Chapter 10

The Pattern of Late 19th Century Funerals

American Views of Death• America showed wide variations in funeral thoughts and customs…– What do you think that the rural areas

were like?– What about the cities?

• There is only a small amount of uniformity in death customs:– What are they?– What are some of the variations today?

American Views of Death• Catholic Church in Cincinnati:– Long time custom that the mourners are

seated on the right side or the “Epistle” side of the church.

– Only 40 miles away in Brown Co., Ohio they are seated on the left side of the or “Gospel” side.

• During the latter part of the 19th Century there were broad changes and patterns developed:– The patterns and changes molded the

modern day Funeral Director.

First Response to Death

• Family reaction and behavior– atmosphere of anxiety and emotional

strain– funerals had a prevailing mood of gloom

• Borrowed from the old days in England.

• A final contribution of 19th Century behavior:– They wanted to provide a beautiful

setting to the mood, gloom and somberness which had been imported from the feudal times.

First Response to Death• At the Home

– Most deaths occurred at the home• If it occurred away from home the body was

quickly returned there, so the home was the central point of mourning.

• A hush fell over the household, blinds were drawn and people walked about on tiptoe and spoke in restrained tones.

• First gesture-WOMEN-closed the eyes and straightened the limbs

• “Funeral Directors” were summoned to come and take charge.

First Response to Death– When death occurred at a hospital

•The family was insistent upon bringing the body back to the house as soon as possible.

~Funeral parlors were used for people who had no home of their own or had no relatives or friends who would offer the facilities of their quarters.

First Response to Death– People delegated the care of the

deceased to the Undertaker.– In addition to agreeing upon a place of the funeral it was necessary to decide how much time would elapse before burial took place•If more than one day, preservative measure were taken.

First Response to Death

The two preservation methods were:•The body was kept in a cooler or “corpse preserver” surrounded with ice.

•The undertaker could embalm with chemicals.

First Response to Death

• At the Home– Procedures in rural areas

•Usually no undertaker available.•Preparation procedures- The family washed and dressed the deceased.

•Preparation procedures- The family used a corpse cooler or chemical embalming.

Influence of the Introduction of Embalming

• Social problems.– People were afraid of what they did not

understand– Many people viewed embalming as

mutilation of the body.– A male family member was allowed to

watch the embalming.

What do you think about a family member watching the embalming procedure?

Influence of the Introduction of Embalming

• Procedure– Chemical embalming similar to process

today.•Body laid out•Body was washed•Dressed in the best or favorite suit•Body was moved into the parlor to be

viewed (even before the casket was obtained)

•The funeral and the viewing were then held in the family home

Influence of the Introduction of Embalming

• Psychological Jargon– If the undertaker had training in

embalming he undoubtedly protested the “humaneness” of embalming.

– The supposed advantages were:•Sanitation (Protection)•Duration (Preservation)•Reliability (Presentation)•SimplicityOh, yes and don’t forget the possibility

of the body “exploding” in the casket during the funeral ceremonies.

Influence of the Introduction of Embalming

• Psychological Jargon– The astute embalmer never failed to

mention the possibility.– Interesting thing was:

•Chemical embalming and corpse cooling was about the same cost unless the amount of ice was great.

•Dr. Thomas Holm 20 years earlier charged $100

•Hudson Samson charged as little as $15

Influence of the Introduction of Embalming

Now, would you ever try to use “psychological jargon” to make a family do something they did not want to do?

How about try to “up-sale” because your salary depends on commission?

Funeral Arrangements• If the body was to be chemically

embalmed– The undertaker brought a “cooling

board” – Embalming tools, – Embalming fluid– And a door badge

Funeral Arrangements

• The Door Badge– A door crepe or badge that was

attached to the door in such a manner that the door bell of knocker was covered.

Why would they want to cover the knocker or door bell?

Funeral Arrangements

• The Door Badge– Black was the color of the of the old– White for the young– And black with white rosette and

ribbons for the young adults.– Purple, lavender and grey were later

used

Funeral Arrangements

• Embalming:– Many people believed that

embalming necessitated the removal of all the organs.

– When the observer saw the size of the incision he was generally satisfied and seldom remained to watch the balance of the procedure

Funeral Arrangements• Embalming:

– The body was undressed– Washed on the bed– Orifices were plugged– Entire body was swabbed with embalming

fluid– Shaved – Eyes closed – Lips sewn together– Then the embalmingThis was an early attempt at “Restorative

Art”

Funeral Arrangements• Embalming:

– The undertaker employed arterial injection followed by cavity injection with a TROCAR inserted in the umbilicus and the corner of the eye.

Why were they using the trocar in the eye socket?

The next step was a conference with the family to complete the arrangements.

Funeral Arrangements

• Notification of relatives– The funeral director sent telegrams.

What do we do today and who is responsible for getting that

done?– Notified the clergy– Arranged for the singers– Contacted the pallbearers– Notified the Sexton

Funeral Arrangements

• Casket selection– They were chosen from a catalogue,

undertakers display room or a stockroom.

– Hardwood was the most popular as opposed to metallic and cement caskets.

– Cloth covered caskets make their debut.– Delivery problems-What do you think caused the biggest

problems?

Funeral Arrangements

– It took between 20-60 hours to get a casket.•Depending on: request,

availability, and distance.

The Funeral

• In the City– Role of the undertaker- sent

invitations, general supervisor, supplier and arranger of funeral paraphernalia.

– Locations for the funeral- most likely in home, maybe church, and seldom in the funeral parlor.

– Participants- friends, family, pallbearers, clergy, funeral director, hearse driver

The Funeral Cont.

• In Rural Areas– Role of the undertaker- ordered

the casket, casketed deceased, and generally arranged things so that the preacher could play the dominating role.

– Locations for the funeral- most likely in home, maybe the church, and seldom in the funeral parlor.

– Participants- most of the people of the town or village were involved.

The Funeral Cont.

• Church vs. Home Funeral– Are there any advantages to having

the funeral services in the church?– What then are the advantages of

holding the funeral at the home of the deceased?

Which do you think would be more beneficial to a family?

Why?

The Funeral Cont.

• Open vs. Closed Casket:– The custom of opening the casket

at the church for a final viewing was not accepted very readily by the clergy or the undertakers.

Why do you think they did not accept or like the open

casket?

Professional Dress of the Undertaker

• Clothing kept with the somber-toned tradition:– Black broadcloth– Doe skin coats– Pantaloons – VestSingle breasted and buttoned up

completely to the neck. White linen shirt and black tie with black gloves and black top hat.

It was very difficult to have the livery men look respectable.

The Funeral Procession and Burial• Formation of the cortege in the city

– The hearse maintained the center of focus in the procession.

– The plumes now again become important to show how wealthy or impoverished you were. (social status)

– The first flower carriage is used to transport the flowers to the cemetery.

The Funeral Procession and Burial• Formation of the cortege in the

city– Clergy– Flower carriage– Honorary Pallbearers– Active Pallbearers– Hearse– Immediate family and relatives– Friends.

– The one exception was, if a society or fraternal order was involved then they always took the lead.

• Procedure at the graveside– The undertaker lead the

pallbearers and the clergy to the grave.

– THE UNDERTAKER SUPERVISED THE LOWERING OF THE CASKET.

– When is your job done at the cemetery, before or after the casket is lowered?

– The grave was usually not filled in front of the family.

• Rural variations– There were hell, fire, and

damnation sermons at the grave.– The grave was usually filled in front

of the family.

Late 19th Century Mourning Symbols• Personal dress was black

clothing.• Appearance of the home

– Door Badges– Draped room or entire house with

black cloth– Dark colored veils covered the

doorways of the home.

• Timetable of mourning behavior– Lasted two years for the widow– One year for the widower– The first 6 months was the period of

deepest mourning for all family members.

• Stationary- the width of the border on the calling card told how long the person had need of mourning.

• Social Emblems– Badges were made for

“Undertaker”, “Pallbearer” or Masonic or Catholic emblems.

• Funeral music was gloomy

Early 1900’s

• The attitude went from gloomy to beautiful.

• Caskets were made to be more aesthetic.– The couch style was designed to

make the deceased to look as comfortable and natural as possible.

• Flowers– For a time they were considered

pagan, wasteful, and worldly. – Eventually they became popular to

help avoid the gloomy atmosphere of the funeral.

– Artificial flowers were used because real flowers were hard to get.