February 2012
14 posts
channelflannel asked: I've always had a fascination with death and decaying body's. I would love to turn my curiosity into a career and become an embalmer. Something that wouldn't take years to master but obviously learn the trade and go from there. I have found some schools who offer the degree program and are taking steps do that. My question for you is if you have some advice for someone like me.
nessatocolachocolat asked: Hi, I saw this anonymously message on your wall and I also wanted to say something, who is this person to say what is respectful and what is not, death is death. What's wrong with death, or with dead people? This is not a taboo! Is it should not be ashamed to talk about. Ur blog is pretty cool.
Anonymous asked: I'm a funeral director and came across your blog. If you had any sense of professionalism in you, you would not be saying what you found with the dead or what you had to do with them. It's very disrespectful.
Anonymous asked: I really want to work towards a career as a funeral director (in the UK). I know that my next step is to talk to some local funeral directors and see if I can shadow them and maybe do some work experience. Although in general I can look professional, I have been dying my hair a bright colour of red for a long time, though because I'm used to it it doesn't seem so shocking to me. Should I...
8 tags
At this point in my apprenticeship...
I have embalmed more than 150 cases.
I really feel like I’ve found my groove in the prep room and have made enough tweaks to what I’m doing to feel like I am turning out really good work. I’m feeling much more comfortable in there and feel like I’m coming into my own as an embalmer. And the cool thing is that there will always be more to learn. I still get lots of advice...
Anonymous asked: Have you ever had to deal with any discrimination or hardships working in the funeral industry as a woman? I ask because the firm I work for while in school is predominantly men, and while they are all very friendly and helpful I know that I would be more readily accepted if I was male. There is a part time, male employee who started when I did. Same amount of experience, but they seem to have...
4 tags
Dear Families,
I feel for you. I do. I have been lovingly caring for your deceased relative while they have been at our establishment. But yes, this is a business. And yes, we do expect to be paid for our services and merchandise. Please do not act like we are the devil for asking you to pay your bill. And yes, that means BEFORE we have completed our services with you.
And in that same vein, please keep in mind...
Anonymous asked: I'm interested in being a funeral dir. In the UK I looked up some places to start but I get scared cause I'm quite old (24-26) and feel I'm so old to start apprenticeship. Can I ask how you started it and the pace of being one? Sorry if it's a silly question ;_;
Anonymous asked: I'm going to shadow at a local funeral home tomorrow, and while I'm very excited and grateful for the oppurtunity, I am also SO nervous. Do you have any advice for me going in tomorrow? I really love your page and admire your professionalism and passion for this work. Being in this business has been a dream of mine for a long time and I'm finally starting school in March and working...
archaeologicalaspirations asked: Hello MD, I attended a funeral last night and I'm upset because I feel like the mortician did a sloppy job. I understand that autopsy cases are generally more difficult because the mortician is essentially putting the body back together, but is it common for the scalp stitches to be visible? Not only that, but his hands were very pale, finger tips looked dirty (perhaps from finger printing by...
WARNING
Working around dead bodies and dealing with grieving families every day might make you lose your patience in dealing with people who are bitching about stupid shit all damn day.
/end.bitch.about.stupid.shit.
January 2012
14 posts
themightydouche asked: I love the quirky little things you post about school. It makes me happy. You do what I want to. (:
peacefulfeather asked: And, neat that you're studying to become a mortician. Is the program hard?
7 tags
I really need to stop discussing work with my...
Me: Mom! I set a personal record in the prep room today!
Mom: That's great, honey!
Me: Yeah, I embalmed more bodies than I have in a day before and one of them was a baby, which you would think would take less time...
Mom: A BABY?!?!?!
Me: Yes Mom, a baby, but the thing is, right now it takes me longer to find their tiny arteries and...
Mom: But how did it die?
Me: I don't know. But the thing is, everything's so small that it takes me longer...
Mom: But how old was it? Were the parents devastated?
Me: I'm sure they were, but...
Mom: Oh that's so sad. Weren't you so sad?
Me: Sure Mom.
2 tags
Anonymous asked: So I came across your blog a while back and I've been fascinated with it ever since. I came across a video today through facebook about the Pack family in Utah who got hit head on by a Suburban on Christmas eve. Their 18mo old son suffered a severe spinal cord injury and was removed from life support on Christmas day. They made a video of the funeral and I'll have to say watching it...
Anonymous asked: what did you wear to school? i am starting in march and understand that looking and dressing like a professional is very important. i was just wondering if you had any advice or tips? i also remember reading on here that you're heavily tattooed. i am as well and fully intend to keep them covered, preferrably without anyone ever even knowing that i am.
Anonymous asked: I keep hearing that embalmers/funeral directors don't make as much money as a lot of people think that they do. I am really wanting to go to school for mortuary science and have been for quite some time as I truly feel that it is my calling & while I am in no way going for the sole purpose of money, I do want to be able to live comfortably and support myself. So, is it just not a lot of...
Anonymous asked: Do you have to apprentice before you attend a mortuary science program or is it the other way around?
shelbyinwonderland asked: Hello, I will begin attending my Mortuary Science classes in the Fall of 2012, and I wanted to do some reading ahead i guess, just to have some prior knowledge to take with me. I have looked everywhere for old embalming textbooks and such. Is there a 'go-to' book that I should look into getting? What books have you read/used? Thanks so much! I LOVE your blog by the way!
December 2011
21 posts
Ashes to Ashes, Dust to Dust.: What's your soft... →
My soft spot is the same. And I spent quite a lot of time volunteering in convalescent homes a few years back. We treat dead bodies better than I’ve seen some of the employees treat living people in more than a few of those places.
dearlydeparted-:
When on a first call?
Babies and small children would have to be my coworkers weakness (as it is for most people). Mine would be Convalescent...
5 tags
The Great Perhaps: Going to Funeral Director... →
themaidenofmacabre:
Is so nice. I can talk to people about my profession and not have to answer a bunch of stupid questions (i.e. what’s it like to embalm, does it ever creep you out being there at night, doesn’t it just depress you to be around dead people all day???). They get it. They are my fellow embalmers. I…
5 tags
What Does it Take? Part II
In addition to all of the qualities it takes to be a licensed embalmer, there are also some qualities that one needs in order to survive their apprenticeship.
Do what you’re told. (Unless, of course, it something illegal or unethical.) How simple is this? Just do what you’re told. Without grumbling about it. Yes, I know you would probably prefer to be in the prep room embalming, but...
6 tags
Viva Dolly: the oh so exciting world of mortuary... →
it’s crazy for me to think about the fact that it wasn’t all that long ago that i was in this same place. well said. all of it.
vivadolly:
well, first semester is almost over. and there are a lot of unhappy faces in our department. i haven’t even seen the second semester and third semester students so i wish them lots of luck, and I’m hoping that i haven’t seen you kids around...
5 tags
What Does it Take? Part I
What does it take to be an embalmer?
I’ve been pondering this question a lot lately, especially after the early departure of our newest apprentice. What does it take? I’m not sure I even know the answer to that yet, but I have noticed a few things and learned quite a bit, so maybe I’ll just make some observations and add to it along my journey…
Balls. Guy or girl, you...
5 tags
You know that phenomenon...
Where people post really old pics of themselves on dating sites and on facebook? Photos where they may have been about 50 pounds lighter? This extends to death too. I cannot tell you how many photos I’ve gotten that are from about 40 years ago, when the person had a full head of hair, before their cheeks were sunken in, or before they gained 75 pounds. And we’re supposed to make them...
astral-planes-deactivated201201 asked: I don't think it would be a valid assumption on the basis that others tend to "faint/freak". Simply because one wouldn't typically assume such when asking a person called "Morbid Desires", someone who typically posts morbid things, or someone with a description saying "I'm just a gal who hangs out with stiffs all day. Is that so wrong?" Well either...
islandcottage asked: Do employers look down upon someone who has done online mortuary schooling? If not, any good ones you know of?
astral-planes-deactivated201201 asked: She didn't necessarily expect of you to feel disgusted because of course you chose your career path based on what you can tolerate and enjoy. Her question revolves specifically around your reaction to the very first time, the thought process rather than simply "I just did my job! Like I would any other job that I enjoy." Of course when we experience doing something for the first...
bodilyfluid asked: How did you first react to embalming a dead body?
5 tags
Didn't I Tell You...
That nobody likes a know-it-all?
Goodbye new apprentice! You were barely here long enough to get a name tag and you will not be missed by anyone.
What can I say? Not everyone is cut out to be an embalmer. The only thing I will miss about the new apprentice is that she sure made me look good! But really, cleaning up her mistakes and the stress of having her around was not worth that!
November 2011
22 posts
porcheria asked: I've literally spent my entire day on your blog... Productive, I must say. :) And I plan on going into mortuary science (I live in Minnesota). But I'm curious, my biggest worry about the job... Getting my first child or infant. :/ Have you dealt with that, yet? How'd you go about it? Also, do you as a mortician get to know the details behind the demise? I mean, getting my first...