Positioning of bodies- Tips to get someone positioned in a casket just right
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- Опубликовано: 13 окт 2024
- A funeral director gives head, hand, and leg positioning tips for a deceased. A How to on having someone positioned correctly in a casket.
kari@karinorthey.com
This young lady here really knows her way around the preparation room she is very knowledgeable and if you listen you can learn I worked at a funeral home for 40 years and I know this lady knows what she's talking about God bless her for willing to share her knowledge
Well I hope so
When my two yr old daughter passed away they folded her hands n placed my moms rosary beads on her hands. It looked sweet. They did that for my dad too. We’re catholic. 🙏
Thank you for sharing about your lovely family!
Kari Northey thank you so much! It means so much to me to see a message from you!! 😃❤️🙏👌🤗
I just shed a tear when u said 2 year old, I have a toddler and I just can't 😩 may ur childs soul rip 😢🙏
Lacey Racey thank you sweetie!! god bless you n your child!! I went on to have 3 more children after Lori. But she’s still the first on my mind in the morning and the last on my mind as my head hits the pillow. ❤️🙏😇
My baby girl had a brain tumor. 😔
Kari I can say that watching your video's help me get through the death of my brother who I lost new year's eve 2008. He was 37yrs old and suffered a massive heart attack right in front of my mother. She was the 1st person to hold him when he entered the world & the last to hold him when he left. He didn't have life ins and we tried so hard to get the money but with no real family we couldn't and the state had to bury my brother. Till this very day I still hurt knowing he didn't have the homecoming he deserved. The funeral home in our state that deals with state burials were very rude to us and when we tried to at least take a suit for him to wear the director rushed us out. I will never forget that. It was just my mom sister and I no one else. That was a huge reason why I wanted to get into this business so I can give families the support they need not rush them out of the door. Your video's are so heartfelt and calming and I appreciate the funeral director's like you that actually care. Thank you Kari for caring about the families and their loved ones!
I know exactly how you feel. I lost my Daddy, who I adored and I always will. He, unfortunately let his life insurance lapse. Probably to get something my sister and I needed. I was just 16 years old, I took care of him. My mom had left us when I was 7 and my sister was 5. The city had to burie my Daddy. It was a Grey casket with a felt like material. My Daddy was a proud man. He was very, very kind. He would do anything for people. I had my Gramma, my Mother's Mother. She and my Daddy were very close. My Daddy always took pride in the way he dressed and the way my sister and I were dressed. We went to the Funeral home that our family dealt with and we brought the clothes I had chosen for my Daddy. We were only allowed one day for visitation and we had a service in the chapel the next day and he was buried. At least I was able to get the cemetery I wanted only because It was a municipal cemetery. They were respectful and polite but they did not take the time with us that they did with people who were buying expensive caskets and paying for all the things we couldn't. It was dignified, but I still see that pulpers casket and wish I could have done better. You are definitely treated differently when you don't have big money to spend!!! It's very sad.
@@micheleberara2842 I'm sorry you had to go through that. And we weren't allowed to see him just a quick graveside service. The casket was a felt material yes. They treated us as if we were a burden or as if they didn't want us there (we took him a suit). Honestly, I don't believe they even bothered to put it on him. It was extremely hurtful. I vow to NEVER ever go through that again!😞💐
@@micheleberara2842 God bless you! You all did your best and will no doubt be rewarded and reunited with your father in the Lords Kingdom!
@@mapmanlxii1715 Thank you so much for that. I know that my Daddy is in Heaven with our Lord and Savior. He had such a beautiful soul. He was a very dear man. He was very kind and generous. He was respectful to everyone he met. I miss him very much, but I am so grateful for the wonderful memories and the importance of caring and being kind 💖
Loved his video - brought back lots of memories from when I first started working for a Mortuary in the central valley of California in the early 70's. First thing I was taught by the embalmer was when doing removals to get the dentures if they had them, and then the positioning of the body on the table to prep for embalming. Blocks under the body so that it was up off the table, proper placement of headrest, and placement of hands. Stuck with me to this day. When I went to work for a different Mortuary years later after doing other professions they found my methods strange and different from what they did but soon started doing it the same way saying it made things a lot easier.
So cute you just hopped up on the table and showed and explained everything so well---I never thought about all the things you need to do to position a person. You make death an acceptable subject to talk about and that is a good thing---we all need to not be afraid to plan for it and to discuss it ..... thank you.... again!
I believe everyone has the fear of dying whether they admit it or not. After watching your videos I have alot more understanding the care given preparing the body. I have a dear friend that owns a funeral home and like you, she is very compassionate and understanding. I hope I go before her cause I know she will do a perfect job on me.
:)
Thank you again, Kari.
I am trying to recall if my mom’s head was tilted slightly to the right. I do remember that she wasn’t star gazing or staring at her toes.
She was 88 and in the casket she didn’t look like herself at all, which was understandable. I was almost relieved that she didn’t look like herself: it made saying goodbye easier (and we had many photos of her in life beside the casket).
I love your channel. It has somehow helped me after the death of my mother.
I was the only kid in my family who was always asking what mom wanted after she died. I recall my entire family was mad our dad's third wife overrode his desire to be buried in his Navy uniform and buried him in his square dance clothes instead. Pi$$ed off my mom, I can tell you.
I always sleep with a foot sticking out from under the covers. My husband asked me why, and I said so I could breathe. I also told him to cut a hole in the side of my casket when I die so I can stick my foot out, otherwise I'd smother to death! Lol
Same here my dawg, gotta have one leg out to breathe, weird I know
Too funny by. I do that foot thing too...lol
LOL
You crack yourself up don't you?
When my father died, the funeral director gave my mother my dad's wedding band.
When I lost my mother, the undertaker give me my mother's rings, b4 removing her body away from our home. I can hear the clink in my hand. So i have both rings in my possession, so when my time comes, I've instructed they be put in my urn, 2 give them back to them when we meet again❤💐
That is a very nice sentiment!
Awe. Bless u and RIP mom.
That is really awesome & sweet!! I love this.
@@KaritheMortician I think it best that both hands can covered the private parts,so that no one can view.This is called respect the dead.
This was so enlightening. Had no idea how positioning was accomplished.
LMAO...I don't know why I found the "don'ts in this video hilarious!!! Such such a great video and I learned so much. Thank you Kari! ) Please keep up the excellent work.
After watching so many of your videos, I feel more ready than ever to, when the time comes, help prepare my aunt for her final journey, she was a sister for 40+ years for the NHS here in the UK and I worked in end of life care for many years, both of us have talked about the need we felt to do our best for those in our care after they died. For me it’s the most important thing I feel I can do for her after she goes and ready her to meet my uncle again at the pearly gates, I didn’t realise that I could even do it myself until you told me and you have taught me so much, I find you so easy to understand and you explain things in-depth and in terms I can grasp so thank you Kari xx take care and keep doing just what you are because you are brilliant xx
Kari Northey she is 82 and has chronic heart failure so no one knows really but she won't be here forever, she's a tough cookie but life is getting tough for her now, her brain her still very sharp but her body is giving up xx
I had my daughter direct cremation..I'm glad I did that .she was a tissue donor..I've since learned how invasive the tissue(s) harvest is..I also wanted to keep her cremains in my home, not buried..I've learned a lot from this channel. I feel comfortable that I made the right decision on how to care for my daughter. Thank you!
Kari Northey Thank you for your kindness. I mentioned all this, because when my daughter passed, I knew I didn't want her buried..couldn't handle the thought. I liked the idea of being able to keep her close by. A friend of mine kind of admonished me, and made me feel like I hadn't done enough for my daughter. Personally, I think my daughter would be pleased..the urn is a large picture frame, matches my dresser, and has a really lovely picture of her in it.
@@annapayne23 ---
I'm a retired surgical nurse. I've often wondered if families understand the invasiveness of tissue donation.
Do you think you were well informed before you consented to the organ or tissue harvest procedure?
Do you feel you received adequate support from hospital staff?
Is there anything they could have done better to assist you?
Is there anything you wish you had been told beforehand?
If it is too upsetting to reply, I apologize, and support you if you do not wish to answer.
Please accept my sincere condolences for the loss of your daughter.
No parent should EVER have to bury a child! So sorry for your loss. God bless
@@annapayne23 your friend was out of line
April West I was thinking the same & preparing to reply as such--until I read your comment.
Ms. Anna Payne, ma'am: I am SO SORRY for your loss of your daughter.
And I'm sorry you were / felt "kind of admonished" by your friend.
Neither having ever met you nor knowing any of your story @ all, I believe I can state that you did what you thought BEST for your daughter, your family & you.
Blessings & peace to you. 💐
I love your channel, I found you this past Feburary after my mom died suddenly. At her wake and funeral I was curious as to everything that went on behind the scenes and your videos really do an awesome job of showing what happens behind the scenes.
Thank you so much!
Very interesting. I've seen a few of the incorrect hand placements. I always thought it looked strange and now I know why! 😀
Wow this is amazing, so many techniques that goes into the deceased before burial.
Yes, much more than just embalming!!
Well no head block for me then, I want comfort, I'll be laying there a long time, mite as well be comfortable. I want my pillow and blanket from home. lol. Thumbs up Kari.
You can request that
@@lauragadille3384 Head block is for preparations only. Once you are casketed your head will be resting on a pillow. The block is only used to elevate the head to allow the staff better access during embalming and preparing, hair styling, makeup etc.
They keep the head block
Great job with this video! I love that you jumped onto that table, just another day in the life as a funeral director!
Kari Northey I can honestly say I’ve never done it! But I’ve gotten on a stretcher before (not because I wanted to, that’s a weird story in itself!)
Little Miss Funeral Well you can pose yourself for another demonstration video if you have some extra elaborations on poses. I’ll look forward to it because I have so many questions.
You are an amazing teacher. Thank you so much. I am learning so much.
At my friend’s funeral last week they had his arms crossed over his chest in the ‘vampire cross’. It was very fitting for him and I’m glad the funeral home abided request. I feel like anything else wouldn’t have looked right for him and he wanted the vampire cross.
Years ago at one of my great-uncle’s funerals one of his hands was hovering over his chest very noticeably and his mouth wasn’t closed all the way. Makes me wonder what other issues could have been happening, the funeral directors were in the chapel with us the entire service and just staring as if they were waiting for something else to happen.
Interesting!
So glad there are ppl so educated and have enuf life experiences to figure this stuff out!! Thank you
Yes!
Hi Kari, little by little your are helping me to take out the mystery of your profession which always scared me.You are a God sent. Thanks for listening to me.
Awesome video. My thing was the eyes of an older gentleman whose eyes were wide open when he passed. When we got to the funeral home to put him in refrigeration we didn't feel right putting him in with his eyes open. So I had to give him a little eyelid massage and Bam eyes closed looking like he was asleep. No open creepy eyes staring at you. Very proud of that moment haha
There was a trend a few years ago in the funeral business for clients to request lifelike scenes for the deceased. If a dead family member was an avid poker player, the mortician would prop up the deceased person complete with poker faced sunglasses sat at a poker table. There were other scenarios like propping a person on a Harley Davidson with helmet and biker gear. A little weird, but that's what the family wanted.
In terms of positioning for viewing, I saw something different in Ecuador. Coffins there have glass plates built into the top cover so mourners can one last glimpse of the deceased before burial of internment in a crypt. Memorial stones in cemeteries often have cupboards with glass doors so family can come and leave food, flowers, or other items that will be protected from the elements.
It was never a trend really. It was a few cases of extreme embalming over the years. It is still done
Kari, you are so incredibly cute and informative. I just went through this morbid, confusing process a month ago, for a loved one and it sucks ! Your videos are amazing. You take a subject that is taboo, unknown, confusing and a bit scary to most and you normalize it. Funeral directors are assumed to be somber individuals, who haven’t smiled since the Regan administration. Wear black suits, that aren’t sold in stores, shoes that squeak slightly and whose entering a room is seldom heard, but drops the ambient temperature by 5-10 degrees. And they smell of Lucky Tiger hair oil. You replace that with a friendly and educational sexiness, that is amazing. Thank you for sharing this information with us.
Kari Northey Like I said Kari, I just went through this with the loss of my dad. Someone like you and especially you, would have made the process much easier. Even as a trauma medic, the funeral process just unnerves me. Wish I have found your videos a little sooner. But, thank you for sharing. You seriously have a positive impact on your viewers and the industry. And for the record, we all love the way you say “cotton” and your “um’s”, so ignore the troll.
Kari you have the personality that care about everyone. I hope you get your own Funeral Home if you want that…
Thank you!
Thank you so very much for these insightful ways that our beloved dead are placed and why!I'm 66 and l was born to my mom when she was 42.lve been to so many viewings!As early on l lost so many.Thank you again.♥️♥️♥️
You are welcome!
This is such practical and useful information! I'm so glad you shared it with us. Now I know how to position my dead bodies so they will show better!
Thank you!
very interesting and all these hidden subtleties makes a big difference in display! Thank you very much for educating those that have an interest or Curiosity on the subject.
I should've been a mortician. Idk why I'm so fascinated.
Me too. I am interested in the steps and how it’s all done
I watch these a lot Esp in bed at nite I am also Scared of dead body
Rene Hay I seriously considered the profession. Until I talked to a mortician and he told me at times I would have to go to an accident scene and may need a shovel. The time I called him to set up an appointment his wife told me he was embalming. So I looked in the paper who it was, it was a class mate who was killed in an accident a day or so before....I knew the deceased sister very well...the mortician went to my church.
@@jasonfaber1463 I did my research. I never want to embalm a murdered child. I've seen a autopsy , I was o.k. watching it. But you never know what you run across in funeral business.
April West I understand that. I know that is one real tough part of the job.
I love your videos. They are so educational. Cant get enough of them...
You said the head block is uncomfortable.
When I went to pick out my casket a couple years ago, I had them promise to put at least an egg crate or memory foam in my casket when i die. That casket bed is insanely uncomfortable.
It's either extra cushioning or else...
Not that I will know the difference but still.
Whatever Makes you feel good about it now though is what matters
Mom was place very poorly in casket, nothing I could go. Haunts me to decades, learn from the beautiful teacher
Thanks for all these videos, You've answered some questions that alot of people are uncomfortable to ask...
Funeral directors are my kind of people. Kari, you got another new fan in me.
Thanks so much!
@@KaritheMortician You are welcome.
You are welcome.
I'm fascinated as well. I don't think it's such a scary subject if you are educated and informed. .
So true!
I think its scary no matter what
Very smart young lady! I love her videos!
Thank you so much!!
Thank you....meant to say his head was at the foot end....his hands were folded at the waist just above the throw holding a rosary...your video explains it perfectly....
Thank you, Kari for sharing this. It was most interesting to hear and see what to avoid!
Never been to a funeral where I noticed the head turned slightly, but I have seen the hands hovering before, was kinda creepy.
My moms hands looked orange n like wax
Want my hands holding a can of beer.
Lol!
😂😂
Hell yeah...🍻🍻🍻🍻
I saw that before. The family took extra steps to make sure that the beer was cold during the visitation.
And a joint in the other!
Ironically, these videos are very pleasing to watch.
Kari you are beautiful no matter what direction your head is! I wish you would talk about how you put the deceased back together for veiwing after....car accident or something of that nature. I know some times it just can't be done and sealer has to be used
I love your boots Kari!! 🥰❤️
I don’t remember any of the funerals I have been to where the deceased was looking slightly to the right. They’ve all been straight ahead. 1 of my friends was killed in an atv accident. She broke her neck. They had her head scrunched down where it looked like she was looking at her chest. It looked so uncomfortable to me. I wanted to straighten her head. 😞
1 of my cousins was killed by a train. He was walking along the railroad tracks. It took off most of the left side of his face. His parents had an open casket. They positioned him looking to the left to help hide the disfigurement. They also had a net draped over the opening of the casket and all the lights were off. They used candles for light.
Another cousin’s funeral, they didn’t have her eyes closed all the way and I could see the eye caps. Otherwise, she looked very beautiful. ❤️❤️
Thank you!
I love your videos. I watch them every day. ..I know this isn't part of the video, but is that your hand at the beginning?? If so, your ring is gorgeous!
No it is not :)
Love your vids! God bless your work for the dead.
Thank you for the video you are awesome!!! And brave don't think I could have got on that table lol.
I was going to say I bet it felt very surreal being on there x
Ive been to a lot of funerals this year, and have always noticed that the loved ones head is facing slightly downward to where you have to come around really close to see their face. In your demonstration, it looks so much more pleasant with the head turned slightly to the left for better viewing purposes. My husband has lossed about 6 to 8 family members in the past 2 years. And im growing to be intrigued by it. Maybe I should be a mortitician ! Than again, maybe not
When my mom died, we didn't have public viewing because my mother wasn't embalmed but my sister and I viewed her before everyone came and noticed her hands were laying at her side and it did make my mother look more comfortable in the casket. The only problem I had was that we gave the funeral home a rosary to put in with her and it wasn't put in, I brought a couple extra rosaries with me at the vigil service so I made sure a rosary was buried with her.
thank you for sharing
we ALWAYS learn with you as our teacher....merci
Hi Kari....interesting video as always....my brother had a brain surgery and the scar was on left side....they casketed his body at the foot end of the casket with a slight tilt of his head toward us so people could not see the scar....
When my son passed we had the funeral home position his hand holding his toy football at his side on the right and around a teddy bear in his left. We also had them put a hat (favorite sports team) on his head to hide a surgical site.
Very sweet.
New viewer here. Love the videos. I feel this is such a great topic to be talked about, to help avoid such fear. Question. I read an article (on facebook) the other day, and it mentioned the arms floating. It stated a lot of times they use wire or masking tape to keep the arms from floating during the service. Is this true, and if so is it common? Thank you!
I just discovered your channel, and find it very informative. Not sure if you've addressed this before, but 1. Do you think in America we will run out of space and have to find a different way to lay our dead to rest and (kind of related, but not completely) 2. How do you respond to the "environmentally friendly" crowd that are vocally pooh-poohing every burial practice other than green burial as bad for the earth, etc.? Thanks for doing what you do.
Thanks for sharing this! I recall going to a visitation for a neighbor who passed and was rather troubled how she was positioned. Seemed as though her head was turned to her right as you recommended, but in my opinion it was turned TOO far, almost to the point that the chin was nearly to the shoulder. Is it possible that the embalmer/mortician would be unable to reposition the head if it had set in rigor?
Thank you for this video. I grew up in Toronto, Ontario. The bodies I saw always had the head straight on...not turned to the right. So. when I moved to Owen Sound, I was really creeped out by the face being turned to the right. I mean, really creeped out. I spoke to a friend of mine who had a funeral home and he said it must be regional. I think that is true because when I went to a funeral in Toronto recently, the face was not turned to the right. Is it regional or is it the newer way of doing things? As I read this, it makes it sound that I go to funerals all the time. No. I was a municipal politician and always felt that I should give my respect to my ratepayers. However, I never went to all the funerals. A couple of the councillors would go to every funeral - whether they knew the dead person or not. There were times I would get quite depressed when a lot of people died. The families knew that I would go only if I knew their family member.
That is interesting!
Hi my name is Andrew on my wife's RUclips account, I'm in this line of work and just wanted to thank you so much for your posts. The content is brilliant and a really good guide. It really helps in my position. Thank you
I greatly appreciate that!!
Honestly fantastic. I was just wondering if you do any content on autopsies? I'm training to be an APT to and the way you explain is really good. Thanks again
As good as the video is and Kari does a great presentation, I just can't imagine being embalmed and buried. I realize it's a popular choice but it's hard to wrap my head around.
Options for everyone :)
Is it ok to be placed on your side for viewing the way I would normally sleep? To me it would seem more natural and suggestive of resting instead of being posed for burial.
You could but it would look odd
Very informative video. Caskets are expensive like everything else. Look at what a wedding costs which might end in divorce (as about 50% do). What does a new car cost or a dinner out with drinks? Funeral homes are expensive to run and there are a lot of people working behind the scene that a client is not aware of and does not see. Expensive vehicles (which are bought or rented) are used. Funeral homes have to have 2 people on-call 24/7 (365) to go for a removals of a deceased persons. I am not part of the funeral industry but a retired nurse with a lot of post-mortem experience in hospitals.
Great video hope your weather is ok there I'm in California it's nice here 75 degrees no snow yet great video have a good day
Hi Kari! Quick question... im a nurse is there anything we as nurses can do at the hospital that will help you later with positioning, etc.? I always try and place them in a position that I think will help when we put them in for the families to come see them prior to pickup or shipment to thr morgue but I'm just never sure and of course the body doesn't always want to stay in the position I attempt to place things (i.e. hands, eyes don't want to stay closed, etc)... perhaps I over think this as well...
All the transport displaces what you may take the time to place sadly
Hi Kari. Love your videos. I remember when my grandfather passed his hands were positioned in a way I had never seen before. His left hand was folded at his waistline as you normally see but his right hand was positioned to look as if he was placing his hand over his heart or clasping his suit coat lapel. It didn’t look bad it was just different. It seemed far to inappropriate to as my grieving grandmother why his hands were positioned that way at the time. Have you ever positioned someone like this or have you seen it done?
Very interesting. You're hired! We'll get back to you in a couple of (hopefully) decades.
So much thought goes into preparing the deceased. Very interesting.
Yes it does!
Amazing tips. Thanks 😉
Thanks!
When Mother died they had her hair curled. It was kind of off, because my Mother had beautiful black long hair. Other than her funeral and a few pictures of her youth, I never saw her hair curled. It was always straight and beautiful. I don't know if that was at my Father's request. Who decides how to arrange the hair and makeup at the funeral?l
Very informative, I appreciate your breaking down that we outsiders had absolutely no idea. I always wanted to be a mortician and went to college partially with the intent but things came up along the way. I'm thinking now of venturing into crematory operator. I've always had an obsession with death.
Regarding hand placement and positions; when my next door neighbor passed away, she was positioned so that her right hand was by her side, and her left was "holding" a Bible. What told me she might have been in agony when she died was the fact that her hands were curled and looked like claws. The hand that was supposed to be holding the Bible was actually a claw kind of curled on top of the Bible. (If that made sense)
Thank you for your reply. The lady I was referring to was a really sweet lady who had been a nurse in her younger years. She did have arthritis in her knees, but I don't remember her having it in her hands, but that's two different things, isn't it? Are you referring to the ways some older people's fingers curl in towards their palms?
I'm a nurse and work in an ICU, so I've had to become pretty comfortable with taking care of bodies. Would you perhaps be able to give some advice as to how we should be positioning/caring for a body before it goes to the morgue? Our postmortem kits come with chin ties, wrist ties, etc., and I always wonder what's really necessary on the funeral home end of things. Also, is it helpful to leave vascular access, like a PICC or central line, in place for the funeral home?
Melissa K
When I was still active in Nursing (I'm retired) ALL lines were removed and dressings applied to prevent oozing.
We cleaned up the face, arms and hands, and dressed the body in a clean gown.
Fresh sheet and a blanket neatly turned down covered the person up to mid chest.
We closed the eyes and made sure everything seen was clean and proper.
The body would be in a room with low lighting.
We always had the Chaplin present when the family viewed them before the deceased went to the morgue.
Hello Miss Kari, I hope all is well with you. I just want to say, I really enjoy your videos. They are so educational. When I die I would hope that you could handle all my arrangements. You so professional have a great rest of the week and please stay safe..
Thank you!!
When my dad died I remember his hands were kind of hovering but the main issue was his finger was kinda pointing straight up and out. It was so distracting and so unnatural and I still think about it today.
I never realized there was so much involved in positioning. I always thought there was just a "standard" way to do it. It seems like the only hand positioning I have seen was the hands just above the waist holding a flower.
This so fascinating
Thank you!
When my friend passed she appeared angry and uncomfortable in the casket not at rest and her hands were sort of clenched. She was a bit overweight does that make casketing harder positioning overweight people. Any one else have a experience where a friend or loved one didn’t look right?
You said you never want a head block, the way you said it wad cute 😁
Very interesting video! But you didn't really touch on how much flexibility the body has after embalming. In other words, how much resistance does an embalmed body have to staying in the desired pose?
The body firms into the position.
@@KaritheMortician Thank you! So how much time do you have before the body permanently "firms" into the posed position? Is it the same as rigor mortis?
Hello I am from Scotland. I’m 18 and really want to work in the funeral business, there is a local funeral home I have considered working at but don’t know how to go about asking them if I could help out etc. Can you give me any tips on how I could go about asking this?:)
Hi Kari:) just curious...I went to a visitation last night for a friend who passed ...massive heart attack....shame....anyhow he looked as good as you can look in a casket....was him alright.....anyway it looked like they used a clip on necktie with his suit....have you used those before when dressing??? I would think they would be easier...most men I've seen they use a standard tie.....also they put up a nice lighted monitor before entering the
Viewing room....it had his name and dates and a photo of him smiling:) I liked it....added a personal touch and softened the room a bit and added a sense of warmth to it:) thanks....
Kari Northey thanks:) that has to be very difficult in some cases to dress the deceased and very tiring....kudos to you and all the directors who from removal to embalming and dressing do your best to make our viewing a pleasant experience😀
Now doing a funeral for a bishop the casket is taken into a sanctuary and placed on a catafalque that sits the gasket upward at an angle I'm sure that the head isn't tilted at an angel when during the viewing the casket is propped at an angle.
I have a question for a future video. (Unless you wish to answer now.). How is the body placed in relationship to the grave stone? Is it in front of the stone or behind it? If it is in front of the stone, where is the person's head? Directly in front of the stone or are the feet in front of the stone? If it is behind the stone, how is the body positioned? Every time I go to the cemetery, I think about that. Thank you!
Also after the casket is closed for a long period of time the body is going explode from gases building up inside that dead body. so it don't really matter how a person looks at the funeral or wake either , the dress or suit that person is wearing and their whole appearance won't even be recognizable anymore after while as well.
Great job you’re pretty I like your nails and outfit I liked that you jumped onto the table
Funny you mention leg positioning, as I was going to post how I have never attended a funeral where the bottom half of the casket was open at viewing, and wondered why that was. Is there some cosmetic obstacle to viewing the lower half of the body, or has it always just been traditional to keep the bottom lid closed?
A lot of Catholic funerals are full body viewings.
Believe it or not, many caskets only have the fancy linings in the upper half. The leg end is quite often just a bare box. Also, if an autopsy was performed, all of the organs are placed in a bag full of embalming fluid. The bag is then either placed back into the abdominal cavity, or is quite often just placed in the casket by the feet.
Yea it should be nice weather in California enjoy your trip I like key West better but I'm looking forward to spring
Great job with this video!
I have a question. I work in the medical field and I have worked in hospitals where I have to bathe the patient and get them in the body bag. Basically ready for the mortuary and some people have told me that the patient's Dentures should be placed in their mouth before they're put into the body bag otherwise the mortician will have to break their jaw or it just makes it more difficult to put them in afterwards. I've had other people say that is not necessary?
Kari Northey now I remember you had that one episode where you showed that mouthpiece. 😀
Kari you are very sweet and comforting!
Oh thank you!
It's so funny to hear the 'stargazer' and 'looking at the feet' references. Been to enough visitations to see who has skilled practioners in the prep room, and who hires the 'fluid pushers'.
A nice 20 degree tilt of the head to the right, well placed hands (with restorative treatment/plumping of course), just enough cosmetics to bring out warmth, and velvet powder to soften appearances. All make all the difference between a waxy-cakey looking case, and one who looks like they're going to wake up at any point.
Kari Northey
Unfortunately, no. My dad was a dentist who had several patients/friends who were in the trade. Two tried to get me in the business when I expressed interest at the age of twelve. Learned a lot from them during discussions.
Where I live in New England, the trade is saturated with staff. Not an ideal place to be. NEI and FINE pump out way too many graduates.
However, I have great respect for the independent firms who ascribe to the old fashioned values that conglomerates avoid.
Kari Northey
Usually at wakes & observances ill be the one visitors come up to with all sorts of qestions ('Where's the church/shiva/place to send donations, etc.)
You may find this particular anecdote amusing. Several years back at the funeral for my mom's godfather, I walk into the sanctuary of the church. Next thing I know the deacon is starting to frantically ask me if the family is ready & other very specific questions. I look at him and ask if he's under the impression that I'm the funeral director. He responds in the affirmative and the director hasn't arrived or spoken with clergy. Politely I bring him up to speed on the situation, get his name, and offer assistance to resolve the matter, which he readily accepts.
So I go out to meet the coach, and bring the director up to speed on the situation, who to meet with, and to get'r done ASAP. He's red-faced with embarrassment & giving up some feeble excuse about 'this is not my usual location. I'm based at XYZ, in XXX Massachusetts.' I just looked at him & offered polite advice that 'Yes, you may in fact be having a bad day. And guess what? While this tough day's happening to you, the family that your firm is serving is having a far, far worse one. Get it together quickly and be the professional.'
The deacon and Sr. Pastor later thanked me at the reception and said I was in the wrong profession. She wished I'd been the director. I've taken that as one of the nicest compliments ever.
Kari Northey
Agreed. It's the most accurate & eloquent summation of that scenario. Come to think of it, the apprentices/dress staff were way more engaged.
In any case, please keep up the awesome work and videos. One can definitely see you becoming the next Todd Van Beck!
Is it true the hands are stitched together (hidden of course) to keep them from falling to the side? Just curious…
No they are not
Anyone in the industry that could tell me what measures are taken with abnormally tall individuals like 6'7" 7'0" are bones cut /broken or are special longer caskets required ?
Kari Northey thank you for replying, I didn't expect you to reply here? I was going to hit you upon facebook ? Thank you ! ( I feel like I am talking to a celebrity :).
That is a question I've often wondered about. My wife worked for a local family-owned mortuary after we married in 1985 (she also did childcare for the owners' kids!) Anyways, her boss had a great sense of humor when asked what would need to be done in the event of my passing and being placed in the casket, as I'm 6'6". The response was to cut holes in the end for my legs to stick out as well as not cramp up my size 14 shoes! Doubt most FD's would do that 😂🤣! Love your videos and best wishes for your continued success.
Thanks Kari...have u ever done a viewing w a body outside a casket? Also, what was the most extreme outfit u have seen? I always remember attending a viewing of a teenage girl killed in a car accident and the family requested she be in a wedding dress. Ty
Kari Northey, lol
When my husbands grandmother died, she was laid out on a mattress on the floor of a marae (like a large hall or meeting house) for several days. Many relatives slept in there for that time also, with kids running around and lying down with the body, talking to it etc. I had never seen anything like this before so was pretty interested!
You are AWESOME!! I love your videos.
Is it hard to put rings onto a cadavers fingers? Like do they swell up? Also does rigamortis make it hard to position bodies?
Yes it is more difficult to put a ring on a deceased persons hand due to the loss of elasticity of the skin and stiffness after embalming. AND yes rigamortis does make it difficult to position a body but rigor comes and goes.
What if they don't have a ring on their left hand, then what position should the hands be in?
Usually still the left over the right
Keep up the great work!
I know that had to be weird but I once again appreciate you going all out for us. I just attended a funeral when the decedent's hand where hovering over her abdomen. Is it also an option if this happens to place a cloth,Bible, or flower to kind of camouflage this if family permits. Sorry for long post..lol
I'm learning alot..can't wait to finally get into the funeral program
I'm almost finish with my basic classes so I should be in the program in the summer..I literally watched every video and going back to family on what I learned..I also volunteering in funeral homes just to get a feel for it..
I can't nothing just yet in the funeral home but being around I appreciate that at the moment
Was wondering if you ever have to prop something under the elbows to get the hands to come together, like on people that have bigger belly’s ? If that makes since?
What about the Lily Munster pose? With a flower? When I was a little kid I tried falling asleep like that but it just never worked, because as a child, I was too restless. As an adult after years of sleeping with a couple of cats, I trained myself to sleep absolutely unmoving in one position all night, unless forced to get up. I still do it, but the old man doesn't like animals in bed so it's just habit now.
:)
Also all of you 500 people here that thank your going to live forever, Well go luck with that.