This video was a little longer than I planned but I wanted to make sure to answer all the casket questions I had received! This gives a great overview of types of caskets and the differences. Thanks!
When my brother was buried 6 years ago we bought the blue fabric one, it was beautiful and we were really surprised because the Funeral Director tried to sell us a much more expensive one telling us the wood ones were the ones we wanted. He tried to play on our emotions but at the end we were happy. I say buy what you want not what someone else wants. Funerals are expensive enough, why add several thousand dollars more than you need to.
As a person who has worked in the funeral industry, I'm very impressed with Kari's ability to not be a salesperson in her videos. She's honest and on point of giving the consumer the proper amount of information to make a well educated choice. Thanks you, Kari!
Yes, I’m new in the industry, still learning and watching her videos has been very educational for me. God bless your heart. I have a solo meeting with a Family Tomorrow (first one) so excited and nervy at the same time .. watching your videos make me feel comfortable and confident. Thank you!!
As a person with experience in the funeral industry I think it disgusting that any fd would approach anyone be it a client or the public behaving like a salesman so if this was you my friend then I don't rate your work in the industry drew totten
Tip. Do not pay the extra for a sealed casket. The gasket costs them 9 bucks and they can charge up to a 1000 bucks more. It eventually rotts. So its not worth it.
Look up some videos of graves beeing re-opened, or exhumed, you will quickly see what condition the coffin and everything in it will like in just a decade or two.
@@kevinkelley3657 I work for a very larger Cemetery and when we do a reopener of a grave generally the husband's vault or wife's vault has water in it. So basically the casket is flooded with water and basically the casket and the contents in the casket are compromised. Burials vaults do a good job in keeping surrounding soil and earth from clasping the casket. Water is another story. My suggestion is cremation in a columbarium or a Mausoleum entombment.
Bought our Mom's casket on Craigslist. It was used & everybody gasped when we told them. Mom, we are certain, LOVES IT! She was a major bargainer, thrift store, reuse items, etc.. The best part was the Funeral Home. Of course they tried to talk us out of it but legally, could not. When my brother delivered it, in his truck. (stopped to get gas & got a lot of curious looks with casket in bed of truck) The Funeral Director asked us for the key. (Didn't get one.). He was like, how can we lock it? (I'm sure it's a universal key) My brother said, "I don't think she's going to try to get out?)
Ms. Knight, you said that the funeral home tried to dissuade you from using the casket you provided. Instead of graciously accepting your decision, they still tried to pressure you into buying one of theirs. Unscrupulous bastards.
Cheap at the wrong time! Funeral Homes discourage people because they can't be sure of its sealing ability, and the quality is usually steel,thin guage!
Been watching many of Kari's videos and really appreciate her explaining things in simple easy to understand terms. On a side note, thank you for the dignified services you provide to the deceased and their loved ones.
Well done video. Having worked for BATESVILLE CASKET for a dozen years until I retired four years ago, nice to see your selection room chosen is full of BATESVILLE products. Carry on shedding light on the death industry...cheers from Montreal!
Just buried my mother yesterday in a gorgeous wood batesville casket. Her father was a carpenter so she was adamant she wanted wood. It was a lighter wood and looked very feminine with all the gorgeous pink, purple and cream flowers. She would have been so pleased as my mother was very detail oriented.
@Zombiemom I am so very sorry for the loss of your mother. However, so glad you could find the perfect arrangements for her that you're sure she would have been pleased with! We all have or will have our final wishes and you fulfilled her wishes with loving care. I'm sure she knows ❤️
Actually, I hope not to see you soon. However, you did a very instructive, peaceful, calm instruction, without any judgement as to the choice of burial device. It doesn't take much to realize you are a caring, truthful and warm person that could be a great benefit to the bereaved. Thank you.
I went to a visitation once and it was for a young guy, around the age of 25. He had a beautiful wood casket with Oreos glued all over the casket. It was apparently an inside joke.
My dad grew up next to a funeral home the man was very nice, after the funerals were over any flowers that were left and ones not wanted by families, he gave them to my dad and his mom.
Make no mistake Kari Northey, you're going straight to Heaven! You're Helping so many people with your video's ( Myself included!) I just want to say Thank you!
Ms. Northey, my compliments to you. I've discovered your videos and I'm favorably impressed. You give nothing but helpful, factual, and lawful information pertaining to funerals.
Thank you, Kari! When the LORD's done, I'm done........funerals are for the living.......so it's up to them........thank you for fulfilling their wishes.
I think it's safe to say that all of us have a fear of being buried alive. lol. IDK how I got here but I'm liking and binge watching your videos. Very informative. Thank you.😊
You don't have to worry. If they plan on embalming you, if you weren't dead before the embalming, you'll surely be dead after they drain all your blood out and insert formaldehyde.
Thanks so much. I just found this type video. My family business was a funeral home. This brought back sweet memories for me. We lived upstairs and the funeral home was downstairs. My brother and I used to get reprimanded for racing on the church trucks and playing around the caskets. I assisted my dad with embalming and preparing bodies for viewing. I really miss the business and my parents, as well. Thanks for sharing this. I subscribed! 💜
I remember the old funeral homes which were actually "homes". This was very common in the small towns in Mississippi. I also remember when family friends would sit with body at night. My dad was highly respected in the community and it would seem like he was always sitting with the deceased. The owner of the funeral home would have him and the other men upstairs for breakfast the following morning.
Please do a segment on burial vaults or other burial containers that house a casket. I know they are mandatory in some areas but not in others. Your videos are great. You are clearly very knowledgeable and passionate about your craft.
I am new to your channel and truly find your channel informational. I appreciate the time you take to inform people about the funeral process as many people will never know the true ins and outs of the entire funeral process. Thank you!
Many years ago my father also said to bury him in a pine box. Sooo when picking out one, when the funeral director showed us a pine casket, in unison all of us said the pine one, because that is what he wanted. RIP Daddy.4/23
I am, about, ten minutes in. This is as educational as I'd hoped it to be. Had I not gone into radio, I believe I'd have become a mortician. Thank-you, for posting and, can't wait to view your other efforts.
I sure could have used this information when I had to pick out caskets for my parents. The funeral director just put me in the room with caskets nobody was there to talk to me or to ask questions or prices and even after making my decision and leaving the casket room the funeral director was pretty mum about answering specific questions about the casket that I had decided on. I find this to be a very informative video thank you for your time.
I’m studying for my F.S. Marketing exam. I needed to find a video because I learn better by seeing than reading. Thank you for this video! It’s super helpful for us who are students. You got a new subscriber. ❤️
Hello it's me again, I wanted to share my experience with you. When my dad passed away I did buy an online casket! It was beautiful cobalt blue and it was 18 or 16 gage. At the funeral home, when we did the arrangements I asked to see the casket my mom had chosen with the plan. I know she was trying to get something in case it was needed sooner but when we talked as a family I told my brothers these were going to be the last few things we were doing for our dad. So I mentioned I wouldn't mind spending a couple extra bucks for something nicer. The funeral home gave me an explanation of not having it handy. I asked for something similar then and the casket they showed looked dirty (now I know it might have been the lighting😅) and it just looked really sad. A funeral is already sad and this casket was making it even worse; on top they told me it was like 20+ gage or something like that. When I did all my crazy death research, I started looking into caskets online and I loved a blue metal casket I saw online I saw a similar casket at the funeral home and it was super expensive. When I brought this point up, the funeral home gave all sorts of excuses as to why I shouldn't order online. So I told them let me try if I really can't make it work then we'll see what happens. We had really bad weather to top it off so I was getting worried the casket was not going to be here on time. Since my dad died on a holiday weekend that added to the ordeal. I placed the casket order at midnight after a very exhausting MLK day and thank God the casket got to the funeral home on wed afternoon completely intact! My dad's viewing was on Friday. When ordering the casket the operator asked if my dad had retained liquid before passing and asked for the inside and side to side measurements (I took a crash course on all that) it all translated to measurents. He wanted to know if my dad was bigger than I think 24" on the sides, I had no clue what to answer but luckily my mom did know and she said no. Just to double check I went to the funeral home the following day and confirmed he "fitted" in the casket. When ordering the guy was very helpful he asked if I had any questions and gave me alot of useful info. I found the closest warehouse to El Paso was in Dallas and if needed I could go pick it up! I would definitely recommend the experience to anyone that has the nerve to track more than one thing at a time! Worth the expense!
Dear Kari, Thank you so very much for the "tour" of the crematory as well as the explanation that you gave as well. You showed alot of respect in your tour as well as your explanation for the deceased as well as the family. I am still in my 50's, well later 50"s. I love animàls & I have had cats in all of my years on Gods' gorgeous planet. What I would like to know is that my last four gorgeous fur babies, two of which are still with me; and unfortunately my late husband who pre deceased me 9 years ago from a cerebral hemorrhage, can I have all of them put in the casket with me? I know that by the time I pass to go home to be with the Lord that my last two fur babies would have passed long before I do. I really would like to go into a mausoleum, however I want to be buried next to my parents and I was lucky enough to get the plot next to them. When you are placed into the vault do they cement the lid to the vault to the part that the casket lies in? I really don't like bugs and even though I won't know it, I don't want them getting into the casket with me!! Yuck. How long does it take a body, normal size or I should say weight, to totally decompose? My last question is does the medical examiner also check to make sure that the deceased person is really deceased? I have heard several horror stories of people being buried alive and I am severely claustrophobic. If you could shed some light on these issues, I would be extremely forever in your debt. I think I may look into that safety casket that you were speaking of, just in case. Just kidding!! I loved your presentation as you were very professional, extremely caring and very informative. Thank you again for everything that you do and from the sounds of it do very well. 💞🙏🐆🐈🐾🐾🐈🐆🙏💞 By the way, I am pre-planning my own burial as not to burden my siblings. Oh, I thought of one more question, depending upon the water tables, does water seep in to the vault / casket? Thank you again for your time and patience regarding this matter. Looking forward to hearing from you. May God bless you and your family. Colleen H.
If people only new this is a marketing app if most like myself new how barbaric embalming is the money people spend to remember. A moment forever a. Vacate space showing respect to who the soul has risen glued mouths eyes big business Costco Walmart Griaglist sell casket why not Cremation never want formalities I don't understand America Canada the only States that practice embalming at a high rate
Kari, I can't tell you how informative these videos are. The care you show when talking about difficult subjects is awesome. I always assumed embalmers and funeral directors were dour uncaring people: you have changed that image for me. You show you have a heart and really care about the cases you handle. You are truly a special person. Please keep up the great work!
You're not legally required to buy a casket from the funeral home, you can use whatever from wherever you'd like, even Walmart sells caskets now, and the funeral home can't say 'no, you have to buy from us or go someplace else'. The only place you really have to listen to is the cemetery, some will require a vault but will let you use a cardboard box in that vault if that's what you really want.
@@jo-penford For the living are conscience they will die, but the dead are conscience of nothing at all, neither do they have wages because the remembrance of them has been forgotten. Also their love and their jealousy have already perished and they have no portion anymore to time indefinite in anything that has to do under the sun.
Very informative and a very reassuring voice :-) I remember years ago when my grandmother passed she had bought the package she wanted casket and so forth years earlier...all my family had to do was make up the difference when adjusted for inflation as i recall...it made the ordeal a whole lot easier overall. When my mother passed we chose a nice metal one...basic ish as we arent rich but when crunch time came it wasnt available in time for the service so the funeral home gave us one then next step higher for no extra charge. That was a very nice gesture and I myself liked it better then our original choice. i do remember on the vault asking what kind of ornamentation we wanted for the lid...a cross or so on...I dont recall if it was extra but I thought whose gonna see. I and the cemetary guys did and it was nice...albeit a cold February day.
Wow I am so amazed that you brought up the tube. I was involved with that situation in the south where we couldnt identify the casket to the remains...It was extremely sad.
I always had a interest in the funeral home business and actually always wanted to work in one ,perhaps as a greeter for the deceased Family and friends....It amazes me to learn the word "church truck" ,as I have seen many times....thank you Kari for the informative video
Back when I was a teen in SW MO there was a very large company that manufactured caskets in our neighborhood. One of our family friends had a very interesting job with the co.. It was his task to climb inside each casket before it came off the assembly line at the end, laying there just like a body would. The lid was closed and secured by another worker. His mission was to carefully to look to see if he could see any light leaking through at any point. if so, this was a defect that had to be corrected before that casket could ship, since such a casket could not be made airtight/hermetically-sealed.
IF you listen to these funeral directors, a dead body needs air circulation and drainage for the body to properly decompose. If you totally seal up the casket, you'll end up with a pile of gas and liquids that resemble a swamp and decomposition will not be complete.
. As for me, a non-protective, or non-sealing casket with an air-seal design vault is the way to go. Air-seal design? Hold drinking glass, or glass jar, upside down, underwater. The air that is trapped in the glass will not allow the casket to become inundated. I chose a galvanized 10 ga. steel vault from Clark Grave Vault co. for my parents.
Well? I would like to have a green burial. So one biodegradable casket for me. Plus I can't see myself lying down in my Sunday best. A comfortable pillow, jammies & a cosy blanket, so it actually looks like I'm peacefully asleep! Now, if I can find a biodegradable casket that, can accommodate me being a side sleeper! 😴👍👍💖
Why not? My Grandmother made a shroud to wear but gave it to a relative when she needed it. I see no difference in jeans, a fancy dress or a shroud. Wash up those favorite pjs and set them aside!
By the way Kari I can tell you are a very caring person who cares about the families you serve. My cousin is the same way and every body is handled with total respect. Only wish there were more people like you in the industry.................
Beautiful area. Funeral business is changing in our area. More cremation and private services. The younger generation are not into traditional funerals. I will have an old fashion funeral and be placed in the family Mausoleum along with my Husband. I made a mistake as my cousins son will be entering the business as soon as he finishes his apprenticeship making it four generations.
Kari, You have such a beautiful God given gift! Thank You so very much for all the information! I pray you know how many people you have helped, me included! Blessings & Thank You! Phoebe
Lol, I remember those 70s coffee tables! We had a whole matching set of those, with the doors including octogon end tables with the doors. Those things were so hard to dust because of all the details and carving. We actually still have one in a spare bedroom that my husband's family had when he was in high school and it's in great shape. It's real wood and not that pressed wood, and he wants to keep it so it holds a tv and video games in a spare bedroom. Do you remember the old school furniture console TV's?
Kari, my whole family is mostly Irish descent..... But my mom did have one grandmother who was English. One of her favorite expressions was "it's not the cough that carries you off...... It's the coffin they carry you off in." 😉 She had another one, too, dealing with people's preferences......"every man to his own taste - said the woman as she kissed the cow." My mom, may she rest in peace, would often say...."I wonder if you'll ever remember these things after I'm gone?" Good grief, Kari, I can't get the darn things out of my mind!!!! (And yet.... They do bring back fond memories of my mom) 😇 Memories are like gold. They never tarnish..... And every time we remember them we polish them up a little bit brighter. 🥲
Your channel is so informative. Thank you for sharing your knowledge with us. I have just trained as a funeral celebrant for non religious funerals and your content has been really helpful. X
Interesting and helpful. Thanks. With everyone trying to make money, survivors are not told facts and are not in emotional condition to make decisions. People are taken advantage of at the time they need compassion the most.
I believe that in earlier days of the funeral business, furniture makers often times became funeral directors. It wasn't by design, rather, they were simply where people went to get a casket made in their time of need. That certainly was the case with my great grandfather. He started out as a furniture maker and eventually started a funeral home in Gardner, MA.
It takes a special person to do this job it’s not always older people sadly it’s children an babies also I don’t think I could ever handle that God bless you for all that you do to make it easier on the family
This video is very informative to someone who wants to get the very best for their loved one. Being educated about different types of caskets and prices
When i was planning for my newborn son, i had to have something that looked like it was made by human hands. He had a wooden casket. I had the entire gambit in front of me, from what looked like a igloo cooler to a gold gilded, but it felt so much better to me, to know the hands made it and could “hold” him. He never took a breath, but that cost was worth it to me, and the photos i have are beautiful, and it restored peace in our situation. (This was a crime) i cannot believe any of you would open your mouth to an information to make a choice video. This ISNT for your negativity, it’s informed options for your choice. She’s explaining this way better then the average shady funeral director. You all should be ashamed
Thank you. Interesting information for the consumer. Almost said end consumer, but we can sort of infer that. This kind of stuff is important for everyone out there, thanks again.
Thank you ...you are great explaining this. They need more like you.all these caskets are so expensive.. need to think about cremation might be cheaper...I do have my grave site with large stone tho.....
Kari is a wonder enjoy your videos because you answer so many questions we all have but no one really wants to ask keep the videos coming we all are gonna Be in the same situation someday
Your voice is so smooth and calming. I just started watching your videos last year. This subject has always kind of freaked me out. Since my mother's murder in 1997, I believed I didn't want to know any details of what she went through. You have changed my mind. I have researched autopsies and embalming. Although, it still hurts my heart, I am interested in the process. Thank you for being, honest, caring, truthful and so kind. ❤
@@debbies5030 You're not going to catch any disease or infections from dead corpses. Yes, he can have a 'funeral' just like that with a green burial just like Kari stated.
Hi, it's nice to watch you in some of these videos. You explain things so well and with respect! I would love to watch a video of how you apply makeup. I always been curious about it. When my mother died I had a big hand in the planing, but I also did my mother's hair and made sure her makeup was alright. Oh! She made sure that I didn't for get not to make her hair too big and poofy!LOL I've always admired how a person can be put back together and you can't tell anything was wrong. I remember when my daughter was in the 4th grade. A friend of hers was murdered. It was a very violent death. It was a open casket too. They had to put him in a turtleneck because he was almost decapitated. They tried to cover all the bruises, cuts & scratches. But I still saw the bruises around the wrist. I felt so bad for the family because, for one thing the one who killed him was his grown cousin! But anyway if you should ever show some of what I've talked about, PLEASE let me know. Sincerely, Sylvia
I really miss funeral homes using a bier. I think they are just being "lazy" using a church truck in the chapel or visitation room. Our family still uses a bier. We have several different styles that will enhance the beauty of the casket. If we need to use a church truck, we use one of two we have that have collapsible drapes. We are traditional, and much of our equipment is old but we'll cared for.
Here in the UK we still use coffins. I don’t think I’ve ever seen a casket?!? When my friend died a few years ago, she was placed in an environmentally friendly wicket woven coffin. It was so pretty! And since she was cremated it suited the purpose. Love your videos Kari, you are very inspiring x
Kari Northey actually in the U.K. caskets are seen as decidedly tacky, unnecessary and vulgar expressions of supposed wealth. Although most funeral directors could source one, few promote them and I have never been to a funeral where one is used. They are perceived as very "American" and not in a good way! Increasingly cardboard and wicker coffins are used, although most coffins are wooden.
@@spencerwilton5831 I belrive the reason the US had gravitated to caskets is because a coffin is relevant to outdated and old. Some compare the coffin shape to Dracula horror movies back in the day. I believe it's more the old and outdated reason is why the style has changed over time.
Very nice and informative. Had to go through this situation a couple of months ago and yes we looked around at Costco but ended up going through the funeral home just as you explained. Ive been so interested in this calling ever since i was a young boy. Now finally i have made my decision to pursue this. I am noe currently enrolled in college of funeral service and embalming. Very informative once again and interesting. God bless you
I live in Dallas, Tx. I will be going to Dallas Institute of Funeral service and i will definitely check out your student group on Facebook. Thank you once again!
My brother and I were working in a crematorium when we found out that our mother had cancer. We were fortunate in that we had some advance warning so we had time to design and build a coffin for her. She even got to see it before she passed away which by the way took far longer than it took to make the coffin. She suffered from lung cancer for three years. If you can I recommend making your own coffin. You can usually save a lot of money and you will have the satisfaction of participating directly in the process instead of being a spectator. If you choose cremation ask about being their when it happens. A lot of people want to be their to roll the casket in and press the ignition switch. Also keep in mind that you can usually rent a casket if you are doing cremation. So that way you can have an actual casket for the funeral/wake but not have to pay the entire price which can be steep.
Here's a great story about "payback" on a greedy, unscrupulous funeral home. (Most of them are just that). My father was a meter reader for the electric utility in a large Ontario, Canada city. One of the other meter readers passed away and his wife was "totally screwed" by an unscrupulous funeral director who took advantage of her emotional state at the time and "upsold her" BIG TIME, to the tune of $7,000 MORE than she originally intended. For the other meter readers, it was PAYBACK TIME. Companies that used larger amounts of electricity had Demand Meters. This simply meant that after each reading, the meters were set back to zero. (See where this is going?) So, when the meter reader went to this funeral home, he simply added about 15% to the actual reading, set back the meter and left. Fast forward several years and that s.o.b. funeral home had paid more than $14,000 MORE than actual for their electricity. Revenge IS GREAT sometimes. p.s. After this man had passed and employees realized how his wife had been screwed, a huge collection netted her over $10,000.
I know you said with air flow the body would be more skeleton like and in the sealed casket it would be more liquified (sp?). Thank you for that. Something I needed to know without realizing it. God Bless You, Keri.
Thank you Kari for such an informative video. It's so much different here in the UK. I have recently discovered you here on RU-vid and also subscribed to your channel.
Many years ago my mum used to say that caskets were reused in regards to cremation - you still pay big $$$. Thankyou for confirming the "rentals". Plus cremated bones can be mixed with others.
My parents told all 6 of us, “we DO NOT believe in putting money in the ground”! We all understood that the VA is to be called to pick up their remains, no service, no extra money spent, and their ashes, as children we all received some from both parents, and the rest remains with their home, which stays within the family for family use, under the direction of my oldest sister who is The executor. The cost for cremation with the VA is less expensive than anywhere u will find, unless u own your own facility.
When I die this imperfect body is nothing more than an empty shell. Wrap me in a blanket drop me in a hole 7 foot down. It doesn’t matter. I’ll be home with The Lord
Funerals I saw in the UK are kind of fancy. They can do a casket option, but most often are a coffin style. They have a procession from the funeral home to the church and then to graveside. Funeral directors and assistants dress in morning attire with top hats. Caskets often have windows on the side of the vehicle/hearse to see inside. Sometimes these are horse and carriage drawn. There is usually a luncheon/reception afterwards. Just like in the U.S. costs vary depending on services used.
Thanks for the information. I have been to many funerals unfortunately. My first funeral I attended was my Mother’s. I helped my Dad pick out a casket and arrange the services. My Dad was cremated and I was not involved in his arrangements. My stepmom did them so I don’t know if his was a rental. A friend of mine recently passed away in Oregon. He had an aquamation and that is strange and not common. He had arranged everything in advance.
In Connecticut we had the 1955 flood, many cemeteries were washed out, a great deal of caskets actually were washed out into rivers and into Long Island Sound, many were never found, after that a state law was passed requiring cement vaults installed to place the caskets into.
Very interesting. In the UK we have different (coffins) caskets. For my little girl, we have one made of willow covered in ivy and deep red velvet roses. (Her middle name was Scarlett) It was beautiful and looked like a lidded moses basket.
That's right Lizzie. It's a celebration of a life lived or guilt for the way you treated the deceased. Either way, we're not really gone if we are not forgotten. I still cry for my buddies and they're probably laughing their ass off at me. Wait till I'm gone. Hellzapoppin! LMAO
My material Grandmother was dressed like she was going to bed. Curlers in her hair, flannel pj's. Her Bible open across her hands, as if she had fallen asleep reading it. It's not because she looked familiar like that, it was she looked warm, cuddle, comfortable, and asleep. God bless her😊