The Family Plot Blog
Tim Burton Says Plan Your Funeral
In today's New York Times Arts & Leisure section, there's a huge feature about film maker Tim Burton. He talks about his movies, his life and, yes, funeral planning. Burton, as you may know, made darkly comic films that include "Beetlejuice" "Edward Scissorhands" "The Nightmare Before Christmas" "Corpse Bride" and "Big Fish." You might wonder why I included that last film. It's a great meditation on the stories of our lives and the role...
Death and The Civil War
The American way of death changed dramatically during the Civil War from 1861 to 1865. Embalming was just starting to be used experimentally in the 1840s and 1850s. The huge number of war dead, and the surgeon-embalmers who saw an entrepreneurial opportunity, changed the way bodies in general were treated in the U.S. in the 20th century. In the 1860s, surgeon-embalmers utilized chemical compounds, including mercury and arsenic, to preserve...
Final Thoughts on the 2012 30 Day Challenge
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=DllOBgjoz0A I have walked through the valley of the shadow of death, and I have feared no evil. After attending and writing about 30 funerals and memorial services in 30 days, I have made it through to the other side. It has been a journey of tears and laughter, of rituals and symbols, of love and loss. This was the third year doing my 30 Funerals in 30 Days Challenge. As in years past, my goals were three-fold:...
Rev. Sun Myung Moon Funeral
The three and a half hour funeral for the Rev. Sun Myung Moon was the longest of my 30 Funerals in 30 Days Challenge. Actually, it’s the longest funeral I’ve ever experienced.
Multiple Memorials for Doug ReVelle
Sometimes, one memorial service is not enough. The many facets of our lives can be celebrated over time and space with different people.
Debi Lester Anglican Celebration of Life
An impressive eight-page program was handed to all of the attendees as they entered the celebration of life for Debi Lester. As the Parish Administrator for Christ the King Anglican Church of Albuquerque, Debi had created many programs like this for families who had held funerals there.
Remembering Phillip Jordan
Phillip Jordan traveled all over this country, from Maine to Alaska, Montana to New Mexico, Seattle to Long Island, and up and down the East Coast.
September 11 Memorial Service in 2012
Here in Albuquerque, the 11th anniversary of this solemn day was marked with a gathering featuring the governor and mayor at a new fire station still under construction.
Miguel Caro Buddhist Memorial Service
Miguel Caro was a talented performer, choreographer, dance teacher, and well-loved man known for his hugs and smiles.
National Pet Memorial Day
September 9, 2012 is National Pet Memorial Day, so declared by the PLPA, the Pet Loss Professionals Alliance, a committee of the International Cemetery, Cremation and Funeral Association.
Patrick (Paddy Mae) Heckler
Patrick Heckler was also known as Paddy Mae – especially when he donned wig, makeup and costume as a drag queen. He was a hair dresser, a bartender, a leader in Albuquerque’s gay community, and he was a Catholic.
Randy Staggs Memorial Service
In a way, Randy Staggs’ mother Opal paved the way for his memorial service. No one knew he would have a fatal heart attack a month later.
David Frederico Balderrama Graveside Service
As the family gathered for the burial of David Frederico Balderrama, guitarist Vernon Reza played “Amazing Grace” and Spanish songs of faith.
Phil Jaynes Memorial Service
Sometimes you can’t make it to a memorial service in person. Sometimes, the memorial service comes to you.
Freddie Drake Junior Motorcycle Funeral
It was standing room only at the funeral home chapel for Freddie Drake’s motorcycle funeral.
Brian Frieder Unitarian Memorial Service
Brian Frieder and his wife Pat were long-time members of the First Unitarian Church of Albuquerque. His peaceful death in his sleep at the age of 74 came as an unexpected shock.
Charles and Claire Fenolio
Charles "Chuck" Fenolio and his wife Claire "went home to be with their Heavenly Father" within 20 hours of each other on August 29 and 30. They would have celebrated 65 years of marriage on September 10. Today their life celebration was a standing room only event at their church, Glory Christian Fellowship. The first thing I noticed about this large, loving family: the men were wearing white shirts and blue jeans. The women were wearing blue...
Amanda Dillon Life Celebration
Amanda Nicole Dillon died too young at the age of 36.
Bernice Greer Seventh Day Adventist Celebration
Bernice Greer was a real life Church Lady, and I say that with the greatest admiration.
Everyone Dies: Lessons From Six Feet Under
Everyone Dies: Lessons from Six Feet Under By Gail Rubin From 2001 to 2005, the award-winning HBO television series Six Feet Under took viewers behind the scenes at the Fisher & Sons Funeral Home in Los Angeles. Over the course of the series, the program explored themes of death, grief, mourning and transformation. In spite of its emphasis on death, Six Feet Under offers important life lessons. I just spent my summer vacation watching all...
Remembering Annie Jones Hogan
Annie Jones Hogan spent the last ten years of her life at a senior living center, and that’s where her grown children held a gracious memorial service in her honor.