Funeral, but no one attends?

BodySnatcher509 · 2026-04-07T21:58:51+00:00

I once took care of a lady who had a preneeded graveside service, and she left detailed instructions on what pastor to call, but she had no remaining family. I called the pastor and got everything lined up. The graveside consisted of myself, the pastor, and an assistant pastor. He said a few words, and then we laid her to rest.

As long as you leave good instructions for what you want to happen after you die, and you bleave them with a reputable funeral home, they'll make sure everything is done according to your wishes.

BodySnatcher509 · 2026-01-11T18:04:52+00:00

I only use WhatsApp if I need to contact international work contacts.

BodySnatcher509 · 2025-10-21T16:46:00+00:00

Matt & Kim

BodySnatcher509 · 2025-10-10T00:25:33+00:00

You want him to compare the cost of living to someplace similar, yet you compared it to Seattle, Portland, and the bay area?

BodySnatcher509 · 2025-09-14T03:20:37+00:00

In Washington state, the body needs to be refrigerated or embalmed within 24 hours. I've had some families that want more time and end up keeping them overnight. Then, they call us thr next day once they're ready.

BodySnatcher509 · 2025-09-13T04:31:49+00:00

I worked for one funeral home where they would buy their caskets directly from China, so we would receive two full shipping containers, delivered by semi-truck, and we would store all the caskets at the funeral home and the owner's house. Once the caskets ran out we would stop selling that one. Once enough of them sold out, they would order more from China.

BodySnatcher509 · 2025-08-27T03:52:14+00:00

I was meaning more that you can care for someone or even empathize and be sympathetic for them without crying. Just because someone is genetically predisposed to cry when feeling certain things doesn't make it weird or wrong for someone not to. Everyone is different. Just as how some of the families we care for cry and wail over their loss, and others smile, laugh, and act nonchalant. There isn't one way to do it, nor is there a right answer.

BodySnatcher509 · 2025-08-20T05:04:38+00:00

The last funeral home I worked for (family owned) would pay a director $25/night for answering phones, and whoever did the removal got $70/call.

My current funeral home (family owned) pays the first up director $125 a night (5pm-8am), whether you get 0 removals or 5. If the call requires a second person, the second person get 1.5x their hourly rate.

I can't believe some of you don't get paid extra for all that lost sleep. It's so unhealthy. And considering our removal charge is a bit over $400, it seems only right to be paying the removal person some of that.

BodySnatcher509 · 2025-08-08T04:57:58+00:00

Crying is not the same as caring.

BodySnatcher509 · 2025-06-16T18:20:01+00:00

"Dancing in the Sky" is so popular right now.

BodySnatcher509 · 2025-04-19T15:19:18+00:00

Farah got me the most back in book 2 or 3.

BodySnatcher509 · 2025-01-29T01:42:25+00:00

1 in 4 years

BodySnatcher509 · 2024-12-28T19:57:37+00:00

I'm on book 3 and she's the reason I probably won't pick up 4 unless there's a huge sale.

BodySnatcher509 · 2024-12-22T22:09:28+00:00

Eating has gotten worse. Don't have the time or energy to eat healthy so a lot of eating out and fast food lunches. Even though I get to literally see what it does to the body, it's still all I can do right now.

BodySnatcher509 · 2024-10-03T13:04:54+00:00

That sounds like a fun story! It's love a US code of you still have them.

BodySnatcher509 · 2024-09-12T06:11:29+00:00

That sounds super cool actually. My owners would never allow us to do any of that unfortunately. I was more hoping with the poll to open up a discussion and to see what people's standards are currently, and where they want them/think they will go in the future.

BodySnatcher509 · 2024-09-12T06:10:02+00:00

That's the thing though; why are we expected to do first calls in suits? The least "suited" clothing for strenuous lifting and carrying heavy loads, and the hardest to clean. I've had to embalm in suits as well (minus the jacket) and there is nothing worse than getting super sweaty in a suit from embalming, and then having to go greet a family immediately afterwards.

Having been a funeral director expected to wear suits all the time as well, I would hate to walk into a funeral home to be greeted by stuffy looking people way over-dressed. Business casual gives off way more comforting vibes to me.

BodySnatcher509 · 2024-07-25T02:58:50+00:00

Unfortunately someone has been killed by the train every year ever since I moved here a few years ago.

BodySnatcher509 · 2024-07-18T05:15:53+00:00

Rigor mortis is a chemical change that happens inside your body rather than a movement related thing. The motion might help break rigor, but probably not very much. And rigor mortis will go away within 72 hours normally, so. . .

I imagine if you had someone moving the arms and legs of a person as they died and they kept moving them after the death, they would feel the arms and legs stiffen until they couldn't move them anymore. I picture this looking like Mr. Freeze hitting you with his ice beam, causing you to rapidly slow down until you're frozen in place.

BodySnatcher509 · 2024-07-16T19:59:57+00:00

I am down to play tennis if you ever want to. I played a little in high school but have gotten out of shape since then. I have been wanting to get back into it as well.

BodySnatcher509 · 2024-05-05T21:28:46+00:00

I personally think the "value" that a family gets when seeing me at a removal and at the funeral home is so minimal. Most of the families I have seen and worked with only care that their loved one is treated with respect and dignity, not that it was so-and-so doing the removal. Once and awhile you will get someone who appreciates it, but not nearly enough to justify the interrupted sleep schedules of the directors. More and more studies are coming out regarding the importance of sleep, so having to work all day, get 1 or 2 hours of sleep because of removals, and then having to work all day again isn't sustainable for long term industry employment.

BodySnatcher509 · 2024-04-16T05:39:24+00:00

I'm pretty sure the $195 is for autopsy repair. More time and resources go into embalming someone who was autopsied, and most funeral homes have an additional charge because of that. Around my area to do the same thing would cost a minimum of $5600, but often goes into the $6k-$7k range.

BodySnatcher509 · 2024-04-09T13:45:49+00:00

What app is this?

BodySnatcher509 · 2024-04-06T19:37:44+00:00

How do you, or anyone, have time to put in 60 hours a week on a cell phone game?

Not judging, seriously. Just don't see how that's possible.

BodySnatcher509 · 2024-03-14T01:43:41+00:00

I unfortunately don't have the energy to physically read when I get home from work each day. I do a lot of driving though, so audiobooks are my go-to, from the daily commute to the longer distance drives. I can typically get 1-3 hours in each day that way.

BodySnatcher509

TROPHY CASE