My dad told me that he was going to put in his will that I would have his head, and I should keep it in open living spaces so he could judge the people I had over at my house.
I used to have a customer that had the coolest coffee cup. One day, I commented on it. He replied that it was his Dad. I thought I had misunderstood, but no. He had a coffee cup made from his Dad's ashes for he could still have coffee with him every morning!
@@scootergirl3662 Not for Christians. The body is still sacred, and requires a Christian burial or inurnment. Keeping kitschy keepsakes like jewelry and key fobs is definitely pagan, not to mention tacky...
My 3rd-great grandmother was so distraught over the death of her youngest daughter, Olive(age 11, we believe, likely from smallpox) that she cut the child's long hair off and meticulously fashioned it into a cluster of tiny braided flowers connected with wire to a clip, which she wore in her own hair always thereafter, and to her grave. She made many similar hair items for friends and ladies in her church in the years after the Civil War.
After my grandma passed, my auntie gave me a piece of her hair. I admire the sweet story you shared & relate to feeling closer to my loved one who has passed- by having something as seemingly unimportant as her hair ❤
I'm not sure about having my parent's actual skull around, but if a funeral home offered the service of scanning and 3D printing a full size copy for me I'd be all over that.
This sounds much more agreeable. I was thinking with the tattoos, it would be cool to have high resolution scans of them, but I wouldnt want actual flesh as decor.
I'm honestly not sure if a clean skull would be any worse than a jar filled with rubble and dust. ☠️ But the 3D-scan-copy idea is ingenious and you should start up that business before anyone else does!
Its depraved. Like why? There is absolutely no reason to keep the skull of your loved one. Skulls signify death, not life. If you keep their skull, you're gonna be reminded of their death, not their life. If people actually did this, they're doing it for the shock factor, or so they can say " they have a real human skull ". They're doing it for that reason but then wrapping that up in a " to remember their loved one " bow, so they can not seem as disgusting. You might as well just taxidermy your loved one. That's somehow less depraved, than just keeping their skull. If you can keep the skull of your loved one, you're either a sociopath or you hated that love one. You think looking at their skull is gonna make you remember the good times with that loved one. Fuck no? And its the biggest fuck you to that loved one. Skulls have been kept, and showed off throughout history and it was always, (will always imo) be in a negative way. You showed off the skull of your enemy not your loved one. To be clear, Do you, I dont care. I dont think it should be illegal. Just know most people are gonna lump you with Ed Gein and Dahmer because those are the type of sick fucks who are peachy keen with keeping the unorthodox remains of their loved ones. Cremate them, and get an urn like if you wanna tote them around with you.
Troy Russel, except if you keep cremated remains in your home you ARE keeping the skull. You’ve just burned it to oblivion and then ground it to powder. If you think a skull is “depraved” you should be far more aghast about the act of cremation and the use of it’s remains. Disclaimer: I’m very pro-cremation, and I’m not particularly interested in keeping a human skull for myself... but to call it “depraved” is overly harsh and hypocritical. Not to mention it walks the line regarding xenophobia and cultural insensitivity.
Years ago we visited a Veterinarian in Eastern Germany who had a display case with skulls. From a little one from a mouse up to a human skull. He proudly said, "That is the skull of my Grandmother!"
@@violetbean8928in germany you are not even allowed to take the cremated ashes home. They have to go to the graveyard or a special resting forest that's also considered a graveyard
So, my grandmother was found dead in her apartment last week. I want to thank you for your page. I have anxiety and limited delusions around death, so spending months slowly normalizing death and building myself towards death positivity has let me mourn my grandma, but also think about what happened without having a total breakdown. So thank you.
I need to do this. I’m subscribed to this channel as I’m just in generally drawn to mysterious and macabre sort of things. My family often jokes with me that I only watch “dead” shows lmao. But I realized by watching these videos that sometimes the things talked about would just be too real for me to think about. The title of every video intrigues me but I find myself avoiding them, and I never realized before this just how much fear I had about death.
I'll never forget the night at the dinner table when my sweet little 6 year old son casually asked if he could have my skull after I died!! My husband and daughter nearly choked. He said he wanted to keep it in the house so I could still be around and thought of. It was actually really sweet and I wrote it in to my death wishes. Hopefully it is legalized by then and they can just give it to him
Aww that is sweet! My son was about 5 & told me if I ever got turned into a zombie he would cut my arms & jaw off so I couldn't bite or scratch him & he would chew up human meat & spit it to me like a baby bird...now that I seeing it in writing its a little disturbing. But still sweet 😂
@@tatchik77 omg this thread is amazing lmao. reminds me of the time i was at a friends house and her little brother brought us a dead bird he found in the yard, and says "i want to see its insides". he was always kinda creepy tho so we were spooked! yalls kids just sound a little weird, but in the cute way lol
My daughter and I met her at The Tattered Cover in Lone Tree, Colorado. She is the NICEST woman ever. - just exactly the same as as she is on these videos. Super brilliant but totally down to earth.
Her books are fantastic. I love her voice. I bought all of her books on audible! Have you listened to her books yet? I'm about to listen through them again 🙏
Cat lady that lived across the street had a closed casket because of something like that, very disturbing to think that mittens is just waiting to eat ya
I mean if I had A skull from like an old family member or something then thats all good, but if I had my sister's skull then ohhhhhh heeeeeccccckkkkk nahhhhhh.
Oh yeah, the Chinese pauper bones. I remember when I studied anthropology, we had this one small female skeletton in the lab, and one of the students one day asked the professor half-jokingly if he knew who that skeletton used to be. He looked that student dead in the eye and said: "Well, considering the amalgam-filled molars and how petite she was, and that she's been here since about 1970 - she's probably from the Vietnam war. We used to get a lot of Vietnam war victims in the 70s." Complete silence in the room. It was some time before anyone laughed again in that seminar.
Thinking the same. I like the careful segway between education and entertainment. I think Caitlin gets the balance right. I do wonder without the humour the subject matter may be a bit too intense for some people?
I live in Austria and there's a town named Hallstatt near me with a long tradition of painting beautiful flower crowns and similar ornamental decorations on the skulls of the dead. This tradition apparently started because the town is located in a valley surrounded by tall mountains so there's no space to bury the dead bodies. So they just keep their decorated skulls in a crypt instead. Long story short, I'd really love for my skull to be in that crypt one day, flower crown and all.
@@Shadow-gx6lx I don't know if it's legal in 2020. Austrians started doing it in the 1700s and I mean everything was legal then... The last skull was added 25 years ago so maybe? I haven't looked into it yet but I'm also planning to stick around for at least 60 more years so I'll cross that bridge when I get there.
Oh yeah, I remember, we have some beautiful Hallstadt skulls even at the Senckenberg museum in Frankfurt. I remember they impressed me even as a child!
When my mom died my brother and I were discussing cremation and the funeral director asked if we had plans for spreading her ashes. My brother said he might sprinkle over the treetops out of an airplane. The director warned us that any moisture that makes contact with the ashes will turn it into a solid heavy brick, which if dropped from a plane, well, could have bad results if anyone on the ground was to receive impact. He apologized because he chuckled a little while explaining that scenario.
Ngl, the mental image made me chuckle a little bit at the thought of accidentally sprinkling ash graupel upon unsuspecting souls. I might need to revise my own ideas on how or where to spread ashes, lol.
Yep! He moved from Italy to Cleveland, which has a beautiful Little Italy neighborhood. If you ever get to visit, go to Presti's for dessert and a frozen custard. Nom!
He and my Great Grandpa were buddies. They both bonded about being from a similar part of Italy and their love for Italian cuisine. They became friends at his restaurant in Cleveland Giardino d’Italia.
I’m from the same area and my in-law’s claim to fame is that the company behind Chef Boyardee approached them for their sauce recipe first..anddd of course he (the in-laws grandfather) said no 😅😂
When we cleaned out my grandparents house, I discovered "Yorick." My grandfather ended up with a mounted skull from the science department at the college he worked at. For some reason, none of my aunts wanted him, so he "lives" with me.
Here in Switzerland there's a company that takes dead people's ashes and compresses them into artificial diamonds, so you can wear your grandma as a ring.
@@scraperindustry I might end up with the most flowers at the cemetery that way. But I might end up with notes about those who didn't leave flowers with addresses included too, but hey, how else would I get invited to dinner at that stage?
I had a bio teacher in high school who took over the responsibilities of a skeleton that the police found in an abandoned house. She could use the skeleton for teaching but had to sign paperwork saying that when she was done using it for educational reasons she would have it properly buried. She never had a problem with this because she said that when she was done teaching there would be another teacher somewhere in the state who would be willing to accept the responsibility for the skeleton and use it for educational Purposes. The idea was that the skeleton would always have burial rights protected and at the ready, but that the skeleton would be used for educational purposes -AKA, leapfrogging through educational protectors“, for a very very very long time. Seton Catholic Central High School, 1990, Mrs. Dale Megley.
@@peppermintcatsass3141 I'm an atheist and I'm perfectly fine with this concept. The only problem with Catholics is when they try to make me be one, not when they science.
@Eleni 1979 believing in God and not liking babies being ripped into pieces and sucked out through tubes aren't really one in the same. I don't put my religion into this, I use my brain first and my heart second. I understand that it's wrong to kill someone without having to read a hundred stories about why it's wrong.
So I know that the law says I can't have organs harvested from my parent's corpse if they said no (or I believe merely even if they didn't say yes). So. Could that be the way? If my dad were to say "it is my will that my bleached skull remains with my family and for my children to care for as they choose."... would that protect the funeral homes and others from "abuse of a corpse" charges? (my dad is genuinely asking. He says he'd do it in the condition that it'd be a happy reminder for us, and that at all times his skull would be adorned with one thing. A fake mustache, silly glasses, a tiny tophat, etc... Which is THE MOST my dad thing I've ever heard.)
I feel like if a person wants to keep the skull of a loved one, the best way to go about it would be to have permission from the person who is... y'know. Using the skull? Put it in a will. If we can donate our bodies to science where they can be poked, prodded, tested on, dissected, and treated in all kinds of ways, I don't see why a person couldn't will their own skull to a loved one (with both parties being okay with the matter, of course). Maybe with a note of "Upon the death of the recipient, my skull is to be [insert request here for burial/cremation/etc]."
Yeah but who is going to do it? I think ppl who do autopsies and scientific research have all kinds of legal things on their side and certifications to do those things that funeral homes don't. Simply because there is govt money in funding research and police, but not so much in funeral homes. So govt officials are fine with letting those laws take a backseat to other legislation. And then it just comes back to whats stated in the video. If it was that easy then Caitlin implied her funeral home would be doing that.
I would include it in my written funeral directive: deposited with the funeral home, family, executor and my officiant. A will usually resides inside a safe-deposit box (legally sealed upon death), or inside a messy desk drawer somewhere - and is typically not found (nor probated) until long after the disposition of the deceased. No Texas undertaker would pick a skull clean, boil / bleach it, then hand it to someone - no matter who they are. No more than they would remove gold crowns from a decedent's mouth. Let that news get out in a small town ! Not gonna happen. Medical schools cremate the remains (as per the decedent's anatomical donation agreement) and offer disposition options to the family once they're through with the body. I've grown up in the embalming room of our family funeral home since I was 15 years old (am 64). You may cherish and hold any opinion, but that's how it is in the real world... 😼
I agree, if you can donate your body to science, their should be no reason why you can't put that in your will, providing your relatives want it. I am the kind of person who wouldn't mind having my mom's skull around, but SHE would NOT LIKE IT. She was very emphatic about how she wanted to be buried, and she wanted a graveside service, and she wanted the family there to watch her be lowered in the ground. I never asked her why. But she was most insistent. I think it was mainly because she was terrified of organ harvesting without her consent.
So, even if I put in my Will or Trust, that I want my bones de-fleshed and distributed to specific family members, that's still not OK? But if I donate my body to a University, its perfectly legal for them to deflesh my skull and put it in a classroom? That's just not right.
Just because its anonymous doesn't change the fact. But scientists have the excuse of the greater good and nearly all our medicinal advancements and knowledge of anatomy was due to studying real bodies. I guess of you donate your body y o use giving scientists anonymous body parts to learn.
"Why aren't people buying expensive caskets like they used to?" shows her videos.. ME: well to be fair it was because of you that I had my mother aquamated in July when she passed instead of cremated or buried. The director even asked how we found out about it to which i replied... "RUclips..."
Yeah I read a book called "stiff" and I know that's one of the options I'd like but I don't want to freak out my family. If I die older I'll donate the old choocher to science but if I die tomorrow it will be organ donating + aquamation, because I think donating my body to science would freak my parents out
@@therabbithat Yeah probably. The morgue called my dad and asked if we wanted to donate any of mom's body and he chewed out the poor woman. I'm like dad, they're just doing their job. to which he replied; "I don't give a F!@#! They need to have a little bit more respect." to which I facepalmed myself. On top of that my mother had some SERIOUS health problems. She just turned 60 in January and mom and dad celebrated their 35th anniversary 4 days prior to her death. Not only is aquamation legal in the state of NC, Its also home to the only auqamation facility on the East Coast. (just in case anyones insterested. Also this is as of July 2020. I can't say that will remain the case.)
So interesting that aquamation is a thing. I saw a post/ad for this being offer to veterinary hospitals in one of our veterinary journals. Vets could offer the service at their own clinic that they can't get elsewhere. I were very intrigued
That’s so interesting. I never thought that having a body burned in an oven until nothing remains but bone and having the bone reduced to ash and sit on your mantle would be legal, but having just the head, just the flesh removed, and even simply owning it would be “corpse abuse” and illegal.
My science teacher in high school, who did a forensic science class, had a real human skull all cut up and written on for demonstration and learning. I handled it a few times when she asked me for help moving items. It’s.. humbling.
So fun story.. When My mom was a kid they had this skull in their grandparents attic they thought was fake, they used to play with it and everything.. It wasn't until they were in their 20s did the family find out the truth that one of my mom's uncles (who had the definition of a cursed life) dug up a skull from this Native American land near their house when he was a kid.. Once they found out they returned it to the Chief of the area but yeah.. He ended up with a not so nice life, he killed himself when i was in middle school.
@d b I mean it wasn't anything like that lol. When my mom's uncle was a teenager he got addicted to Heroin and tried to cut some copper wire to sell but it was live and his heart beat just the right why to wherw he survived but was paralyzed and his legs literally rotted away because he didn't want to get them taken off. I believe he even maggot treatments and things like that.. He lived in my Great grandmother's basement until he took his life when I was in like 7th or 8th grade. But finding out about the whole skull story makes it just a really weird coincidence.
@@coryashley1851 I mean no one was walking through the TV or anything crazy like that but I definitely believe it had a hand in why his life turned out so bad like it did
@@brotherdj777 Oh look another one of the "If you don't believe in the same sky fairy I do, you're going to BURN. But my sky fairy loves you. But you're still going to BURN" fundamentalists .
To own a human skull or bones here in the UK the law states. That the bones are over a certain age, and the police have to investigate to see if the persons remains are not part of a homicide case. And they come with certification to say they are legally obtained.
My boyfriend wanted to leave me his defleshed skull with the ashes of his body compressed into gems in his eye sockets. Maybe itll be legal by the time we die lol
Honestly, if anyone needs an explanation for why abuse of corpse law excuse, just point them to the Iconic Corpse playlist. Especially poor Elena de Hoyos. ESPECIALLY THAT VIDEO.
@@AmberLecuyer agreed, but dear god it also haunts me. I'm usually fine with most uncanny valley/body horror stuff but the photos of Tanzler "preserving" Elena's body - the open chest cavity, the glass eyes and the face in the video thumbnail - that terrifies me.
"Why aren't people buying expensive caskets like they used to?" Well, when the hospital demands payment in full for the deceased's medical bills within a week after death, that kind of limits your options for the funeral...
Ouch, how about not charging families for their loved ones medical costs altogether now. Come on America, universal healthcare would prevent this sucky situation.
We had some death talk in our home, and the most awkward thing that you may have overheard is our eldest saying he wants his skull to be kept by family member and made into a goblet. He has repeated this request several time, and the youngest sibling has been chosen to keep the skull safe. It's a strange arrangement which I certainly hope won't happen for 100 years, but interesting how adamant he is.
Your channel changed my burial plans from "giant metal casket" to "throw me in a field to decompose so I can help further forensic sciences" and I'm glad my choice has forced uptight traditional funeral homes to consider tattoo preservation to earn back revenue.
Medical schools use real skeletons in their classrooms, from bodies donated for science. Artificial skeletons have gotten much better in recent years and have much replaced real ones, but, it seems prestigious for your school to have real skeletons. Skulls and all. What a job! Making real skeletons for classrooms, I can’t imagine.
@@alphagt62 also. They have them. Most schools aren't really new. You don't just throw away a human skeleton because you have good plastic ones. And often the lines in the skull etc are less good in the fake ones
I’m so happy to have watched this amazing channel grow up from less than 5,000 subs. To know how many Death Positive people, like myself, are out there supporting Caitlin’s videos and advocation of being able to talk about death openly, really gives me so much hope for humanity’s future. Sincerely, A Terminally Ill Deathling 🖤
There’s a skull in the closet of the art room in the rural high school I went to. The art teacher had no idea who he was and said he’d been there since she took the job. As far as I know he’s still there. I had a panic attack when 15-year-old me first picked him up thinking it was just plastic. I wonder about him a lot. Is there a legal way to get him identified? It sounds like trying to buy him from the school would be very iffy and maybe expensive, but an adult woman breaking into a high school to steal something is definitely also a crime. I know whoever he was is long gone & it’s just bone, like there’s no ghost stuck in a high school forever, but it still makes me sad that he’s just stuck there. (Also drawings of him got me accepted into art school with a scholarship, so I owe him).
So they just keep him in a storage room? I think he does deserve a final resting place if he's just being stored. Maybe just talking with the school but idk if the school would just hand it over or not even bother with the legalities.
I love your content!! Have you ever looked into "ash diamonds" or diamonds made from cremated remains? I work as a goldsmith and once in a while they'll get brought up because people believe it's a real thing, but ask any jeweler they'll tell you it's a hoax. There's not enough carbon left to make a perfectly formed diamond that's cut flawlessly, but people are charges thousands of dollars for them and I feel like it's a topic that needs to be shared more. Love ya girl!! 🥰
In Sweden where I live, it's even illegal to keep a loved one's ashes at home. So people even wondering if you can have someone's head just chilling in your living room feels so strange to me😅
@@sprtwlf9314 it's only the "rape capital" because they actually take rape seriously and mark down EVERY instance. If you're raped several times by your spouse, where I'm from, they'll most likely be charged with one count of rape. In Sweden, the multiple times count as multiple rapes= higher percentage of rape. And that's only one example.
SprtWlf9 it’s the rape capital because people actually report it, all sexual assault is counted as rape, and an instance of rape by multiple people or on multiple occasions are counted as separate rapes. Do you believe that China has an incredibly low rape rate, simply because none are reported? Think critically here.
That's super interesting! Here, one reason people favor cremation is because you can have your loved one with you...just in a compact form. It's also more convenient for people who want to bury them at home, or spread them somewhere important- you don't have to worry about a full body, but you still get the emotions of it. What do you have to do with the ashes, since you can't have them at home?
My grandma just died a couple days ago. I started watching you when i found out my grandma was in her final days and you gave me relief. I feel more at ease because people like you take care of our loved ones. Thank you to you and everyone in your profession for being amazing human beings.
You know, my therapist is a human skull, and she's been there to talk me through my toughest times. No body knows the trouble I've seen. No body knows my sorrows.
At my grandpa's memorial service, I and my cousin viewed the body at approximately the same time. I said, "It really doesn't look like him," and my cousin pointed out that, "That's not really him. It's just a shell."
"You mark your skin, it gives you pleasure I take your precious art, it becomes my leather Taking your hide before you have died Decency defied" - Cannibal Corpse
My neighbor has a cast of her father's skull sitting next to an urn of his ashes. I don't know how she was able to have that done, but it is kinda neat.
I know facial reconstruction surgeons are now using CT scans to create plastic models to manipulate and emulate in theatre - maybe he had some sort of surgery before his death?
classic ambo I think they could’ve done the CT or PET scan even after death to get a 3D image of the skull and then transfer that info to make a 3D model skull and even a mold to make a metal casting if you can afford the expense.
@@MissLilyputt , I had a CT done on my knee and lower leg after a work injury. They gave me a CD with the images and some data files so I could give it to future doctors if needed. You now have me wondering if I can pull the data into something a CAD program would recognize. Be sort of cool to have a model of my knee sitting on my desk. Of note: When going over the scan with the radiologist and he "zoomed" through the muscle tissue, my thought was, "That is some fine marbling.", as if I was grading a cut of meat. I may have issues.
AH-HA! The answer: Use dad's cremated ashes to sculpt a ceramic skull! If you're good, you could get an xray of his skull, and make it correct-to-life!
@@henryjames8654 YES!!!! For accuracy, I love it! Then, if you want to include ashes in this more accurate form, you can use that as your model. :) . Great inclusion, Henry James (I loved "Turn of the Screw" ... "Portrait of a Lady" had some beautifully-descriptive parts.).
Ultimate family heirloom: human skull bedazzled with diamonds made from remains. Bonus: save up the remains and get giant diamonds for the eye sockets.
My daughter (8 years old) and I love watching Caitlin together. Who knew mortuary topics could bond a mother and daughter while helping us discuss important life (and death) topics?! Keep up the wonderful and thought-provoking work, Caitlin! We love you!
What if the deceased had requested their skull be given to someone? Like it's in their will that their favorite kid gets to have their skull? Does that change things since they are deciding what to do with their own body?
No, unfortunately it would still come down to the legality of it all. A will is definite about certain things, like personal property, but it only goes so far.
Your will cannot be enforced if it contains illegal requests. The law really doesn’t care much about whether you, your spouse, or close relative approve but what your local laws say on the matter. The one loophole seems to be “donating you body to science”. Then for scientific purposes they can freeze the corpse, and cut it up and take pictures of the entire body for the purpose of making a 3D model of the deceased for educational purposes.
I don't think you can will the like next of kin rights either now that I think about it that something that you establish when you are alive and then it carries over
i would totally watch a black comedy with a bunch of adult kids trying to figure out whos gonna get mums skull cause the will just said "my favourite child"
“Why aren’t people buying expensive metal caskets??” I laughed out loud and everyone is looking at me...but I can’t explain what I’m laughing at without really freaking them out. Hahahahahahaha
A few years ago one of my best friends took out a life insurance policy, he wanted to make me the main beneficiary on the stipulation that I keep his defleshed skull as a display piece. He tried to figure out the legalities of such but just couldn't make it fly. But if we could find an avenue to do it I'd be happy to fulfil his wish hahaha
Today I started my first day of mortuary school. Thank you ,Caitlyn, for further empowering me within the field I had selected. As I go through what I expect to be a mostly run of the mill mortuary education, I anticipate this channel to become a safe space for me more than ever. I decided to enter mortuary science when I was a freshman in highschool after having experienced an unexpected family death, and seeing the horror of price gouged funerals. I was already against the funeral industry, and capitalism, and generally concerned about the environment when I found this channel two years later. The influence of this channel helped to show me that I was not alone in my thoughts or opinions, that there is an actively growing movement of people like myself. It helped me to solidify within myself my goals. It helped me understand that choosing a career path in funeral care dos not mean betraying my morals. so, thank you. My classmates are a very mixed bag, age wise, as people in mortuary school often are. they come from different backgrounds and that makes me weary as a queer individual with generally fringe beliefs and opinions. But, I can feel that my program is making an attempt to be modern and inclusive (in our second semester we even have a class that literally uses one of Caitlyn's books as the actual textbook), so for now I suppose I will take what I can get from school, and continue to do my own research outside of it.
Congratulations and wishing you success. I really wish I had considered this as a career but maybe back then it would not have been as satisfying? I'm 68 now and trying to encourage my kids to consider it.
As someone with tattoos I wouldn't mind if my wife or loved ones wanted my tattoos especially since tattoos in my opinion are art and I won't need them when I'm dead so why not give it to someone as a momento of me after I'm gone. Once again great vid.
Let's see: You de-flesh the skull before releasing it for mantle-piece display. You need to remove the skull before you can turn it into a shrunken head. So, if my brother and I both want Mom's head for a memento, this could be solved by removing the skull, cleaning it, and giving it to one of us, and taking the rest of the head, boiling it with herbs, drying, and shrinking it, and giving it to the other. If we had another sibling, it might get more complicated, and they could get offended.
@@intensestare5027 Perfect idea. I know that ancient Egyptians didn't usually put those items in canopic jars but it would make for a lovely presentation piece to the third sibling. "Sorry that you didn't get one of mum's heads... Here's her brain in a canopic jar- we even added a pretty bow. Nice, right?"
The owner of a tattoo studio here in my city had wished for several of his tattoos to be preserved and framed, and when he passed suddenly a few years ago, they did that. I think one of the photos you used was actually his. It's definitely an interesting service, but it's certainly expensive and unusual at this point. And of course, an ethical grey area. But this was actually on his will, with plans and money already put away apparently. So uh, to each their own lol
Good video! The closest thing to keeping someone's head I've ever experienced was working in a nursing home, one of the ladies that passed, donated her brain to science so we had to immediately pack her head and ice while her family was there
Personally, I love reading all the comments. There are as many laughs here as Caitlin's videos. And the replies -- terrific, yet supportive and sincere.
I had no idea your dad passed away two years ago. I’m so sorry for your loss. Thank you for all that you do and for keeping on providing for us during your time of grieving. You’re the best!!!
I'm covered in tattoos, as are many of my colleagues. We always joke about leaving specific tattoos to one another once we pass, so this was amazing and (as always) informative! 💕
Me: Has never thought about or wanted to keep any person's skull or tattoos after death Caitlin: Hey, here's a video about if you can keep someone's skull or tattoos! Me: Aw hell yeah
I really wish to hold my own skull and know what it looks like, since I've seen how diverse other skulls are. Can we use xrays to 3d print your own skull? Because I would pay money for that.
If one has the money it can be done. I know 3D printing is often used to plan out reconstructive surgeries. It would require detailed scans of one’s skull. CT or MRI
I just found out this is a real thing! Sort of. I found an article of a Dutch artist who 3D printed his skeleton including skull with an MRI. Interesting!
I realize I’m leaving comments on old videos but , I think you’re amazing. I’m learning so much about history and death and you’ve given me a lot to think about. I’ve even made an appt with a funeral home to discuss alternative options! I like your style. Your funny AF , most importantly you’re gifting others comfort. I’ve learned so much and I feel like I can advocate for myself! Thanks dolls. You da best ♥️
I just absolutely love how no topic is off the table for you, how informational, matter of fact and humorous you make of all death related subjects. I just love that you're doing the good work of giving us all permission to explore death and help us all to not be as fearful of it. Although, I know when I find my very old dead dog one day, I will be scared of her body and probably run screaming. And why? Maybe because I don't have a plan for when that happens. Hmmmm....randomness over... Thank you Caitlin!
Hi Ms. Doughty! So I’m a freshman in college and you inspired me so much to obtain a degree in Mortuary science! So one of my first research papers has to be related to funeral service and so I’m going to pick *drum roll* GREEN BURIAL!! It’s honestly so much better and more eco friendly then caskets and cremations and embalmings. So in a way, thank you for helping me pick out my topic! ❤️
Guy from Netflix Unsolved asked to have his murdered wife’s bones laid out for him so he could hold her skull. Is that legal? P.S I got a feeling he’s the one that killed her
Just saw that. I'm pretty sure it is since he didn't actually take any parts. I've heard of people going into the morgue to see the body even if it's already been identified. Usually it's the decision of the place.
I’m a Thanatologist and a Bereavement Specialist for hospice and I love your videos! I always learn something, Thank you for your death and grief education!
I'm an artist, and it's my dream to have a book of my art bound in my own skin when I die. Maybe two, if I have enough, so one can be auctioned off and the proceeds donated to the Trevor Project. I just think that would be really metal, and frankly history needs at least _one_ woman who was _willingly_ turned into a skin book.
My Mother is already going to haunt me so I don’t need her skull.
Same.
Yep same !!!
Ditto
Use it as as Spirit Lamp, trap the bish in there 😂
Me too. At her funeral she’s gonna pop up and say my thighs are too big and I need to go on a diet.
My dad told me that he was going to put in his will that I would have his head, and I should keep it in open living spaces so he could judge the people I had over at my house.
Your dad is my new idol. Tell your dad, I love him. Preferably in the creepiest way possible.
😆 🤣 😂
Utter perfection
Your dad is my role model
New life goal...
@@kevinsullivan3448 afterlife goal?
I used to have a customer that had the coolest coffee cup. One day, I commented on it. He replied that it was his Dad. I thought I had misunderstood, but no. He had a coffee cup made from his Dad's ashes for he could still have coffee with him every morning!
Imagine dropping it though.. wouldn't that be terrible
Awe, that is so sweet.
There is something very spiritually satisfying about that.
@@amelieklass5139 That is why you order 6 of them.
@@scootergirl3662 Not for Christians. The body is still sacred, and requires a Christian burial or inurnment. Keeping kitschy keepsakes like jewelry and key fobs is definitely pagan, not to mention tacky...
My 3rd-great grandmother was so distraught over the death of her youngest daughter, Olive(age 11, we believe, likely from smallpox) that she cut the child's long hair off and meticulously fashioned it into a cluster of tiny braided flowers connected with wire to a clip, which she wore in her own hair always thereafter, and to her grave. She made many similar hair items for friends and ladies in her church in the years after the Civil War.
After my grandma passed, my auntie gave me a piece of her hair. I admire the sweet story you shared & relate to feeling closer to my loved one who has passed- by having something as seemingly unimportant as her hair ❤
Hair art has been a thing for a super long time
That’s awesome. I have some of my sons hair, but it’s in a locket
I'm not sure about having my parent's actual skull around, but if a funeral home offered the service of scanning and 3D printing a full size copy for me I'd be all over that.
This sounds much more agreeable. I was thinking with the tattoos, it would be cool to have high resolution scans of them, but I wouldnt want actual flesh as decor.
You get up. Take a piss. Go to the kitchen to make coffee. Mom skull!
That's a nope. Back to bed.
I'm honestly not sure if a clean skull would be any worse than a jar filled with rubble and dust. ☠️ But the 3D-scan-copy idea is ingenious and you should start up that business before anyone else does!
Its depraved. Like why? There is absolutely no reason to keep the skull of your loved one. Skulls signify death, not life. If you keep their skull, you're gonna be reminded of their death, not their life. If people actually did this, they're doing it for the shock factor, or so they can say " they have a real human skull ". They're doing it for that reason but then wrapping that up in a " to remember their loved one " bow, so they can not seem as disgusting. You might as well just taxidermy your loved one. That's somehow less depraved, than just keeping their skull. If you can keep the skull of your loved one, you're either a sociopath or you hated that love one. You think looking at their skull is gonna make you remember the good times with that loved one. Fuck no? And its the biggest fuck you to that loved one.
Skulls have been kept, and showed off throughout history and it was always, (will always imo) be in a negative way. You showed off the skull of your enemy not your loved one. To be clear, Do you, I dont care. I dont think it should be illegal. Just know most people are gonna lump you with Ed Gein and Dahmer because those are the type of sick fucks who are peachy keen with keeping the unorthodox remains of their loved ones. Cremate them, and get an urn like if you wanna tote them around with you.
Troy Russel, except if you keep cremated remains in your home you ARE keeping the skull. You’ve just burned it to oblivion and then ground it to powder. If you think a skull is “depraved” you should be far more aghast about the act of cremation and the use of it’s remains. Disclaimer: I’m very pro-cremation, and I’m not particularly interested in keeping a human skull for myself... but to call it “depraved” is overly harsh and hypocritical. Not to mention it walks the line regarding xenophobia and cultural insensitivity.
Just so you know, Caitlin, one of the ads I got on this episode was for bone broth.
Just let that sink in.
🤣
🤣🤭🖤
Oh my lord.
me, feeling totally swindled with my priceline ad: 👁👄👁
Sometimes I regret my adblocker, lol.
What's a skull's favorite song to sing?
"I ain't got no body."
Ohhh gawd.
WARNING: Bad dad joke ahead!
Meanwhile during quarantine....relating super hard to the skull....😔
Hahaha haha..that's funny.
Wait, isn't that song called "Just a gigolo"? LMAO
LMAO
Years ago we visited a Veterinarian in Eastern Germany who had a display case with skulls. From a little one from a mouse up to a human skull. He proudly said, "That is the skull of my Grandmother!"
maybe the laws for skulls are different in Germany, since Caitlyn only talks about the USA laws here
@@violetbean8928in germany you are not even allowed to take the cremated ashes home. They have to go to the graveyard or a special resting forest that's also considered a graveyard
"now that's what I call I call abuse of a corpse"
me: laughs
caitlin: that's not a good joke
me: hey...
now 71 totally got me
Thought it was just me....
That was a GREAT joke! I laughed too hard
I feel you, I laughed so hard
ooookay but how was she gonna just make a good shit post meme like that and not expect us to laugh
So, my grandmother was found dead in her apartment last week. I want to thank you for your page. I have anxiety and limited delusions around death, so spending months slowly normalizing death and building myself towards death positivity has let me mourn my grandma, but also think about what happened without having a total breakdown.
So thank you.
I’m sorry for your loss, and I’m glad you’re feeling better now. Death is a hard thing to experience, so if you need anything, I’m available to talk.
I need to do this. I’m subscribed to this channel as I’m just in generally drawn to mysterious and macabre sort of things. My family often jokes with me that I only watch “dead” shows lmao. But I realized by watching these videos that sometimes the things talked about would just be too real for me to think about. The title of every video intrigues me but I find myself avoiding them, and I never realized before this just how much fear I had about death.
Also I am so sorry about your grandma but I’m so glad you were able to find peace through this. 💞
I'm sorry for you loss .
I can feek you..ive found my nana dead and...i cant forget that 11 years later 😭😭😭🙈 im sooo sorry for your loss 😭🙈
I'll never forget the night at the dinner table when my sweet little 6 year old son casually asked if he could have my skull after I died!! My husband and daughter nearly choked. He said he wanted to keep it in the house so I could still be around and thought of. It was actually really sweet and I wrote it in to my death wishes. Hopefully it is legalized by then and they can just give it to him
That child might have PLANS for you; watch your back! JK!
Aww that is sweet! My son was about 5 & told me if I ever got turned into a zombie he would cut my arms & jaw off so I couldn't bite or scratch him & he would chew up human meat & spit it to me like a baby bird...now that I seeing it in writing its a little disturbing. But still sweet 😂
@@tatchik77 omg this thread is amazing lmao. reminds me of the time i was at a friends house and her little brother brought us a dead bird he found in the yard, and says "i want to see its insides". he was always kinda creepy tho so we were spooked! yalls kids just sound a little weird, but in the cute way lol
@@somedude172 Well that took a dark turn
Dana Moore that’s really the best way a kid could take care of his zombie mom! You know he’d put band aids on after cutting off your arms, too.
I can't explain why, but I want to be this woman's friend so badly. Her voice is so calming
We all do! ❤️
Yeah, sigh. Wouldn't it be so nice if we could all meet for coffee?
@@nacmegfeegle2310 it really would
My daughter and I met her at The Tattered Cover in Lone Tree, Colorado. She is the NICEST woman ever. - just exactly the same as as she is on these videos. Super brilliant but totally down to earth.
Her books are fantastic. I love her voice. I bought all of her books on audible! Have you listened to her books yet? I'm about to listen through them again 🙏
Was chatting to Dad's skull the other day and told him I had a present for him. He said "It's not another f%@#ing hat, is it?"
No! it's sunglasses dad!
Why do i feel horrible for laughing at this ?? 🤦♀️😄😄
@@claricetredoux2055 Don't worry Clarice. We can all go to Hell together :)
@@totalrecone 😄😄 yayyy im not alone
How about a toothbrush?
The question is not "Will my cat eat my eyeballs?" as much as it is "Will it wait until I'm dead?".
Asked cat.
He bit me.
Buying a lazer pointer for self defense.
Cat lady that lived across the street had a closed casket because of something like that, very disturbing to think that mittens is just waiting to eat ya
Well I have been given Snout to Mouth so no
Stephanie Howe what
I had a weird dream about a future where ailens used tattooed human skin as currency😱😨
this is so weird i miss my dads tattoos so much id have actually loved to have had them preserved, glad to know im not as strange as i thought
It's perfectly fine 💛
Just have his permission
You can always get the same tattoos on your own skin :)
If you have pictures you could get them painted/drawn. Then you could maybe display them. Have a nice day :)
Icba Luv um....wut
Keeping someone's tattooed skin seems much creepier than a skull.
Either seems a bit too morbid for me...I have my kids' baby teeth and their stepfather found them once and totally freaked out. 🤷♀️
I mean if I had A skull from like an old family member or something then thats all good, but if I had my sister's skull then ohhhhhh heeeeeccccckkkkk nahhhhhh.
@@grimmer-rd1mm If it were my sis's skull id stuff it with christmas lights & tell her to lighten up a little(finally!) XD
@@ElizabethRedingerQT 🤣🤣🤣🤣 no you didnt!
It just becomes paper aterward😂
Oh yeah, the Chinese pauper bones. I remember when I studied anthropology, we had this one small female skeletton in the lab, and one of the students one day asked the professor half-jokingly if he knew who that skeletton used to be. He looked that student dead in the eye and said:
"Well, considering the amalgam-filled molars and how petite she was, and that she's been here since about 1970 - she's probably from the Vietnam war. We used to get a lot of Vietnam war victims in the 70s."
Complete silence in the room. It was some time before anyone laughed again in that seminar.
RIP skeleton lady
Sounds like something Brennan from BONES would say without a second thought 😂
Blimey!
I remember wondering where the anatomical skeletons in my classes came from. And concluding from size that they were likely Asian.
Susan Young size of what 👀
I love the way she approach’s all these”taboo” subjects with humor.
Thinking the same.
I like the careful segway between education and entertainment.
I think Caitlin gets the balance right.
I do wonder without the humour the subject matter may be a bit too intense for some people?
I agree. She’s funny and witty, yet respectful at the same time.
@@stuartd9741 without the humor she would have a RUclips video minus monetization.
I live in Austria and there's a town named Hallstatt near me with a long tradition of painting beautiful flower crowns and similar ornamental decorations on the skulls of the dead. This tradition apparently started because the town is located in a valley surrounded by tall mountains so there's no space to bury the dead bodies. So they just keep their decorated skulls in a crypt instead. Long story short, I'd really love for my skull to be in that crypt one day, flower crown and all.
@@Shadow-gx6lx I don't know if it's legal in 2020. Austrians started doing it in the 1700s and I mean everything was legal then... The last skull was added 25 years ago so maybe? I haven't looked into it yet but I'm also planning to stick around for at least 60 more years so I'll cross that bridge when I get there.
I went there some years ago, it’s beautiful
Oh yeah, I remember, we have some beautiful Hallstadt skulls even at the Senckenberg museum in Frankfurt. I remember they impressed me even as a child!
Lovely to see another Austrian here in the comments :)
@Anna b. C. Wo?
When my mom died my brother and I were discussing cremation and the funeral director asked if we had plans for spreading her ashes. My brother said he might sprinkle over the treetops out of an airplane. The director warned us that any moisture that makes contact with the ashes will turn it into a solid heavy brick, which if dropped from a plane, well, could have bad results if anyone on the ground was to receive impact. He apologized because he chuckled a little while explaining that scenario.
It’s a good thing he asked!
Ngl, the mental image made me chuckle a little bit at the thought of accidentally sprinkling ash graupel upon unsuspecting souls. I might need to revise my own ideas on how or where to spread ashes, lol.
And the funeral director lost a potential client 😒
The most surprising thing I learned is that Chef Boyardee was, like, an actually person, not a mascot. The More You Know!
Yep! He moved from Italy to Cleveland, which has a beautiful Little Italy neighborhood. If you ever get to visit, go to Presti's for dessert and a frozen custard. Nom!
He is buried in All Souls Cemetery in Chardon of of route 6 he and his wife are in tombed in a mosoleum
He and my Great Grandpa were buddies. They both bonded about being from a similar part of Italy and their love for Italian cuisine. They became friends at his restaurant in Cleveland Giardino d’Italia.
Leah Beardslee cool!
I’m from the same area and my in-law’s claim to fame is that the company behind Chef Boyardee approached them for their sauce recipe first..anddd of course he (the in-laws grandfather) said no 😅😂
So *that's* how you get a head in this world. 🤣 💀
Let's not get a head of ourselves
Go a head & groan everyone its therapeutic & I know I made a bad pun. 😣 Ba - Dum - Tiss! 🥁
Listen, it takes a certain amount of SKULL to makes these puns
@@alexcrook3334 No bones about it that's funny! 🤣 👍
@@alexcrook3334 Your name and your comment are contradictory. You actually hit the nail right on the head! 😉😂🤣💀
When we cleaned out my grandparents house, I discovered "Yorick." My grandfather ended up with a mounted skull from the science department at the college he worked at. For some reason, none of my aunts wanted him, so he "lives" with me.
Caryn Code Its heart warming to hear of people who adopt poor unwanted skulls, keep up the good work Caryn!
Alas, poor Yorick. I knew him well.
Does anyone know who "Yorick" was?
I need a Yorick in my life...
"Yorick" is the name of my replica.
Here in Switzerland there's a company that takes dead people's ashes and compresses them into artificial diamonds, so you can wear your grandma as a ring.
My son says this is what he's doing with my ashes when I pass 🤣
That's not the same thing at all
@@losfromla1480 huh 😵
Sell it.
@@MrJamiez Probably won't make any profit but I like the spirit
Forget my skull, I can't decide whether I want "I told you I was sick" or "Leave flowers or I will follow you home" written on my tomb stone.
Definitely the leave flowers one
@@scraperindustry I might end up with the most flowers at the cemetery that way.
But I might end up with notes about those who didn't leave flowers with addresses included too, but hey, how else would I get invited to dinner at that stage?
Some ideas:
"I'll be back"
"Let me out please"
"I'm more alive than ever"
@@mariacamilavega1720 If I just wanted to cause a panic I could go with "If you can read this then you will join me by dawn"
Bothhh
I had a bio teacher in high school who took over the responsibilities of a skeleton that the police found in an abandoned house. She could use the skeleton for teaching but had to sign paperwork saying that when she was done using it for educational reasons she would have it properly buried. She never had a problem with this because she said that when she was done teaching there would be another teacher somewhere in the state who would be willing to accept the responsibility for the skeleton and use it for educational Purposes. The idea was that the skeleton would always have burial rights protected and at the ready, but that the skeleton would be used for educational purposes -AKA, leapfrogging through educational protectors“, for a very very very long time. Seton Catholic Central High School, 1990, Mrs. Dale Megley.
...if it we're an atheists during life, I'll bet being in a Catholic School really rattled it's bones!
Today that would be different....especially with the Skeleton Lives Matter movement....
@@peppermintcatsass3141 🤣🤣🤣
@@TheWolfsnack bahahaha🤣🤣💀💀
@@peppermintcatsass3141 I'm an atheist and I'm perfectly fine with this concept. The only problem with Catholics is when they try to make me be one, not when they science.
A corpse has more autonomy than living people in certain situations. Strange, right?
LandLady LOL
More autonomy the a women/uterus having person in a red state...
@LandLady Because a clump of cells that could be rejected by the body without even trying deserves so much concern.
@Eleni 1979 believing in God and not liking babies being ripped into pieces and sucked out through tubes aren't really one in the same. I don't put my religion into this, I use my brain first and my heart second. I understand that it's wrong to kill someone without having to read a hundred stories about why it's wrong.
@@kaefalcon5142 yeah, not really... I've been in red states, and as a woman there's no difference....
i recently learned that "bone china" is literally made out of bones. and now all i want is my body to become a tea set.
That's a nice thought 😮
I am sure you would be a wonderful tea set, once the time has come
So I know that the law says I can't have organs harvested from my parent's corpse if they said no (or I believe merely even if they didn't say yes).
So. Could that be the way? If my dad were to say "it is my will that my bleached skull remains with my family and for my children to care for as they choose."... would that protect the funeral homes and others from "abuse of a corpse" charges?
(my dad is genuinely asking. He says he'd do it in the condition that it'd be a happy reminder for us, and that at all times his skull would be adorned with one thing. A fake mustache, silly glasses, a tiny tophat, etc... Which is THE MOST my dad thing I've ever heard.)
I was wondering about this too
You have an awesome dad!!
Your dad is super cool.
Cherish that dad.
I don't believe you can
You should go into more detail about those "ethically sourced" bones, I feel like there's a whole video there.
Agreed!
Agreed!
Medlife Crisis did a good video that touched on this topic called "Can You Legally Buy a Real Human Skeleton?".
@@samthenerf thanks! I'll check it out
@@samthenerf I hope the answer is yes, because I work in a medical school, and we have a ton of bones.
"Soooo Goth"...😂
Ethically sourced skull.. 😂
"Kicky new vest from Dad's hide." 😂
"Dad had some sick ink!" ..😂
Oh, Caitlyn, you're such a hoot!
Owl have to agree with that last line ;)
@@harveyabel1354 Me 2! lol
Wise Old Owl *Me tOOO
I feel like if a person wants to keep the skull of a loved one, the best way to go about it would be to have permission from the person who is... y'know. Using the skull?
Put it in a will. If we can donate our bodies to science where they can be poked, prodded, tested on, dissected, and treated in all kinds of ways, I don't see why a person couldn't will their own skull to a loved one (with both parties being okay with the matter, of course). Maybe with a note of "Upon the death of the recipient, my skull is to be [insert request here for burial/cremation/etc]."
Thank you. I feel the same way. If I can’t be dumped in the woods I’d love for my family to have my skull.
Yeah but who is going to do it? I think ppl who do autopsies and scientific research have all kinds of legal things on their side and certifications to do those things that funeral homes don't. Simply because there is govt money in funding research and police, but not so much in funeral homes. So govt officials are fine with letting those laws take a backseat to other legislation.
And then it just comes back to whats stated in the video. If it was that easy then Caitlin implied her funeral home would be doing that.
I would include it in my written funeral directive: deposited with the funeral home, family, executor and my officiant. A will usually resides inside a safe-deposit box (legally sealed upon death), or inside a messy desk drawer somewhere - and is typically not found (nor probated) until long after the disposition of the deceased. No Texas undertaker would pick a skull clean, boil / bleach it, then hand it to someone - no matter who they are. No more than they would remove gold crowns from a decedent's mouth. Let that news get out in a small town ! Not gonna happen. Medical schools cremate the remains (as per the decedent's anatomical donation agreement) and offer disposition options to the family once they're through with the body. I've grown up in the embalming room of our family funeral home since I was 15 years old (am 64). You may cherish and hold any opinion, but that's how it is in the real world... 😼
I agree.
I agree, if you can donate your body to science, their should be no reason why you can't put that in your will, providing your relatives want it. I am the kind of person who wouldn't mind having my mom's skull around, but SHE would NOT LIKE IT. She was very emphatic about how she wanted to be buried, and she wanted a graveside service, and she wanted the family there to watch her be lowered in the ground. I never asked her why. But she was most insistent. I think it was mainly because she was terrified of organ harvesting without her consent.
So, even if I put in my Will or Trust, that I want my bones de-fleshed and distributed to specific family members, that's still not OK?
But if I donate my body to a University, its perfectly legal for them to deflesh my skull and put it in a classroom?
That's just not right.
Hmm, can you put in the will that you donate your body to a University with the proviso that they will deliver the defleshed skull to the family?
@@Walter-Montalvo 😄cheating the system ..
Just because its anonymous doesn't change the fact. But scientists have the excuse of the greater good and nearly all our medicinal advancements and knowledge of anatomy was due to studying real bodies. I guess of you donate your body y o use giving scientists anonymous body parts to learn.
Exactly!
cough cough try a sip of this libertarianism, u may find its flavor irresistible cough cough
"Why aren't people buying expensive caskets like they used to?" shows her videos..
ME: well to be fair it was because of you that I had my mother aquamated in July when she passed instead of cremated or buried. The director even asked how we found out about it to which i replied... "RUclips..."
Yeah I read a book called "stiff" and I know that's one of the options I'd like but I don't want to freak out my family. If I die older I'll donate the old choocher to science but if I die tomorrow it will be organ donating + aquamation, because I think donating my body to science would freak my parents out
@@therabbithat Yeah probably. The morgue called my dad and asked if we wanted to donate any of mom's body and he chewed out the poor woman. I'm like dad, they're just doing their job. to which he replied; "I don't give a F!@#! They need to have a little bit more respect." to which I facepalmed myself. On top of that my mother had some SERIOUS health problems. She just turned 60 in January and mom and dad celebrated their 35th anniversary 4 days prior to her death. Not only is aquamation legal in the state of NC, Its also home to the only auqamation facility on the East Coast. (just in case anyones insterested. Also this is as of July 2020. I can't say that will remain the case.)
So interesting that aquamation is a thing. I saw a post/ad for this being offer to veterinary hospitals in one of our veterinary journals. Vets could offer the service at their own clinic that they can't get elsewhere. I were very intrigued
Where are you????
@@painoftheheart12 North Carolina
That’s so interesting. I never thought that having a body burned in an oven until nothing remains but bone and having the bone reduced to ash and sit on your mantle would be legal, but having just the head, just the flesh removed, and even simply owning it would be “corpse abuse” and illegal.
unless it is anon-relative....like the skull in our basement.....(my wife is an anthropologist)....
@@TheWolfsnack I don't know if I'm relieved or disappointed that you clarified that response.
To be fair, there are a sh*tton of things that are an inch away of being illegal
@@TheWolfsnack Anthropologists get away with all sorts of shit.
My science teacher in high school, who did a forensic science class, had a real human skull all cut up and written on for demonstration and learning. I handled it a few times when she asked me for help moving items.
It’s.. humbling.
So fun story.. When My mom was a kid they had this skull in their grandparents attic they thought was fake, they used to play with it and everything.. It wasn't until they were in their 20s did the family find out the truth that one of my mom's uncles (who had the definition of a cursed life) dug up a skull from this Native American land near their house when he was a kid.. Once they found out they returned it to the Chief of the area but yeah.. He ended up with a not so nice life, he killed himself when i was in middle school.
@d b I mean it wasn't anything like that lol. When my mom's uncle was a teenager he got addicted to Heroin and tried to cut some copper wire to sell but it was live and his heart beat just the right why to wherw he survived but was paralyzed and his legs literally rotted away because he didn't want to get them taken off. I believe he even maggot treatments and things like that.. He lived in my Great grandmother's basement until he took his life when I was in like 7th or 8th grade. But finding out about the whole skull story makes it just a really weird coincidence.
@@biscuitgidoni2804 You sure it wasn't anything like that? Sounds pretty cursed to me lol
@@coryashley1851 I mean no one was walking through the TV or anything crazy like that but I definitely believe it had a hand in why his life turned out so bad like it did
Definitely definitely cursed 👀
@@biscuitgidoni2804 not cured just life
"I don't know how to remove a head!"
*Hayden & Bentham's heads look on in shame*
XD this is perfect!
"Am I correct in understanding you put your father's skull in that bowling ball?"
"No."
"Ah."
"The lady at the shop did it for me."
-Mystery Men
An under rated film :)
There are two options when you die, either heaven or hell. If you want to go to heaven you need to repent and believe in Jesus Christ
@@brotherdj777 ...??
@@Gingersnaps_the_pumpkin_kitty have you accepted Jesus Christ as your savior?
@@brotherdj777 Oh look another one of the "If you don't believe in the same sky fairy I do, you're going to BURN. But my sky fairy loves you. But you're still going to BURN" fundamentalists .
To own a human skull or bones here in the UK the law states. That the bones are over a certain age, and the police have to investigate to see if the persons remains are not part of a homicide case. And they come with certification to say they are legally obtained.
My boyfriend wanted to leave me his defleshed skull with the ashes of his body compressed into gems in his eye sockets. Maybe itll be legal by the time we die lol
... damn, that's a very decadent image. Love the idea
...🤫shhhssssss....
Im just gonna have a gem in one,so he can ”enjoy” my other eyesocket lovingly 🤭
That sounds pretty!!
petriinah ahahaha
Honestly, if anyone needs an explanation for why abuse of corpse law excuse, just point them to the Iconic Corpse playlist.
Especially poor Elena de Hoyos. ESPECIALLY THAT VIDEO.
That video was so good. It really taught me a lot.
I finally got to read the book written by the Florida historian about Elena and the weird Mr. Carl. Very good read.
@@AmberLecuyer agreed, but dear god it also haunts me. I'm usually fine with most uncanny valley/body horror stuff but the photos of Tanzler "preserving" Elena's body - the open chest cavity, the glass eyes and the face in the video thumbnail - that terrifies me.
"Why aren't people buying expensive caskets like they used to?"
Well, when the hospital demands payment in full for the deceased's medical bills within a week after death, that kind of limits your options for the funeral...
Stupid...
They want the zombies apparently
Ouch, how about not charging families for their loved ones medical costs altogether now. Come on America, universal healthcare would prevent this sucky situation.
@@classicambo9781 That wouldn't be socially darwinist.
Disgusting American health care doing that
We had some death talk in our home, and the most awkward thing that you may have overheard is our eldest saying he wants his skull to be kept by family member and made into a goblet. He has repeated this request several time, and the youngest sibling has been chosen to keep the skull safe. It's a strange arrangement which I certainly hope won't happen for 100 years, but interesting how adamant he is.
personally i love that idea. id be honored as the youngest
"...the youngest sibling has been chosen to keep the skull safe" I don't know why this made me laugh so hard. What a cool kid ahaha
Your channel changed my burial plans from "giant metal casket" to "throw me in a field to decompose so I can help further forensic sciences" and I'm glad my choice has forced uptight traditional funeral homes to consider tattoo preservation to earn back revenue.
No Bentham's head? The one guy who famously DID get his head preserved, and he doesn't get a cameo? *Sad utilitarian noises*
Medical schools use real skeletons in their classrooms, from bodies donated for science. Artificial skeletons have gotten much better in recent years and have much replaced real ones, but, it seems prestigious for your school to have real skeletons. Skulls and all. What a job! Making real skeletons for classrooms, I can’t imagine.
Don't forget Ted Williams. His head is in frozen storage somewhere. How is THAT legal?
Right? If ANY video was a perfect vehicle for the Bentham's head popup, it was this one.
Ted Baker Ted Williams would make for a good Iconic Corpse episode.
@@alphagt62 also. They have them. Most schools aren't really new.
You don't just throw away a human skeleton because you have good plastic ones. And often the lines in the skull etc are less good in the fake ones
Caitlin: "Support yourself, ladies."
Me: "Yes, girl!"
I always love the book promos.
Ok
I’m so happy to have watched this amazing channel grow up from less than 5,000 subs. To know how many Death Positive people, like myself, are out there supporting Caitlin’s videos and advocation of being able to talk about death openly, really gives me so much hope for humanity’s future.
Sincerely,
A Terminally Ill Deathling 🖤
sending you love, hoping you're doing well
I didn't realize how much I've missed The Meow, Ask a Mortician title sequence until I saw it again just now. 🐈😀
They look so happy that they can fly
I love my The Meow shirt. ❤
So nice to see The Meow angels back.
Me, tooo!
She needs a new kitty
Work around: cremation, then mix the ashes with resin or similar and pour into a skull shaped mold.
Thats an awesome idea .. but i feel like I'd mess it up somehow and lose all the ashes 🤦♀️
oh, right... resin... im running out of ashes tho...
eh H make a tiny skull or you can make it into a phone case or hair comb, really anything That’s a mold for a resin
There’s a skull in the closet of the art room in the rural high school I went to. The art teacher had no idea who he was and said he’d been there since she took the job. As far as I know he’s still there. I had a panic attack when 15-year-old me first picked him up thinking it was just plastic. I wonder about him a lot. Is there a legal way to get him identified? It sounds like trying to buy him from the school would be very iffy and maybe expensive, but an adult woman breaking into a high school to steal something is definitely also a crime.
I know whoever he was is long gone & it’s just bone, like there’s no ghost stuck in a high school forever, but it still makes me sad that he’s just stuck there. (Also drawings of him got me accepted into art school with a scholarship, so I owe him).
Poor guy anyway, when I imagine having to stay in school forever... 😵
@@fiesehexe8133 😂😭😂
There’s a newer project called the John Doe project that is for identifying unidentified remains thru DNA. Idk the legal loopholes though.
So they just keep him in a storage room? I think he does deserve a final resting place if he's just being stored. Maybe just talking with the school but idk if the school would just hand it over or not even bother with the legalities.
Your funny
I love your content!! Have you ever looked into "ash diamonds" or diamonds made from cremated remains? I work as a goldsmith and once in a while they'll get brought up because people believe it's a real thing, but ask any jeweler they'll tell you it's a hoax. There's not enough carbon left to make a perfectly formed diamond that's cut flawlessly, but people are charges thousands of dollars for them and I feel like it's a topic that needs to be shared more. Love ya girl!! 🥰
“These laws are put into place to stop weirdos and criminals from doing...”
Simplified Answer: weird and criminal things
Yay for the return of the flying cat angels in the title sequence 🥳
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Agree!
Heavenly The Mau’s
In Sweden where I live, it's even illegal to keep a loved one's ashes at home. So people even wondering if you can have someone's head just chilling in your living room feels so strange to me😅
If it's illegal to keep their "aches" then give them some Tylenol.
Swedens gone down the tube. Rayp capital of Europe. Way to go feminist government
@@sprtwlf9314 it's only the "rape capital" because they actually take rape seriously and mark down EVERY instance. If you're raped several times by your spouse, where I'm from, they'll most likely be charged with one count of rape. In Sweden, the multiple times count as multiple rapes= higher percentage of rape. And that's only one example.
SprtWlf9 it’s the rape capital because people actually report it, all sexual assault is counted as rape, and an instance of rape by multiple people or on multiple occasions are counted as separate rapes. Do you believe that China has an incredibly low rape rate, simply because none are reported? Think critically here.
That's super interesting! Here, one reason people favor cremation is because you can have your loved one with you...just in a compact form. It's also more convenient for people who want to bury them at home, or spread them somewhere important- you don't have to worry about a full body, but you still get the emotions of it. What do you have to do with the ashes, since you can't have them at home?
My grandma just died a couple days ago. I started watching you when i found out my grandma was in her final days and you gave me relief. I feel more at ease because people like you take care of our loved ones. Thank you to you and everyone in your profession for being amazing human beings.
Seeing Caitlin in the bathtub promoting her book, and all I can think is "how did she get her legs in there when she's so tall?" LOL
You know, my therapist is a human skull, and she's been there to talk me through my toughest times. No body knows the trouble I've seen. No body knows my sorrows.
Swiiiing loooww...sweeet chariot. Comin' for to carry me hoooome.
Rose c i thought you said swig low im like wtf
Ok hamlet
At my grandpa's memorial service, I and my cousin viewed the body at approximately the same time. I said, "It really doesn't look like him," and my cousin pointed out that, "That's not really him. It's just a shell."
Imagine walking in the park and seeing a random woman talking to a human skull.
Alas, poor Yorick. I knew him, Horatio, a fellow of infinite jest and most excellent fancy. (or something)
"You mark your skin, it gives you pleasure
I take your precious art, it becomes my leather
Taking your hide before you have died
Decency defied" - Cannibal Corpse
My neighbor has a cast of her father's skull sitting next to an urn of his ashes. I don't know how she was able to have that done, but it is kinda neat.
I know facial reconstruction surgeons are now using CT scans to create plastic models to manipulate and emulate in theatre - maybe he had some sort of surgery before his death?
classic ambo I think they could’ve done the CT or PET scan even after death to get a 3D image of the skull and then transfer that info to make a 3D model skull and even a mold to make a metal casting if you can afford the expense.
@@MissLilyputt , I had a CT done on my knee and lower leg after a work injury. They gave me a CD with the images and some data files so I could give it to future doctors if needed. You now have me wondering if I can pull the data into something a CAD program would recognize. Be sort of cool to have a model of my knee sitting on my desk.
Of note: When going over the scan with the radiologist and he "zoomed" through the muscle tissue, my thought was, "That is some fine marbling.", as if I was grading a cut of meat. I may have issues.
AH-HA! The answer: Use dad's cremated ashes to sculpt a ceramic skull! If you're good, you could get an xray of his skull, and make it correct-to-life!
Brilliant.
STONKS!!
👍💯 🥇
Ms Mrs Taylor, with the advent of 3-d printers, I would guess a live picture could be used to create a clean likeness.
@@henryjames8654 YES!!!! For accuracy, I love it! Then, if you want to include ashes in this more accurate form, you can use that as your model. :) . Great inclusion, Henry James (I loved "Turn of the Screw" ... "Portrait of a Lady" had some beautifully-descriptive parts.).
Ultimate family heirloom: human skull bedazzled with diamonds made from remains.
Bonus: save up the remains and get giant diamonds for the eye sockets.
My grandma replaced the old golden bridges in her teeth a couple of years before she passed and now thats my macabre keepsake of hers :)
It's so funny you said that, my Grandpa passed 2 yrs ago at the age of 100 and i kept his dentures. I don't feel right getting rid of them😂💗
thanks to you, i actually got to keep the metal plate my mom had in her arm. i know it's a little different, but it's still very meaningful to me.
I got the screws from my dad's hip replacement surgery after he was cremated.
My daughter (8 years old) and I love watching Caitlin together. Who knew mortuary topics could bond a mother and daughter while helping us discuss important life (and death) topics?! Keep up the wonderful and thought-provoking work, Caitlin! We love you!
My 8 year old likes to watch also.
Check out The Brain Scoop it is great also.
Same for me and my 9yr old daughter
I’m not weird (well,maybe). I’m not morbid. I love how she inserts little tidbits of her humor throughout her videos. I love her sense of humor.
What if the deceased had requested their skull be given to someone? Like it's in their will that their favorite kid gets to have their skull? Does that change things since they are deciding what to do with their own body?
No, unfortunately it would still come down to the legality of it all. A will is definite about certain things, like personal property, but it only goes so far.
Your will cannot be enforced if it contains illegal requests. The law really doesn’t care much about whether you, your spouse, or close relative approve but what your local laws say on the matter. The one loophole seems to be “donating you body to science”. Then for scientific purposes they can freeze the corpse, and cut it up and take pictures of the entire body for the purpose of making a 3D model of the deceased for educational purposes.
You can only will things that you legally own and because nobody owns a corpse nobody can will one its sorta like child custody
I don't think you can will the like next of kin rights either now that I think about it that something that you establish when you are alive and then it carries over
i would totally watch a black comedy with a bunch of adult kids trying to figure out whos gonna get mums skull cause the will just said "my favourite child"
“Why aren’t people buying expensive metal caskets??” I laughed out loud and everyone is looking at me...but I can’t explain what I’m laughing at without really freaking them out. Hahahahahahaha
A few years ago one of my best friends took out a life insurance policy, he wanted to make me the main beneficiary on the stipulation that I keep his defleshed skull as a display piece. He tried to figure out the legalities of such but just couldn't make it fly. But if we could find an avenue to do it I'd be happy to fulfil his wish hahaha
Today I started my first day of mortuary school. Thank you ,Caitlyn, for further empowering me within the field I had selected. As I go through what I expect to be a mostly run of the mill mortuary education, I anticipate this channel to become a safe space for me more than ever.
I decided to enter mortuary science when I was a freshman in highschool after having experienced an unexpected family death, and seeing the horror of price gouged funerals. I was already against the funeral industry, and capitalism, and generally concerned about the environment when I found this channel two years later. The influence of this channel helped to show me that I was not alone in my thoughts or opinions, that there is an actively growing movement of people like myself. It helped me to solidify within myself my goals. It helped me understand that choosing a career path in funeral care dos not mean betraying my morals. so, thank you.
My classmates are a very mixed bag, age wise, as people in mortuary school often are. they come from different backgrounds and that makes me weary as a queer individual with generally fringe beliefs and opinions. But, I can feel that my program is making an attempt to be modern and inclusive (in our second semester we even have a class that literally uses one of Caitlyn's books as the actual textbook), so for now I suppose I will take what I can get from school, and continue to do my own research outside of it.
Congratulations and wishing you success. I really wish I had considered this as a career but maybe back then it would not have been as satisfying? I'm 68 now and trying to encourage my kids to consider it.
When you say queer, do you mean odd or gay?
@@VivalaryMan queer pretty consistently means gay now. I don't know that I've ever met a person under 60 who has used it to mean odd.
@@izzyjackson6334 you're speaking to him 😊 queer way of thinking if you ask me.
Why don't you just say gay?
9/10, needs more Jeremy Bentham
(No but seriously this was a 10/10 video, loved it and I hope you're doing okay!)
🎶benthams heeaad🎶
Bentham's head should have been a must in a video about skulls lol
Bentham’s head.
@@Miss_Wonderful1 or at least a Haydn's head, for skull shenanigans
@@Sakkeru96 Yes!!!
As someone with tattoos I wouldn't mind if my wife or loved ones wanted my tattoos especially since tattoos in my opinion are art and I won't need them when I'm dead so why not give it to someone as a momento of me after I'm gone. Once again great vid.
Let's see: You de-flesh the skull before releasing it for mantle-piece display. You need to remove the skull before you can turn it into a shrunken head. So, if my brother and I both want Mom's head for a memento, this could be solved by removing the skull, cleaning it, and giving it to one of us, and taking the rest of the head, boiling it with herbs, drying, and shrinking it, and giving it to the other.
If we had another sibling, it might get more complicated, and they could get offended.
😂
just give the third sibling the brain or eyes
@@intensestare5027 Perfect idea. I know that ancient Egyptians didn't usually put those items in canopic jars but it would make for a lovely presentation piece to the third sibling.
"Sorry that you didn't get one of mum's heads... Here's her brain in a canopic jar- we even added a pretty bow. Nice, right?"
Apparently the best way to clean a skull is with cleaner insects: www.rainbowmealworms.net/buffalo-beetles/
Shruknen relative head necklaces is a great idea!!!
The owner of a tattoo studio here in my city had wished for several of his tattoos to be preserved and framed, and when he passed suddenly a few years ago, they did that. I think one of the photos you used was actually his. It's definitely an interesting service, but it's certainly expensive and unusual at this point. And of course, an ethical grey area. But this was actually on his will, with plans and money already put away apparently. So uh, to each their own lol
It was probably a little sketch due to skin lampshades
Good video! The closest thing to keeping someone's head I've ever experienced was working in a nursing home, one of the ladies that passed, donated her brain to science so we had to immediately pack her head and ice while her family was there
Personally, I love reading all the comments. There are as many laughs here as Caitlin's videos. And the replies -- terrific, yet supportive and sincere.
I had no idea your dad passed away two years ago. I’m so sorry for your loss. Thank you for all that you do and for keeping on providing for us during your time of grieving. You’re the best!!!
I still love this video. The tub scene, promoting your paperback edition, is a winner. You rock.
I'm covered in tattoos, as are many of my colleagues. We always joke about leaving specific tattoos to one another once we pass, so this was amazing and (as always) informative! 💕
I just want to say that I always look forward to the flying Siamese cat angels at the beginning of the videos. 😺😺😺
Caitlin: There are corpse laws.
Dr Frankenstein: Am I a joke to you?
Abby Normal?
I tattooed my best friend as dumb teens and when he died all I wanted was that tattoo but was too embarrassed to ask his mom. Man I miss him
I'm sorry. Losing a loved one at that age really messes w/u. I hope you're doing well. I'm sure he misses you too 💗
Me: Has never thought about or wanted to keep any person's skull or tattoos after death
Caitlin: Hey, here's a video about if you can keep someone's skull or tattoos!
Me: Aw hell yeah
WHAT?!? No Bentham's head at the end?? Awww, a missed opportunity, for sure. 😂😂
You can't yet keep ~ Daddy's Head ~
I really wish to hold my own skull and know what it looks like, since I've seen how diverse other skulls are. Can we use xrays to 3d print your own skull? Because I would pay money for that.
MRIs would be more useful. X-rays squish all the info into one flat image, MRIs make slices not unlike the layers a 3d printer makes.
@@mirjanbouma interesting. I hope some company jumps on that because I certainly can't but I'd be a customer.
If one has the money it can be done. I know 3D printing is often used to plan out reconstructive surgeries. It would require detailed scans of one’s skull. CT or MRI
I just found out this is a real thing! Sort of. I found an article of a Dutch artist who 3D printed his skeleton including skull with an MRI. Interesting!
Not exactly the same thing, but I know someone who 3D printed her own brain (it glows in the dark)
I realize I’m leaving comments on old videos but , I think you’re amazing. I’m learning so much about history and death and you’ve given me a lot to think about. I’ve even made an appt with a funeral home to discuss alternative options! I like your style. Your funny AF , most importantly you’re gifting others comfort. I’ve learned so much and I feel like I can advocate for myself! Thanks dolls. You da best ♥️
Maybe the best way to keep a family members skull is to have a 3d printed version off of an xray or CAT scan.
"Support yourself, ladies." Yes honey.
I literally was eating a bowl of Chef Boyardee ravioli, something I haven't eaten in months. 9:50 scared the crap out of me
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I just absolutely love how no topic is off the table for you, how informational, matter of fact and humorous you make of all death related subjects. I just love that you're doing the good work of giving us all permission to explore death and help us all to not be as fearful of it. Although, I know when I find my very old dead dog one day, I will be scared of her body and probably run screaming. And why? Maybe because I don't have a plan for when that happens. Hmmmm....randomness over...
Thank you Caitlin!
Hi Ms. Doughty! So I’m a freshman in college and you inspired me so much to obtain a degree in Mortuary science! So one of my first research papers has to be related to funeral service and so I’m going to pick *drum roll* GREEN BURIAL!! It’s honestly so much better and more eco friendly then caskets and cremations and embalmings. So in a way, thank you for helping me pick out my topic! ❤️
Wins the Internet for the casual glance downward at the word "floppy."
Guy from Netflix Unsolved asked to have his murdered wife’s bones laid out for him so he could hold her skull. Is that legal?
P.S I got a feeling he’s the one that killed her
Just saw that. I'm pretty sure it is since he didn't actually take any parts. I've heard of people going into the morgue to see the body even if it's already been identified. Usually it's the decision of the place.
Same, that story is so weird like everything he says in the episode is a lie
Yeah he totally did.
which episode is that?
im bald It’s the 2nd episode of Unsolved Mysteries called “13 Minutes”
I’m a Thanatologist and a Bereavement Specialist for hospice and I love your videos! I always learn something, Thank you for your death and grief education!
Coffee and early morning death talk. YASSSSS!!
The best part of waking up. ☕💀
@@itwasagoodideaatthetime7980 absolutely!! Also, just ordered my copy of "Will my cat eat my eyeballs" 😁
Caitlyn: "...Memento Mori"
Unus Annus and fans: You rang?
My God I would love to see a collab with them, though I doubt that'd happen
*unus annus has joined the chat*
as a flyleaf fan i got excited when she said that
UNUS ANNUS UNUS ANNUS UNUS ANNUS
The line, “What are you, a size 14?” (Silence of the Lambs) Comes to mind about the human skin removal thing.
I'm an artist, and it's my dream to have a book of my art bound in my own skin when I die. Maybe two, if I have enough, so one can be auctioned off and the proceeds donated to the Trevor Project. I just think that would be really metal, and frankly history needs at least _one_ woman who was _willingly_ turned into a skin book.