Caring for the Dead | Teen Ink

Caring for the Dead MAG

August 15, 2008
By Lotus BRONZE, Thunder Bay, Other
Lotus BRONZE, Thunder Bay, Other
2 articles 0 photos 1 comment

All their lives my parents have slaved away at junky jobs, dealing with junky people for junky wages. Throughout my childhood I vowed that, despite my hopeless addiction to procrastination, I would make something of myself. I dreamed of the day I would buy a fancy car and a big home, and adopt needy animals. And I dreamed of taking care of dead people.

I’m not what you’d consider a “normal” teen by today’s standards. My likes, dislikes, lifestyle, and even appearance all would tip you off. Maybe it’s the shirt I wear that says “I put the fun in funeral!” or the perpetual cuts on my fingers from clumsy caskets, or the business cards mingling in my wallet. Despite negative comments from friends, family, and educators, it’s my life goal to succeed in the funeral industry, and I assure you, I will.

In high school, this wonderful cooperative education program popped up, and I knew it was my ticket to starting in the biz. As you can well imagine, my teachers were not enthusiastic about sending a student to a morgue. I still can’t decide if their issues were moral or medical. Despite their scoffs, I scored an interview with the big boss of a quaint little funeral home, and I’ve never looked back.

Now, you must understand, I had only experienced one big death in my life – my grandmother. Thanks to the minimalistic values of my family, she was cremated and buried, so I had yet to see a body up close. You must be thinking, Why would you ever want to? I’ll admit, the first body I ever saw – on my second day of work – shocked me a little, but I had expected it to. The first few seconds were a tad strange, but after that you’re set for life (or death, I suppose).

My interest in becoming an embalmer flourished in the six months I worked there. One funeral director told me that the smell of death was intoxicating to her, and I agree. Ever smell embalming fluid? In those few months, I learned everything there is to know – from embalming to aspiration to manipulating lights to casting a sleeping effect over the deceased. Though I have yet to be shipped off to college to complete my funeral course, in the next few years I’ll hold a license to embalm and a steady job. I still can’t believe I’ve gotten this far.

The death industry continues to be treated as taboo for reasons I will never understand. We don’t hold satanic rituals or take the jewelry off old women. We are the people who take care of your grandmother who recently passed, or the girl from your math class who was in a fatal car accident. We are the people you see at the supermarket arguing with children over sugary cereals, or the poor souls waiting in line at the bank, just like you. And we’re the ones who step in during those difficult times to help you grieve, and grieve ourselves. We put the dead to rest and give comfort to their families, and we wouldn’t have it any other way.



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This article has 5 comments.


Lotus BRONZE said...
on Jan. 5 2010 at 9:04 pm
Lotus BRONZE, Thunder Bay, Other
2 articles 0 photos 1 comment
I took a while to finally reply, ah well.

I'd like to start with thanking you for the psychological advice and to point out that I was obviously not speaking literally, she meant it as a metaphor for loving the line of work. The smell of embalming fluid? Horrible. The scent of decomposing remains? Gut-wrenching. But there's my morbid sense of wit for you.

I will admit that I have no personal feeling for the religious stigma behind funeral service - I am not of a religious affiliation that appreciates funeral service, as we believe there is no "afterlife" besides your remains six-feet-under. What draws me to embalming is that it is something that matters to others, people who do believe it is a necessary part of funeral rites. Not only that, but I believe the human body is a fascinating piece of art and that one can not truly understand how amazing it is until they can personally examine it, inside and out.

I believe you didn't mean to be antagonistic, but I also believe you do not understand my full reasoning for loving funeral service. I truly mean it.

on Jun. 29 2009 at 6:03 pm
Lifesbutadream BRONZE, Hesperia, California
4 articles 2 photos 22 comments

Favorite Quote:
Change is just a new begining

You know what...honestly i thought this was VERY good. i liked it very much. (respect).

on Jun. 27 2009 at 11:44 pm
Thisbe Hollis :P BRONZE, Washington, District Of Columbia
2 articles 0 photos 4 comments
This article could be looked at from many points of veiw. This is a beautiful article , and I hope other readers will be able to get past the death part.

bharper said...
on Jun. 27 2009 at 9:09 pm
The smell of death is intoxicating to you? I'm an open-minded person, and I think it's fine you're writing about death. In fact, I even think the stigma attached to death and any ceremony attached to it, is hogwash. But to say the smell of death is intoxicating transcends a simple passion for being in the industry. I honestly believe that you (and the funeral director to whom you refer) need psychological help. I'm not saying this to be antagonistic. I truly mean it.

Silent Eyez said...
on Aug. 26 2008 at 7:13 pm
I think this article was fantastic. Strange to the "eyes" of many, but it's wonderful you're making this a reality for yourself!