Anonymous asked: will you be cremated or buried or a combo of the two? awesome blog, by the way!

cremated with a small service. while i have a great understanding as to why people choose to honor their loved ones or themselves with luxurious caskets and elaborate services, i have no need for any extra effort. its not based on anything i’ve seen in the business but based on the belief that i’m dead and don’t know the difference. and thank you. glad to see people still come here despite the lack of updates.

Anonymous asked: As a mortician what exactly do you do?

a lot. to sorta break it down…

• pick up the deceased from the residence, hospital or other facility
• clean, disinfect, and temporarily preserve the body by means of arterial and cavity embalming
• meet with families to arrange the funeral and its financing
• sell funeral merchandise
• complete the necessary legal documents 
• transfer and receive remains to and from other funeral homes if requested
• restore, cosmetize and dress the body for viewing
• organize the logistics of the funeral and disposition
• cremate should the funeral home be equipped with a retort
• direct the viewing and funeral services may they be at the funeral home, church or cemetery

each aspect is very detailed and specific. there is also much more than this, but i’ve covered the main duties.

lugosi asked: Have long have you been in mortuary studies?

i’ve been going in school since 2008. i started part time to get through my prerequisites. i was finally eligible to begin the core program this past fall. i finished in may, and am now completing other non funeral specific requirements. i graduate in just about 2 weeks. i haven’t been a true mortuary student in some months, and i miss it greatly.