Stelloh, Tim. "In Her Childhood Dream, a Funeral Home Was the Destination." New York Times (2011): n. pag. Web. 9 May 2011.
Precis:
After seeing her 'peaceful' dead uncle at the age of 7, Ms. Dozier became obsessed with having a career involving dead people. She is a mortician, but the job was not easy. Women usually did not work in the funeral industry during her time and her parents were not happy about her interest in working with dead people. Even today, it is difficult to imagine women to be working in this career.
Article Two
Zezima, Katie. "Home Burials Offer an Intimate Alternative ." New York Times (2009): n. pag. Web. 9 May 2011.
Precis:
Home funerals are a process where everything from caring the dead and building the coffin is done at home. Though home funerals are still uncommon, the numbers have soared in the past 5 years. Home funerals help make the process more personal. Home funerals are also very inexspensive, and maybe families who rather not have home funerals may have to make this decision if they are not financially stable.
Analysis:
Both articles speak from a different stand points. The first article discusses about a mortician who struggled to finally get the career she wanted. She was heavily influenced by her peaceful looking dead uncle and wanted other dead bodies to seem 'peaceful' as well. However, the job of a mortician are also for "traditional" funerals which is something I wish the writer talked more about. The second article focused on multiple stories and positive opinions about home funerals. It was interesting to see that the number of home funerals are increasing in recent years. I think though, that the opinions of both the mortician and the families who were interviewed in the second article had similar attitudes toward the dead: that it is an important process.
Interview:
I called to interview a funeral director for his opinion on home funerals. I was asked what I meant by 'home funerals' and it took a while for him to finally understand what I was talking about. He sounded not only uncomfortable, but spoke as if home funerals aren't realistic. "Families should do it if that's what they really want, but I don't know how they would be able to face a dead family member in their home for a night or two." He kept elaborating on the idea. The argument for home funerals is the idea of getting personal, but a few days meant the person should deal with the death of the person very quickly. He then asked me a bunch of rhetorical questions I just nodded to: What can the family accomplish in such an emotional state? Especially in apartments, how would you call over lots of people over to mourn for the dead? Are the families even in charge of sending the dead to the crematory or burial? "They'll be too emotional to be able to be in charge of the whole process. Don't you think so?" I also asked what he wanted done to his body when he dies, and he said it's up to the survivor's choice since they are the ones dealing with the dead.
Analysis:
After taking down notes from what he said, I realized there were some follow-up questions I had. Though I felt bad about interviwing someone who clearly didn't have a positive view on home funerals, I found his opinion very valuable. How would families be able to face and come to terms with their loved one who has passed away? I found myself nodding when he said a few days is not enough for a person to 'become personal' with the process. How realistic is a home funeral? I thought home funerals were great, but his answers as he spoke in a voice full of discomfort--I realized home funerals aren't for everyone. Death is a difficult event to anyone, and though it is favorable that it be as personal as possible--will families be able to do the whole process themselves?
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