Tag Archives: Funeral home

“Departures” by Yōjirō Takita

This Japanese film explores the taboo of working intimately with death

In “Departures,” Yōjirō Takita points out the absurdity of a culture that holds onto rich death rituals while condemning those who perform them. The emotional, sometimes downright hilarious, movie explores why we need death traditions and shines light on a practice that … Continue reading

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Our Weekly Tip: How to Find Low Cost Grave Markers

Memorializing your loved one with a tasteful headstone

Our Tip of the Week: Headstones, sometimes called grave markers or tombstones, are usually purchased from the funeral home. The funeral home then orders your marker. You pay not only what the other company charges the funeral home. You also … Continue reading

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“In the Parlor, The Final Goodbye” by Heidi Boucher and Ruby Sketchily

A Game Changer Film That Alters The Way We Observe Death

I had the amazing good fortune to experience true magic recently when I drove from San Francisco to Sacramento. The storms actually parted as the sun streamed through. That evening an audience gathered for the debut of an unusual documentary film … Continue reading

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Adam Ruins Everything: How Funerals Completely Rip Us Off

Witty overview of modern funeral industry carries sobering message

“Adam Ruins Everything” videos are really catchy: fast-paced, clear, fact-checked, funny and enlightening. In the video “How Funerals Completely Rip Us Off,” our guide Adam takes us on a tour through the history of embalming and the funeral industry, illuminating … Continue reading

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Re-thinking the Funeral Home Design

Architects and Designers Looking to Transform the Way We Process Death

Spaces that process death — funeral homes, family tombs, crematoria — are traditionally housed within structures that either perpetuate their morbid reputation or attempt to mask their purpose altogether. They are low-lying, dark, heavy buildings with outdated design and architecture. … Continue reading

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Viewing or Witnessing a Cremation in America

A cultural practice in the US is slowly being adopted by funeral homes and crematoriums

The age-old practice of cremating a loved one out in an open air “Pyre” (a topic we have covered prior) is still practiced throughout the world, including in some private locations in the US reserved exclusively for certain religious groups. What many … Continue reading

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