photo of the seven very different principals, one of whom clearly is targeting the deranged end of human differences.
No prize for picking which one.
12 Comments
With the euthanasia laws it might become the norm for deaths to be notified a week or more in advance of the exit booking. The customers might even be able to attend their own funerals.
A leaving party as it were.
Yes, that guy smiling with a big grin definitely has a different view on death to most people
I think he must’ve been sniffing the embalming fluid . Over my dead body will he ever get his hands on me .
The trend of after the event announcements is useful to hide the pall of despair/awkwardness that I witness at the standard non believer funerals
trying to imagine what the perks are ?
You really are very naughty! keep it coming!
Also if you are to busy to attend your mates farwell, you can tape (record) it and watch it after doing the lawns.
The parlors have been a one stop shop for some time, and have marketed themselves well…
One director even became mayor, after selling his business to a charitable trust while keeping the real estate on overinflated rent…these guys own all the tricks in the book…
The traditional churches really missed the boat on this one…Happens when the bureaucracy gets too big…I’m surprised they havent bought one of these funeral businesses out, as I can clearly see the synergies for them….
I had to paid for two within a week, and the very basic one cost me $4,500 some 20 years ago….The margins are huge, and they seem to get away with it…
Maybe someone told these suicide bombers the funeral costs…
Please ignore my two previous jet lagged musings, they had little to do with the inevitable that awaits us all.
Instead I just wish to mention that a pilot friend does not recommend attempting to spread human ashes from a small aircraft flying over lake Tekapo, unless your intention is to also spread the ashes throughout the cockpit and into the lungs of the grieving passengers.
A friend here in Blenheim has been asked to do this on more that one occasion. He said the ashes end up down the drain back at the airport as they have to use a high pressure hose to wash then off the plane!
This is unavoidable
https://www.thepress.co.nz/nz-news/360574806/song-and-prayer-ngai-tahu-freshwater-case-opens-christchurch-high-court