You know it is spring in the north land when the funerals and burials line up. I've had two funerals this week and some more graveside services next week.
The issue? The ground is no longer frozen. And people have been waiting all winter to be laid to rest.
There must be dozens of small cemeteries in this area. It's not uncommon for the funeral procession to drive over 30 miles from the church. When we arrive, there are around fifty lovingly cared for sites in a small field. The caretaker and grave digger usually lives next door- and usually is over 60.
While I didn't grow up in an urban or suburban area, it is still very new to me to be such a part of the burial service. Many cemeteries do not require vaults, and many people cannot afford them- so I am an actually part of the burial.
It goes a little like this: Two straps are looped under the casket and through the handles on the side. The caretaker, two funeral directors and myself each take a strap edge, and then lower by hand the caskets down 6 feet, past the frost line, into the ground. We then help the caretaker fill in the grave- that is- if we are not rushing off to another cemetery for another burial.
It's a connection with death I had never expected to encounter. As we live in a growing age that sanitizes death, the chance to literally bury someone is very powerful.
2 comments:
What a holy moment...
wow. i'm well acquainted with the phenomenon of spring burials in rural cemetaries, but... i've never had that experience of lowering and burying. sounds like it would be powerful.
hey, thanks for your comment my way.
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