Tag Archives: Jessica Mitford

What Is The Benefit of A Member Owned Cooperative Funeral Home? An Interview with Nora Menkin

The Co-op Funeral Home of The People's Memorial's Managing Director discusses the cooperative

Today is SevenPonds interview with Nora Menkin, Managing Director of The Co-op Funeral Home of The People’s Memorial in Seattle. The Co-op Funeral Home of People’s Memorial is one of the only cooperative funeral homes in the country, and here … Continue reading

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”The Undertaking, Life Studies from the Dismal Trade” by Thomas Lynch

Read Funeral Director Thomas Lynch's book "The Undertaking, Life Studies from the Dismal Trade" for a real view inside funeral homes

I’m long overdue to review the unquestionably seminal The Undertaking, Life Studies from the Dismal Trade, a book with an inside view of funeral homes. The work is written from the perspective of no less than a funeral director, Thomas … Continue reading

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The Shift From Burials To Cremation In Western Culture

How journalist Jessica Mitford helped spark a cultural shift in our end-of-life practices

A popular joke goes a little something like this: one fish swims up to another fish and asks, “How’s the water?” The other fish responds, “What the hell is water?” David Foster Wallace and Derek Sivers have used this joke … Continue reading

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“Final Rights: Reclaiming the American Way of Death” by Joshua Slocum and Lisa Carlson

A valuable book that sometimes suffers from an overly glib tone

Joshua Slocum’s and Lisa Carlson’s book, Final Rights: Reclaiming the American Way of Death, is one part in-depth expose of all things deplorable and funeral, and two-parts step by step manual detailing the different states’ laws regulating this shadowy industry, … Continue reading

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From The Old American Way of Death to the New American Way

A fan sends me a strong message to please examine the funeral business

As SevenPonds grows, I continue to be deeply touched by fans who reach out to me in a multitude of ways.  I receive emails, calls, letters and some even approach me at conferences and events. I cannot begin to tell … Continue reading

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