1)
Article 1:
http://www.nytimes.com/2011/04/15/nyregion/in-funeral-industry-womens-presence-grows.html?_r=1&scp=2&sq=funeral&st=cse
Precis - Women are taking over jobs in the funeral industry. This was not so in the 1970s, the gap between the number of male versus females working at funeral homes now has closed. 7 year old Lisa knew the moment she saw body of her dead great uncle that she wanted to take part in this process of making a dead person look peaceful. For women it was harder for them to obtain a job in this industry than it was for a male. Even today, people are surprised to see a woman driving a hearse.
This is an aspect of this unit we haven't touched upon much, on the actual people who work in these funeral homes that take care of the bodies of our loved ones. The history behind the gender that has been working in this industry from back in the day specifically 1970s to now, year 2011. It wasn't much of a surprise because I can see how back then the male role played more of the one who took care of things, without women seeing or participating in it because of their fear of death.
Article 2:
http://www.nytimes.com/2011/04/12/nyregion/12funerals.html?scp=6&sq=funeral&st=cse
The second you see these three words: music, food and drinks everyone thinks of a party, but not for the people from Ghana. In Ghana, these things are a part of a funeral which for them are the biggest expense made to celebrate the life of person who has passed away. People who attend these funerals are not expected the person who has passed away but can donate money helping family rise money for rest of the funeral expenses or to send the body back to Africa.
This article helped answer one of my questions that I had from the beginning of this unit, of how other places in the world do funerals and their rituals. I found it fascinating how these people from Ghana instead of Americans don't see this time as sadness but a time to have a festivity to drink to the person who has passed away. I wonder though if they were close to family member do they have any sorrow even if just in privacy of their home and then celebrate? To find two different other culture's rituals for funerals is fun and lets one be open to other ideas on what to request for our own funeral.
2)
Larche and I went to the Frank E. Campbell The Funeral Chapel, the funeral home near my house. The moment we entered the huge black metal doors, the reception was lightly dimmed. The receptionist was a petite pale woman dressed in all black who spoke softly. The place was old - fashioned and cold, with velvet walls, wooden furniture and chandeliers covering the ceiling. The decor had a vampire - esque feel to it. What also caught my eye was that straight ahead of entrance in the back was a room full of white stone blocks which of course thinking of vampires I thought were coffins but then I peered closer because I knew that was silly thought and saw that they were pews of the funeral home's chapel. We asked about the deterioration of the bodies and we were told that they are prohibited from representing that the deterioration of human remains can be prevented for more than a limited time by embalming, caskets, vaults or outer interment receptacles. Did you know that the direct cremation price ranges from $8,500 to $13,000?! There are also several disclosures made by the State, for example one New York State disclosure was that if you want to arrange a direct cremation, you may use an unfinished wooden box or alternative container. Another disclosure was an authorization is required for a funeral home to obtain custody of a body, and a body must be released promptly upon request.
It was astonishing to see the price of all that goes into every little detail of our funeral, like the casket to embalming, clothing or service. When I showed my mom the prices, she said something that I thought was true, "Well you better start saving. Living is expensive but so is dying." I thought being cremated might be less expensive but cremations are just as expensive. Before this research didn't know exact pricing or all things you could purchase and it seems like such a hassle. I am glad that when I die won't have to worry about all this because there is not much for me to do but lay in my box. I also found it interesting that there was chapel in the very own funeral home allowing religious families to have a service for their loved one who has passed away. For me it was the first time entering a funeral home and I probably would have never unless someone close to me died.
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