As a retired parish priest, I can honestly say that throughout my 40 years in parish ministry, the funeral directors I have met and worked with saw their jobs as vocations and they were very much people-service oriented. They are some of the nicest people I have ever met. I even invited a few in every couple of years to do a seminar for parishioners. Then some nasty people accused me of getting "kickbacks" so I told them to drop dead which is like handing our business cards! LOL

That's one of the many things I just love about you is your honesty and your passion for helping not only the decedent, but the family as well. Unfortunately we do see some individuals in the funeral service business that try to get the most they can out of a family. I'm certain this occurs in all types of businesses. It by no means should imply that all funeral homes are like this.

I was at the grave site where the family was burying a 14 year old relative who had liver failure. At the end, when most families leave, everyone stuck around. The mom & dad, all the priests and family members lowered the casket into the ground and took turns shoveling dirt into the grave. It was extremely beautiful and amazing!

Lovely vlog-thoughtful answers Always look forward to these

Thanks for the video. I found it easier to talk to spring Grove in setting up final arrangements, after watching your videos.

Thanks, Kari!

I agree with how when people cast negative comments toward a profession, that one can’t help but to feel dismayed, as you are right, when you are a part of a group, negativity can really play on ones emotions. Good on you for maintaining your professionalism and your honesty. 🌹

Thank you so much for the upload💛

I have a lot of respect for you. You're very intelligent in everything you do. Your parents must be proud of you. I have always been intrigued when it comes to this. Thank you for satisfying my curiosities. God Bless!

Love watching u Kari!! Ur such a doll and I can only hope that when my loved ones pass that a person like yourself,who respects and understands that thats someones loved one and you take great care of them....thats an amazingly good heartfelt and safe feeling knowing my loved ones in wonderful hands!! 🤗🙏💞

Enjoyed watching this

I admire what job profession you are in it takes a hard person who has a good heart do what you do and I applaud you Karina the Mortician

It is nice to hear the back ground of a Mortician., You take the mistery out of it. thank you

Just discovered the channel and subscribed!! I think it really takes a special person to do what you do and I commend you! Had a good laugh with you as you described what weirds you out...so what do you think of the cereal Cheerios?? Lol... :)

HI KARI ✋ HOPE YOU HAD A GOOD THANKSGIVING

You are such a sweet person. I could never do your job..I have so much respect and admiration for you. I watch you because the funeral process terrifies me. I am not afraid to die...but I am scared to death of this whole mortician process.

Oh I never would have thought about how weird/uncomfortable it would be to work on a twin!! Thanks for another great video 💗💗

Biggest thing people can do is learn your rights prior to going to a funeral home. Plan ahead and you don’t get taken advantage of. Many people are honest, but you never know. Protect yourself. Goes for any professional you deal with.

Very good video!

The one negative I found with funeral homes was with my father’s funeral. He was laid out in the funeral home and then cremated. To lay his body in a casket for the 2hr viewing costs $1800. (Again, not buried in the casket just borrowing the casket that was used solely for a viewing). When I was told the price my jaw dropped to the floor. What could possibly justify that price? That’s why people think funeral homes are ripoffs.

I’m from Tennessee and would love to do this! I’m a huge fan ❤️

Kari, I hope you visit Rhode Island some day. You would probably like: The mansions in Newport The many beaches Providence neighborhoods of Federal Hill (Italian), College Hill (Brown University, Rhode Island School of Design, Benefit Street historical homes including H.P. Lovecraft's home, Downtown Waterfire Park (especially if they have a lighting) & the First Baptist Church (the oldest Baptist Church in the country) Roger Williams Park Zoo Bristol- If your here in July for the famous 4th of July parade (the oldest in the nation) You can go from one side of the state being by the ocean to within 1 hour, the opposite end in the forest.

Hi Kari! I asked some questions a long time ago and I was so happy that you answered them in a video, but I have a few more. Excuse the long post! The first is, have you ever heard of a deceased person writing a letter before their death that was meant for their mortician? For example, I've always wondered who will be the person to last deal with my body and it's weird to think about them being one of the last people on the planet to see me. I've often wondered about writing a letter to that person and having my family give it to them. I would make it humorous and tell them that I'm thrilled to finally meet them and that I'm sorry they have to deal with my feet that haven't had a pedicure in three weeks, my severe mommy belly, and that they have to tame my frizzy hair. lol I want them to know that I've thought about them frequently as I've gone through life! :) My next question is, have you ever had a family member that was mentioned in an estranged family member's obituary that didn't want to be in it (my husband recently was in this position)? Can they have themselves omitted from it or have it "retracted"? Next, do you feel that your profession, seeing all sorts of causes of death, makes you more cautious going through life or does it make you want to take advantage of every moment and live life to the fullest? I had another question in mind this morning, but have since forgotten it. I will post it as well if I can remember it. Thanks so much!

some people call a funeral a celebration of life have you ever had a funeral where no one was sad? not cause they hated the person and was glad they were dead more like everyone believe in a heaven like place so they just celebrated that the dead person was now in the most perfect peaceful place they can be

Wow the story about the Muslim husband and wife brought me to tears. That’s so freaking heartwarming. But then so odd that women cannot be at the grave site. 😊

My dad drove for a livery company that rented hearses and limos to funeral homes that did not have their own or needed an extra one for the day. Strangest story he heard was when a man called the funeral home and said his father had passed and they wanted the same type service as they had for their mother a few years earlier. The funeral director responded saying he would be happy to provide the service/facilities except that there was still a large outstanding balance due from the mother's funeral. The man was surprised and got somewhat angry saying that he would see to it that the balance and new charges would be handled promptly. The issue was it was a gypsy/traveler family and the brothers gave the funds to a family member who kept the money. Later that day, the man arrived at the funeral home and counted off hundred dollar bills paying off both parts of the bill. At the funeral one of the brothers had a new cast on his arm and walked with a cane. Those funerals can last for several days with some people staying overnight with the deceased in the funeral home.

Great presentation!!! You answered honestly about a difficult question. Coming to grips with mortality imo must begin with faith. Life is wonderful but distracting in that regard. I have come to grips with this. The greater part of our habitation is hidden from view. That part uses this body to interface in this realm. When gone that which remains is but a reminder that as scripture so emphatically states. Our life doesn’t consist of things. This body is dependent on the life within. So we mourn the separation.

Hello Kari, I never made it to this live but I do however have a question and it's one I've always wanted to ask a funeral director. My question is.. Have you ever directed a funeral of a family that you did not know and lose your composure and break down or tear up in the moment?. Thank you in advance.

Kari , love to watch your video , Love to see Embalming, dead body , but I also scare at the same time . Thank you for what you do , I admire you God bless 🙏🏻

I'm in illinois if you ever want to do another one of these

I would love to talk to you, How do we know when you go live?

The cost of funerals is forcing many to choose direct cremation. In Ontario, Canada, direct cremation at the majority of funeral homes or independent cremation firms is about $2,000. This includes cremation and all necessary paperwork.

Working as a Removal Technician every now and then I’ll come across a person who’s donated themselves to science. Recently I brought three people 2 women and one male from the medical examiners office in Phoenix Arizona to Science Care also in Phoenix Going into the cooler are full bodies and individual parts of bodies. Some parts are easily recognizable even though they’re wrapped up and placed on a table

Have any of the families, asked to have a pet, owned by the deceased, come in and 'say good bye' to their former owner.

Have you ever heard of "The Garden of Eden" in Ellis Kansas? What type of embalming was used? I saw him in the mid 70's as a human. In 1986 I saw him as a mummy. I haven't been back

Have you done Alabama yet? I would love to talk with you if not!

Hello i love watching you may whole family think im weird. I come from long island NY

Rhode Island is my home state! Now I live in Dixie and miss New England. Here is a true cemetery story from R.I. Back in the early 90s I researched my family history and took all the way back to the 1600s. I went to a lot of cemeteries for the research. One day my friend and I were poking around a modern cemetery and I happened to notice a sunken grave. Shortly later I saw a squirrel run past me and up a tree. a moment later something big and heavy dropped out of the tree and I looked and saw it was a bone! My friend and I just looked at each other and niether of us wanted to pick it up but I finally did. I was convinced that the squirrel had got into that sunken grave. I then took it home and showed to my brother who was in medical school. It said it was not human but most likely a deer. We had a good but spooky laugh. Another time my friend and I were in another graceyard waiting for "the guy" to come to his office so we could see where the grave was we were looking for. We then saw him driving up and a laege tree branch fell on top of his car just as he drove under it. Spooky!

Lol! I have the same issue with that woodpecker image!! Trypophobia is awful!!

I feel the same way Kari, my babies are my world. I am terrified like what , if I miss their wedding, being there for childbirth, being a grandma one day. My life has completely been centered around them and their needs. It is a little unhealthy on my part, but I love being a mom, the teaching, nurturing, some days I say, what did I ever do to deserve this :) On another note, we have traveled extensively. My dad got a world map to put on the wall and put little stick pins for every state and country they traveled. The ones with the little round heads. And since one child has been to a few more, they are color coded for each child. I just wanted to say I can totally relate to your fear about leaving the kids, @Kari the Mortician thanks for sharing

My cousin died 2020 my aunt his mother came to the FH where I work and ask for the cheapest funeral I almost died of shame I had to leave the F.D. to deal with her. She did not want a service .I called his father and we had a service for him .

Yea, I bought a mausoleum once and when I bought it I was told I could place two caskets in it they call it true companion and four creamations, that all I had to pay for was the open and close, well my sister just passed away from copd and I was going to place her inside the mausoleum were my grandmother and my mother are and the cementary says it will cost me 6 thousand to open and place her ashes i told them that when I bought the mausoleum they said I only had to pay for the open and closing, which is 1500,and they told me yes 1500 but you have to also pay for the rights to place the ashes there which is 4500 total 6000 sad people in this world, if this is not exploiting people in the time of need then I dont know what is and no I did and don't have that money 💔

What is the strangest way you know of a person dieing???

What if somebody had been a victim of a shooter? Would the "holes" from the shooing bother you as a mortician? Thank you for your insight it is so interesting to me. I had never thought about some of these things before.

Back when I was a removal tech, the weirdest experience I had was my first coroner's call. The lady had been dead for quite some time, so she was in very bad shape. Did I mention that I knew her? (BTW, the weirdest "non-funeral" thing I ever dealt with was the time I met a 31-year old grandfather!)

My son passed in he’s sleep and I have questions regarding that

I have a huge phobia about little people, too!! It's daunting and not at all funny or fun! I thought I was alone...this is epic!!

The Twins thing. That would be odd. Good series.

It has to be extra difficult for a twin as well because there is a void of grief support groups and resources I have found for the loss of a sibling.

I think that is a beautiful thing to point out. Broad statements of any kind are not good for humanity.

So funny how she was throwing things to make her dog stop barking lol it must be a mom of a dog trick I ve done this a thousand times before lol . Hope you and your family have had a wonderful thanksgiving together. As well as you all are looking forward to the Christmas holiday too. Thank u for all that you do for us and the education that you have bestowed upon me in the death care industry. You are so very osm. God bless ....

I have an irrational fear of glitter . like I’m afraid it’s going to go up my nose and suffocate me or something I know strange so I’m with you!

TFS! 👍👍👍👍👍✌️❤️🇺🇸

I have a similar phobia. Patterns of red lines bother me. The lights on the back of dodge cars bother me snd make me itch. They have this red linear pattern. Fruit flies flying with thier little wings or flocks of little birds doing same thing. Just googled the strawberry. Hated that image.

I have a friend that passed away that was a twin and I was unable to make it to the funeral so she video chat me so I can see her in the casket and when I looked I seen they both had the same outfit on and it freaked me out

My dad passed two weeks ago I watch a lot of your videos but I forgot “ why was my dad so hard and cold?

Have you had any bodies move or eyes move of the deceased?

To Kari -Weird is the new norm. Lol...

Lol, you’re so adorable, 🥰 I gotta remember to send you some strawberries hahaha

I have Trypophoia too, it’s awful. Sometimes I never know what images will trigger it. Eek!

How do you feel about Swiss cheese?

Hello. I just found you and love all the information. My husband is a twin. His brother died at age two. Husband is almost 55. I always wonder if his life would have been better if his twin didn’t die. I’m sure it would have.

Not going to lie I'm afraid of everything about dying or death I've been married for 5 years now to my soulmate and when we pass away are we really together for all eternity I don't know that. Kari my team would love to talk with you about the LeMoyne Crematory

How could I honor my recently passed grandmother on Christmas? She loved Christmas and it’s a bond we always had. How can I honor her besides lighting a candle? I’m not allowed to light candles in my house

Omg ive never seen or heard anyone from ri im from ri also

My dad had to have a skin transplant on his thumb I wonder if that what's happened to that man's hand.

An unusual phobia you have! Guess you wouldn’t like to look at sliced Swiss cheese!🙂

it does certainly require a certain personality to be a funeral director I have a close friend that owns a funeral home and he's offered me a job on several occasions but I turned him down because of several reasons I'm not put off by working with the dead but the living are my concern I was taught to always show proper respect and decorum while while attending a funeral or a showing I always wear a suit and dress attire and I drive my good car but I notice a trend that people act like attending a love ones funeral is a major inconvenience to their personal life and people rarely dress appropriate I was actually lambasted for wearing a suit to my fathers funeral

i watch you i watch little miss funeral i watch the grave woman and i watch Caitlin i love you all

I have a clown phobia. Now that I think of it. I bet thier is a fear of dead people phobia ? I for one don't if the deceased is at a funeral home or had passed at a hospital. But if I found a dead body in the woods it would freak me out.

I just wish that when people are going to be in a video. That they would have enough sense to keep dogs cats or any other disruptions from ruineing it.

4

Do you ever get emotional at services ?

In my nursing career, I've seen things that turned others' stomach. Those things never bothered me in the least. The one thing that freaks me out and sends me to the moon is seeing someone remove their dentures. eeewww, lol

You are too cute about the "holes" Kari!

Kari, you could always make videos for your kids if you’re concerned about possibly not being there and destroy the vid for each event you’re there for. I saw this on 60 Minutes. A terminal patient did it for her 2 little girls.

This is the first time I’ve heard you mention Muslim or Islam. I asked you, upon a few occasions, aboit Muslim and Jewish burials, for neither embalm. I would love to hear you discuss these two faiths funeral traditions, please. You seem like you prefer to embalm all your cases. What about those whose faith does not include embalming? Thank you.

Standing back because of being a female at a muslim funeral would be difficult for me to watch not to mention do

I know the comment was not meant out of meanness, but I have two sisters and a brother who are little, it is offensive to us.

You guys make a Shit load of money

How do we know or r really being cremated maybe its someones elses ashes and you sell bodies to zatanist

Wow... now I’m interested in Muslim burial traditions and the reason behind a female can’t attend the burial of another female...

Just so you know a word that you used in this video is very offensive to little people. Using the word midget is like using the N word to a black person. You might wanna fix that. They preferred to be called dwarf, little person, or person of short stature.

She sure does seem to think a lot of herself.